Our farm house was built in the early 1900's on a 160 acre homestead created in 1895 under the direction of U.S. president, Grover Cleveland (a framed copy of the document is displayed in the home). Though most of the acreage was sold off over the years, it has been our home for 28 years, having raised our three children here (our son Brook was born in this house). Today, we are back and forth from Mexico where we do construction work as volunteers, staying in a 5th wheel trailer on our property while here in Montana. While our vacation rental guests have full use of our two story home, we at times use an outside separate entrance to the basement.
The view from this gentle hill will often let you see upwards of sixty miles into the magnificent mountains of Glacier National Park, and similar distances to the south. Hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, fishing and hunting are available in virtually any direction.
Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, is less than three miles from your doorstep. If you have a hankering to go fishing, Flathead Lake mackinaw (lake trout) average 12.5 pounds and 30 inches in length, the state record of 42 pounds having been caught here. Similarly, nearby alpine lakes and streams, for example, Jewel Basin Wilderness Hiking Area, provide opportunities for fishing, hiking and unforgettable views. Nothing quite compares to the quiet solace of a day spent fly fishing. Unique to Glacier, fishing is free within this national park. There is plenty of parking here at your HomeAway for your vehicles and boat and three public boat docks are within ten minutes (Wayfarers State Park, Bigfork Bay and the Flathead River). Our Jacuzzi style hot tub (Sundance Altimar) enjoyed on the deck off the second floor, with an spendid view of the setting sun, is an excellent way to end the day relaxed.
Glacier National Park, only thirty five miles from your doorstep (West Glacier Entrance) is among the most magnificently sculpted pieces of real estate on this planet. The drive over Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Road is a spectacular experience. An engineering feat, as you travel it, try to imagine the obstacles faced by the engineers and laborers who constructed the winding road almost 80 years ago. Sheer cliffs, short construction seasons, sixty foot deep snow-drifts, and tons of solid rock made building this road across the Continental Divide a unique challenge.
Bigfork Village, four miles away, built around the bay where the Swan River meets Flathead Lake, is a walking community rich with history, arts, crafts, fine dining and the world renown Bigfork Summer Playhouse with a history of more than half a century of live performances. Many struggle saying goodbye to this quaint village. An excellent grocery store is here, and a short 18 mile commute to Kalispell yields an array of large boxstores, Costco, Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.
In short, we believe you will love this wonderful farmhouse as much as we have. We hope you will come for a visit, even more, we hope you will return. We look forward to meeting you.
