New Beautiful Well Located Cabin just north of Bigfork near the Flathead River!
The Ranchetts Retreat is a brand new log accented 1600 SF home built on a one acre lot within the rural Ranchetts neighborhood situated west of Riverside Road located 5 miles north of the quaint community of Bigfork, which is situated on the Swan River Bay adjacent to Flathead Lake. The Glacier International Airport is approximately 22 miles to the Northwest. The Glacier National Park entrance at the village of West Glacier is only 33 miles away. The delightful town of Whitefish is 30 miles distant and all the shopping a person could want is located in Kalispell, about 18 miles to the Northwest. Many restaurants are located in nearby Bigfork and the surrounds.
The recently retired owners conceived the idea of building this home as a way of staying in the building profession and commenced construction in July 2018. This has been a labor of love intensive project for the owners who made this home as functional as can be, drawing from their personal and professional experience over a lifetime. Now that it is completed, they decided not to sell so placed it on the short term rental market so others can share its beauty and functionality.
The Ranchetts Retreat is a 3 bedroom, 2 ½ bathroom home featuring a spacious master bedroom with full double vanity bath on the lower level with private views to the south across a 100 acre field with the Swan Mountains and the Flathead River in the backdrop. This room features a beautiful log king size bed that will surely amaze the lucky occupants. A smart television is mounted on the wall for easy viewing from bed. The owners have provided special decorating touches keeping in mind the overall log accented cabin theme. Two smaller mirror imaged bedrooms are located upstairs with a shared full bath between which we named the Jack and Jill rooms. The Jack room boasts private views to the south and west with a queen size rustic bed and room accents. The Jill room has a 3 person bunk bed featuring a double bed below and single above. Each bedroom has its own wall mounted smart television viewed easily from the beds.
You will love the large map of the Flathead Lake and surrounds which is on display in the Upper Foyer between bedrooms. The adjacent loft area overlooks the great room below and has a small desk for those who need to work from home. The great room below consists of a sitting area around a Jodel propane heat stove and 65 inch smart television and an adjacent beautiful desk with Wifi which can be used as a primary work from home station. A rustic dining table seats 7 and is adjacent to a 3 person bar on the kitchen island for more guests if needed. The great room is lit with a spectacular wagon wheel chandelier. Granite countertops accent the fully equipped kitchen with plenty of counter and cupboard space which contain a nice selection of dishes and flatware and cooking utensils which will make kitchen cooking a delight. A Keurig coffee machine is provided along with several pods for regular and decaffeinated coffee. A conventional drip coffee percolator with filters is also provided.
There is no central air conditioning which is typically not a problem in the Flathead Valley. For your comfort, each bedroom has a ceiling fan and also a small ceiling fan in the upper foyer. The great room has a large ceiling fan to keep the air circulating throughout. Typically the outside temperature at night drops about 20 degrees from the daytime, so most residents open the screened windows at night and close them during the day during a heat wave. The Ranchetts Retreat was constructed to minimize solar gain through the use of low-emissivity windows and with the covered decks on the east and south sides of the cabin to minimize direct sunlight from shining into the cabin. We do have a portable air conditioning window unit on the premises in the locked storage area under the stairs that can be set up if requested.
A new Weber gas grill is located adjacent to a picnic table on the southern covered deck which is connected to the unit’s central propane tank, so running out of fuel is never a problem. Several outdoor chairs are provided and there is a fire pit in the back yard with plenty of wood.
The property is located ¼ mile from a Flathead County boat launch and park on the beautiful navigable Flathead River. The spectacular Flathead Lake with all of it's amenities is approximately 5 miles to the South by boat.
Property manager
Jim Hess
Premier Host
Languages
English
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Mountain view
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock
About the area
Bigfork
Located in Bigfork, this cabin is in a rural area and on a river. Eagle Bend Golf Club and Village Greens Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Kehoe's Agate Shop and Eva Gates Homemade Preserves. Flathead Lake Alpine Coaster and Woodland Water Park are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Bigfork, MT
What's nearby
Flathead River - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
Flathead Lake - 16 min drive - 12.4 km
Bigfork Summer Playhouse - 17 min drive - 12.7 km
Eagle Bend Golf Club - 18 min drive - 11.5 km
Echo Lake - 23 min drive - 11.5 km
Getting around
Kalispell, MT (FCA-Glacier Park Intl.) - 34 min drive
Restaurants
Echo Lake Cafe - 15 min drive
El Topo Cantina - 14 min drive
Buffalo Saloon and Casino - 12 min drive
Del's - 24 min drive
Flathead Lake Brewing Company - 15 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is New Beautiful Well Located Cabin just north of Bigfork near the Flathead River! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at New Beautiful Well Located Cabin just north of Bigfork near the Flathead River!?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at New Beautiful Well Located Cabin just north of Bigfork near the Flathead River!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is New Beautiful Well Located Cabin just north of Bigfork near the Flathead River! located?
Situated on a river, this cabin is steps from Flathead River and within 9 mi (15 km) of Flathead Lake and Kehoe's Agate Shop. Eagle Bend Golf Club and Echo Lake are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We rented this great cabin for 7 nights. Cabin comes with everything you need for your stay. It is in a great location with access to Glacier NP as well as Flathead Lake. Spent every evening on the porch just enjoying the peace and quiet along with the wildlife. Every day and evening we saw many whitetail deer, wild turkeys and would occasionally see an eagle down near the river. There are a lot of good restaurants in all the local communities around the cabin. If back in the area will definitely look to rent this cabin again.
What a delightful and memorable stay we had! The warmth was highlighted by the unique decor! We watched deer, wild turkeys and bald eagles right from the deck! Such a beautiful setting for this little piece of paradise! The host and hostess were welcoming and responsive! We would certainly recommend this for anyone interested in visiting this area! 5 stars for sure!
This cabin was exactly what we needed to complete our Montana experience. It has all the modern luxuries but the "feel" of Montana is everywhere on that property, from the evening sunsets on that amazing porch that looks out over farmland to the intricate details that have been lovingly placed all over the home. You can really feel all the thought and care that has gone in to this space and it is really special. We felt honored to be allowed to enjoy it! It had everything we could possibly need, lots of space for our family of 4, even some toiletries, spices, k-cups for the whole stay! The Hess family knows and understands hospitality! Highly recommend!
Quiet, wonderful cabin with outstanding views of nature
Jim was the best host! He made sure everything was perfect for our stay. The cabin was great with views of a field of deer, wild birds, hummingbirds and rabbits next door. Great WiFi and tv options but you won’t need them much. Close to town and the lake. 10 minute drive. Kitchen and baths well appointed and super clean. Would DEFINITELY come back!
We really enjoyed our stay in this cabin. We saw deer and bunnies every morning. Its very peaceful, beautiful and quiet. The owners are very nice, responsive and helpful. If we needed anything they responded right away, even had some suggestions for activities and places to eat. The cabin is cozy with lots of towels, beach towels, dishes, soap, shampoo, laundry soap, its very well stocked. Plenty of space for my family with the 3 bedrooms. Such a fun week.
I grew up in the area and came back for a family reunion and this place was just PERFECT for our stay. We were able to park and launch our boat on the river to play on the lake. The accommodations were cozy and well appointed. The only thing we didn't find was cooking oils and seasonings so make sure you grab some if you plan to cook. The place does not have central air but we didn't miss it as it stays shaded in thetrees and was really comfortable. They did have a portable unit set up we used for a bit to cool off in the evenings before it started cooling off outside. Host was great and communicated well! Definitely will be back!
James and Bonni did an excellent job as hosts! They were very kind, responsive, and helpful! We absolutely loved the home. Beautiful furnishings! Amazing view of the fields and river! Everything was even better than expected. You can tell that this home was a passion project. They include everything you can possibly think of needing. If you forgot bug spray or even toothbrushes, they have you covered. There were deer and turkey grazing in the field in front of the home. We had a great time and would definitely recommend it! Looking forward to coming back. I stay in a lot of vacation rentals and I never have been this impressed from a home. 😊
Klaudia G.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Ginger
28 July 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
First of all Jim the owner is so personable. We had a goof on the 2nd payment (misunderstanding on my part) and he reached out to us instead of canceling our reservation. That saved our whole vacation! But when we got there he had turned on the lights and cooled off the house for us. He gave us thoughtful recommendations on shopping local information and Glacier National Park tips.
Now for the cabin…. So well done and beautiful. The rooms were laid out so thoughtfully as was the rest of the home. There was literally no detail missed - even mints on the pillows. The cabin was so so clean and extra blankets and pillows were plenty. They provided beach towels and the bath towels were so fluffy and nice. This is such a great value. My kids had space to play and make memories in the awesome yard and enjoy s’mores on the porch at night. The bathrooms are so nice and the washer and dryer saved me from having to take home wet lake day clothes. We truly loved it and it is a steal for the price! Thank you Jim and Bonnie ❤️
Ginger
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
About the host
Hosted by Jim Hess
Jim and Bonni Hess own the Ranchetts Retreat. Bonni and Jim have been married for over 50 years and are both graduates of Montana State University in Bozeman. At the insistence of their son who had also graduated from MSU, they bought their vacation home on the Flathead River in the year 2000. Both Jim and Bonni grew up in Great Falls, Montana and their families had each vacationed in the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park for years. Coming back to the Flathead was like a dream come true. The above picture of Jim and Bonni was taken in Glacier National Park in February 2023.
Why they chose this property
Jim, being a civil engineer who had spent most of his career in the building industry, subdivided the one acre lot from their waterfront property and designed and built the Ranchetts Retreat. The project took almost 5 years to construct because a lot of the work was personally done and the project continued through the pandemic. The interior accents and furnishings were mostly done by Bonni who has always had an eye for interior decorating and knows how to find a bargain. Having utilized short term rentals in many locales, Jim and Bonni knew how to make a guest welcome through their own experience.
What makes this property unique
This property is unique in that it is so very well located in the heart of all that Northwest Montana has to offer. Water sports, fishing, camping, hiking and skiing, to name a few of what the Flathead has to offer. The unique town of Bigfork has a live playhouse that rivals those in large cities throughout the country! Fine dining and casual restaurants abound in the region and we have our favorites and are more than happy to share them with you.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests