Your mountain home escape under the Montana sky.
A drive through the mountains is always good for the soul. Also always good for the soul? Montana.
I have had the luxury of loving the state since 2012. I attended Carroll College in Helena and started my news career in Missoula. My latest Montana adventure was a family road trip to Whitefish, staying at the newly built Bison Ridge Retreat.
Bison Ridge Retreat has a story that captured my heart before we even arrived—a 30-acre property built with love by a Whitefish father and his sons, created as a place to slow down under the Montana sky.
The Journey
We left the Spokane South Hill and made our usual stop at State Line for gas, because of course we did. Then the white Mercedes and Mazda officially became a caravan, heading east toward the mountains. It doesn’t take long for the scenery to shift beyond what the city can offer. But it’s not until you cross from Idaho into Montana that you truly feel it; a deep breath of fresh air only Montana’s mountains can give.
Depending on where you start in Spokane, the drive to Whitefish takes just under five hours total. The time frame alone makes it the ideal weekend worthy getaway without leaving you in the car all day.
The Stay
Arriving at Bison Ridge Retreat just after dusk, we were greeted by the quaintest night lights on five breathtaking cabins. As we turned off of the highway and onto our private property for the weekend, we drove past four beautiful and different cabins before we approached ours, cabin five.
It was better than the pictures. I stepped out of the car, unlocked the large wooden cabin door with the provided code, and voilà—our rustic, refined home away from home for the weekend. Immediately, my family and I were greeted by a welcome set up with a guide to the home, wifi, snacks and drinks. We looked at each other like, “are we really here?”
The cabin was seriously, so beautiful. The large wood cabin brings a modern romantic yet cozy feel. The main floor was made up of one large living room and kitchen space and separate kind bedroom and bath. Upstairs, an opening sleeping space with two beds before picking from two bedrooms and bathroom to share. It was so much more space than we anticipated and we were so fortunate to have it. We didn’t just have adults and toddlers either- we had Charlotte, a chocolate lab who was happily making herself at home too. The cabin is perfect for dogs! After getting unpacked, we enjoyed our first night watching movies and hot tubbing. The ideal Friday night for parents and people looking to relax.
A Montana morning is one of my favorite things- it consists of a slow start and a coffee. After breakfast, we bundled up and took a short walk down the road to the Bison Ridge Walking Trail, which led us deeper into the trees and to our own private sledding hills. “Wow,” we all said as we had the option to pick where to sled. Not only does the property make it easy to get outside in the winter, but they provided our sleds and tubes too! We spent two hours out there taking advantage of 10/10 sledding hills and fresh air.
Exploring Montana
Wandering into downtown Whitefish is a quick ten minute drive where you have access to the cutest and quaintest local shops. From local gifts to local bakeries and coffee- walking downtown Whitefish is a must!
Come dinner time, we used the fully equipped kitchen to make loaded baked potato soup. Soup pots, cutting boards, knives- Bison Ridge Retreat has the works so you can make your favorite meals in Montana! We were surprised at how easy it was to have some really nice homemade meals at our finger tips without feeling like we were in someone else’s kitchen. It was glorious.
Our last night of sleep was a good one- all of the mattresses were very comfortable and large. You could absolutely use these cabins for a girls trip, family and friends, or couples retreat! Sunday, we were all sad to leave. We utilized the hot tub one last time before bundling up and hitting the slopes to tire out the boys for the drive ahead.
“CABBIINNNN,” my two-year-old son cried as we pulled out of our Montana retreat for the weekend. I explained to him that we would be back when there wasn’t snow for another summer staycation! Cabin five, welcomes up to 10 guests, has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Other cabins on site- range from eight guests up to 24, their newly done lodge boasts the largest amount of space bringing the total of cabins to six. Each cabin comes with a washer and dryer too, making it easy to stay as long as you desire!
Local Activies
While we wanted to make the most of our time on property, Bison Ridge Retreat has so many options for visitors to experience one-of-a-kind adventures that only Montana can bring you. From sleigh rides and snowmobiling to having your skis delivered to your cabin– the experiences at your disposal are also one-of-a-kind. This summer, Bison Ridge Retreat will have a playground and pickleball court for guests to indulge in on top of the many options of fun like Glacier National Park, the Fourth of July, and Under the Big Sky.
Bison Ridge is offering our readers a 10% discount on a minimum 4 night stay, they also offer a 10% discount on early and last minute bookings. Bison Ridge Retreat treated my whole family (including the dog) like royalty, and you deserve the same bliss and fresh air that the property offers. I am dreaming about making this property a memory maker for my family for years to come. It was truly a wonderful place worth going to and bringing the people you love. Use code BISON to book your Whitefish, Montana stay.
What a great piece!
We have now added Bison Ridge to our vacation destination list for 26!