From wildfires to floods to break-ins, Steve Rice prides himself on being prepared for anything. Now, with the official opening of Mountain Pass Safes and Coins, he aims to extend that expertise to others and help Flathead Valley residents protect what matters to them. 

“You buy insurance for the what if. You wear a seatbelt for the what if,” said Rice. “A safe is no different. You’re buying time.” 

For Rice and his wife, Kelly, the need for greater security became apparent when their eldest son began to walk. The couple, who were then living in northern Arizona, wanted to ensure their guns were well out of reach of the curious toddler.  

“It was about protecting what was outside the safe,” said Rice. 

He started his search for a kid-proof gun safe at some of the area’s big box stores, but he struggled to find something that matched his rigorous quality standards. Then, one afternoon after a long day at the insurance office where he worked, Rice walked into a local store specializing in safes manufactured by Champion Safe Company. Rice was instantly locked in. 

Unlike the flimsy safes he had perused before, the Champion-brand safes were hefty. According to the manufacturer, each one is hand-built with multiple layers of American-made steel and includes several other features that prevent damage during natural disasters and break-ins.

After learning that the owner planned to sell the shop, Rice joked that he drove home to tell his wife that he wasn’t buying one safe — he wanted to buy them all. 

“I had a feeling, and it just sounded like a really cool interesting business,” he said.  

The couple bought the store and eventually grew the business into the largest safe store in northern Arizona. When the family moved to the Flathead Valley in August of 2024, they brought the business with them. 

The showroom, located at the corner of U.S. 2 and Reserve Street in Evergreen, features over a dozen Champion safes. Rice pulled open the 800-pound door of a silver model to demonstrate some of its many safety features. He pointed first to what looked like a strip of rubber running along the perimeter of the doorframe, explaining that the material expanded under extreme heat to create a foolproof seal in the event of a fire.  

Several “relockers” would activate if the main lock was tampered with and a plate of diamond-infused steel further ensured the safe remained secure from would-be thieves. Rice recalled an instance a few years ago when this system was put to the test. A customer called Rice after their home was broken into. While a safe they purchased from Rice’s store bore pry marks, the customer reported that the safe was still safely sealed when they returned home and the valuables inside were untouched.  

The story is one example of why Rice believes everyone can benefit from a high-quality safe. 

“Even if you don’t have a gun, everyone has something to lock up,” he said. 

And, if you don’t, Mountain Pass Guns and Safes can help you with that as well. Rice buys and sells precious metals such as gold and silver and stocks several other products related to home security and disaster preparedness at the store. Current offerings include a pepper launcher that offers a nonlethal alternative to more traditional firearms. 

“I like to find niche products that no one else in the area has,” said Rice, adding that he often gets ideas for new products to sell from customer suggestions. 

With the family’s move to the Flathead Valley, Rice said he is excited to explore new ways to help customers maximize their home security. With the new store came the need for a new motto. After much deliberation, Rice settled on the perfect phrase to summarize his approach to business: Protect what matters. 

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at [email protected] or 758-4433.