About Us

The view of the Sapphire Mountains looking east.

The new Cider House was just completed in 2003 and was mostly built from 100 year old barn wood found on the property. It was built in the Wright style with a hip roof, overhanging eaves, and abundant windows, emphasizing  Wright's design concept, "of the land, not on the land.". The building offers spectacular mountain vistas and is a great place for family activities and adult functions. The building is set up to handle business meetings as well. The Cider House had a full kitchen and bathroom with shower. Two penny nails were used to secure the rough cut lumber floor which were sanded and sealed. The floor was built to resemble an old barn floor. Structural ceiling beams were salvaged from burnt areas of the forest and the burnt bark was left in place on the beams providing a very rustic look.

Depending on the time of year, ranch activities include horseback riding on private ranch trails leading to the forest service, ranch hiking, seasonal stream inner tubing, indoor/outdoor sports, wildlife observation and photography. Fly fishing on the Bitterroot river is just a few minutes away and white water river rafting on the North Fork of the Salmon river is one hour away. Lake Como is 10 minutes away and provides a sandy swimming beach. 

During winter, Downhill Skiing is available at Lost Trails Powder Mountain just 30 minutes south of the ranch and is famous for family skiing at reasonable prices with excellent snow conditions. Instructors are available for reasonable rates at Lost Trails. Cross Country Skiing trails are available on the ranch and the best cross country groomed trails in the state of Montana are found at Chief Joseph Cross Country ski area a few minutes from Powder Mountain.  Snowshoeing is also available on the ranch.

The ranch has an incredible history. In the latter part of 1908, America's most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, was commissioned to design a development in the mountains that would allow people from the city to visit the mountains, pick apples during Montana's apple boom, socialize, and live in a little utopia. It is believed that Wright also visited the site for development. He was commissioned for both the development and the landscape plan. At the site of his development, there is an old subdivision where the main buildings are located.  The ranch eventually went into bankruptcy during the depression and went through a series of owners. The Roland family purchased the original building sites on 155 acres, purchased an additional 100 acres, and started the renovation process in 1991.

The Wright house and the Wright Cabin have been renovated and are the only remaining ranch buildings built in the early 1900's. They represent the only listed Frank Lloyd Wright House and Cabin in Montana. They are listed under the University Heights Project in Wright's compendium. Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural style was very distinct, emphasizing indigenous materials. Large field stones were collected from the property and the nearby Bitterroot River and were made into the large stone fireplace found in the main house.  The original sash and window designs have been preserved in both the house and cabin. The bedrooms enter directly into the main living room which was a new concept in that period. The family room has expansive views and is replete with multiple windows looking to the Sapphire mountain range to the east and the Bitterroots to the south. 

The House Fieldstone Fireplace	The Mountain Meadow Suites

The Wright house and cabin are surrounded by mature trees, adjacent to a seasonal stream. The Mountain Meadow Suites overlook the meadows and  mountains to the south, where one can often see the ranch's abundant wildlife such as deer and wild turkeys with the occasional elk or moose. Each 1,100 square foot suite includes two bedrooms, bathroom with shower, and a full kitchen. The Meadow Suites were built in 1998, using much of the material from the old calving barn that was located on the same site.

The Wright House Living Area with Wright Windows

Ownership of the Alpine Meadows Ranch is a privilege as it is a beautiful, romantic and secluded historic hide-away. To preserve the privacy and seclusion, access to the Ranch is through a secure, automatic locked gate.

The Ranch is located in western Montana two miles west of Highway 93 and Darby, Montana, and a scenic one hour drive south of Missoula and the Missoula International Airport.