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The historic Alpine Meadows Ranch is a beautiful, rustic Frank Lloyd Wright designed, 250+ acre private estate ranch and wildlife refuge located behind locked gates in the Bitterroot Valley of southwestern Montana just a few miles west of Darby. We offer the ranch for weddings, family reunions, and seminars. We can accomodate up to 25 overnight guests at a time. Additional space is available for rv's, tents, etc. We have had functions of more than 100 people visiting the ranch at one time for various meetings as we have a meeting room in the Cider house with an outdoor patio accessible during the spring, summer and fall.
Several magazine articles have been written about the historical ranch, the most recent in The Montana Magazine in 2009. The ranch is located one hour south of the Missoula international airport two miles west of highway 93 and is tucked between the Sapphire and Bitterroot Mountains. The ranch offers breathtaking vistas of both mountain ranges! This beautiful property sits at an elevation of 4,200 feet and borders the Bitterroot National Forest and the Selway Wilderness Area, the largest wilderness area in the country. The Bitterroot valley is referred to as the "Banana Belt" of Montana due to the frequent mild winters. The Bitterroot River is just a few minutes away and offers excellent fly fishing and rafting. White water rafting is available on the Salmon river one hour to the south.
The ranch provides a secure, tranquil setting where one can relax, enjoy, and recharge behind locked gates. Enjoy several local restaurants and/or healthy catering services are available for an additional charge. All facilities have full kitchens and ,if desired, organic food is available in Hamilton, 15 minutes to the north.
The original Wright designed house and cabin(www.savewright.org ,www.franklloydwright.org) are located within the main compound where in 1909 Wright designed the"Como orchards-University Heights subdivision". It has been reported that the ranch was Wright's first subdivision project in his Prairie Style of architecture. Wright originally designed the original 2,500 acre property with a large bunkhouse and multiple small lots that now include the Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Style House and Cabin, the Upper and Lower Meadow Suites, and the new Cider House entertainment center for family and friends. The old bunkhouse was torn down decades ago.
In the past, the ranch has been used as a working cattle ranch. Currently, the pasture land is leased and cattle ingest only hay. Many celebrities own property in the Bitterroot valley and are hidden behind closed gates.
To our knowledge, the historical house and cabin are the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed Prairie style structures in the northwest. Extensive wildlife including deer, elk, and moose are occasionally seen in the ranch meadows and forest.
The Cider House entertainment center was built in 2003 and is aptly named, since it has been built to resemble a turn of the century Frank Lloyd Wright designed building. The Cider House has been built on the old 1920's ranch apple processing building site, using old barn wood from one of the old apple orchid barns that fell into disrepair. Incredible panoramic views of the Sapphire and Bitterroot mountains are enjoyed from inside the Cider House or on the viewing deck. There is a full kitchen and bathroom with shower in the Cider house as well. We use the building for guest useage as well as lectures, entertaining larger groups, and for business meetings.
The Cider House
We have hiking trails through out the ranch that connect to miles of forest service trails. Additional ranch activities include hiking, off-site biking, indoor basketball in the farm barn. We are conveniently located a few minutes from shopping and the local hospital in Hamilton. The Hamilton public golf course and the new aquatic center are just 15 minutes away. Also, we enjoy the new fitness center a few miles away in Darby with the latest in work out equipment, inclusive of weight machines, free weights, and cardio and trainer. Other fitness centers are located in Hamilton and pool swimming is available. An airport with jet service is also found in Hamilton and the international airport is in Missoula one hour away. Rental cars are available in Missoula and Hamilton.
The ranch is free of pesticides and herbicides. The water from the well is pure without a possibility of human contamination. We espouse a healthy lifestyle and will provide you at your request with the information and location to optimize your health while having a great time.
Cattle are pastured on our fields from June to October and sold in the fall. Quarter horses graze in the fields. There is an abundance of water on the property with multiple springs and excellent irrigation water rights.
Eastern view of the Ranch Meadows and Sapphire Mountains
World class fly fishing is available on the Bitterroot river is just a few minutes away. Fly fishing is available a few hours away on the Big Hole, Rock Creek, Blackfoot, Gallatin, Salmon rivers just a few hours away. There are excellent guide services available for river fly fishing.
Winter snow activities start the end of November on the ranch and include cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and sledding. Excellent downhill skiing is available at Lost Trails Powder Mountain 30 minutes to the south. Guided snowmobile trips and dog sledding are also available in the valley.
The fireplaces in the Wright and Cider house invites us to nestle in with a good book and/or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
Inquire at 1-406-369-5956/1-858-442-8863 for information regarding a ranch stay.
Winter Vista looking Northeast above the Main Compound
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