WELCOME TO GLACIER COUNTRYSIDE RETREAT!
Our personally owned, 1,400-square-foot guest house is located in the countryside just 25–30 minutes from Glacier National Park's West Entrance. It's a great home base for exploring the park and the beautiful Flathead Valley, while still enjoying the comfort and privacy of a country setting.
We've tried to equip Retreat with all the conveniences and little extras that we appreciate when traveling—from comfortable beds with luxury hotel linens to a wonderfully equipped kitchen and useful supplies for exploring Glacier. We take pride in caring for our homes and would love to share this one with you!
LOCATION — CLOSE TO GLACIER AND THE FLATHEAD VALLEY
One of the things we love about Retreat is its location. We're out in the country, but still conveniently located near Glacier National Park, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Kalispell.
Here are some approximate driving times from our home:
• Glacier National Park's West Entrance: 25–30 minutes
• Whitefish: 8 minutes
• Columbia Falls: 7 minutes
• Kalispell shopping and dining: 10–15 minutes
• Glacier Park International Airport: 4 minutes
• Flathead Lake: 30 minutes
• Whitefish Mountain Resort: 25 minutes
Driving times vary depending on traffic and seasonal conditions.
Most of our guests come to visit Glacier National Park, but there is so much more to explore in northwest Montana! A few weeks before your arrival, we'll send you a local guidebook with recommendations for some of our favorite hikes, outdoor activities, restaurants, and places to visit outside the park.
LIVING AND DINING
The spacious, open living and dining area has large windows that bring in plenty of natural light and provide beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and mountains.
The home's post-and-beam construction and tongue-and-groove ceilings give it a charming Montana feel. After a day of hiking or sightseeing, you can relax in the comfortable living room with its electric fireplace and 50-inch smart TV with Roku.
We provide access to at least one streaming service, such as Hulu, Netflix, or Disney+. You're also welcome to log in to your own streaming accounts—just remember to log out before leaving.
The dining table seats six, and the back door opens onto a large deck with a gas BBQ and outdoor dining table.
A WELL-EQUIPPED KITCHEN
One of our favorite features of this home is the spacious kitchen! It has a large island with seating for four, butcher-block countertops, painted oak cabinets, and plenty of room to prepare meals. Whether you're making an early breakfast before heading into Glacier, packing lunches for a hike, or cooking dinner at home, you'll appreciate having a kitchen that's truly equipped for cooking.
We've tried to provide everything you'll need, including:
• A full-size refrigerator with ice maker, oven, microwave, and dishwasher
• Plenty of dishes, silverware, and cookware so you can prepare and enjoy full meals without constantly washing dishes
• A good assortment of cooking utensils, kitchen gadgets, and small appliances
• Cooking basics such as salt, pepper, flour, sugar, vegetable oil, and assorted condiments, which we generally keep stocked for guests to use
We try to provide the kinds of things we'd want available if we were staying for a week rather than just a night or two.
BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS
Both bedrooms are upstairs. The rooms are spacious and bright, with some of the best mountain views in the house!
• Bedroom 1: King-sized bed
• Bedroom 2: Queen-sized bed
• Additional sleeping options: A twin-sized folding bed (best suited for a child rather than an adult) and a Pack 'n Play are available for flexible sleeping arrangements within our standard four-person occupancy limit.
• Upstairs bathroom: A spacious bathroom with two separate sinks and a shower
• Downstairs bathroom: A convenient half bathroom near the laundry room
We place particular importance on good beds and bedding, so we've outfitted the bedrooms with comfortable mattresses, crisp white linens from luxury hotel suppliers such as Standard Textile, and blackout blinds. Extra blankets and pillows are provided so you can make the beds as comfortable as you like.
AIR CONDITIONING AND SUMMER COMFORT
We have three window air conditioners—one in each upstairs bedroom and another in the downstairs living area—providing cooling for most of the home.
Or, on cooler Montana evenings, open the windows and turn on the ceiling fans for a nice evening breeze!
AMENITIES AND LITTLE TOUCHES
We've tried to provide the things that make traveling easier, especially when you're visiting Glacier National Park and spending much of your time exploring the outdoors.
In addition to the well-equipped kitchen and comfortable bedding, you'll find:
• Toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, hand soap, and laundry detergent
• Extra towels, hair dryers, and a sewing kit
• A washer and dryer, along with an iron and ironing board
• High-speed wireless internet throughout the home
• A cooler, picnic basket, and backpack for your outings
• Bear spray for hiking in Glacier Country
• A first-aid kit
• Extra pillows and blankets for added comfort
We've tried to think of the things that are easy to forget when packing or that you might not want to purchase for a short vacation.
OUTDOOR LIVING AND PRIVACY
One of the things we love about this home is the large deck, where you can enjoy the fresh Montana air, mountain views, and meals prepared on the gas BBQ. It's a great place to relax after a busy day in the park.
Retreat has its own fenced yard and designated outdoor living areas. Another residence is located nearby, but fencing, trees, and landscaping provide privacy between the homes.
The entrance from the road and a portion of the driveway are shared. Retreat has its own designated parking, including covered parking under one of the lean-tos.
A FEW THINGS WE THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW — THE PROS AND CONS
Since we personally lived in Retreat for several years, we'd like to share what we especially love about the home, along with a couple of things to consider, so you can be sure it's the best choice for your Glacier Park vacation.
THE PROS:
• Excellent location: In the countryside, yet close to Glacier National Park and the major towns of the Flathead Valley.
• Beautiful views: We especially love the mountain views from the upstairs bedrooms.
• Charming character: Tongue-and-groove ceilings and post-and-beam construction give the home a distinctive Montana feel.
• Bright and spacious: Large bedrooms, lots of natural light, comfortable living areas, and a great kitchen make it a pleasant place to spend time.
A COUPLE OF CONS:
Sound between floors: Because of the post-and-beam construction, the downstairs ceiling is also the floor of the upstairs. The bedrooms have carpeting, but there isn't as much sound insulation between floors as in a traditionally built home. When we lived here with a napping baby, we learned to keep things fairly quiet downstairs while she slept upstairs!
Occasional road noise: The road along the east side of the property serves a small subdivision and also provides access to a gravel/construction operation. During the summer, trucks sometimes travel along this road, which can create some daytime noise. We found it most noticeable when we wanted to sleep in, so we kept earplugs handy. We'll provide some for you, too, in case they're needed during your stay.
PLEASE NOTE: A signed rental agreement is required for each reservation. Please review our House Rules before booking. We'll send you a reservation-specific rental agreement as a PDF for signature after your reservation is made.
A PERSONAL NOTE
We've been welcoming visitors to Glacier Country since 2010 and have been blessed with wonderful guests and reviews over the years.
Retreat was a labor of love that we built with the help of family and friends over several years. Shortly after completing it, we were surprised by the arrival of our first child! We ended up living in Retreat ourselves for about two and a half years while our daughter was little, and it was a wonderful home for us during that time.
Because we lived here ourselves, we know the home well and have put a lot of thought into providing the conveniences and little extras that make a stay more comfortable.
We take pride in keeping our homes exceptionally clean, comfortable, and well stocked. We hope Retreat will make a great home base for your Montana vacation, and we're always happy to answer questions about the home or the surrounding area.
We'd love to host you!