Flathead Lake Lodge

Montana Guest Ranch Partners with HopeKids and Montana Children’s to Host 20 Children and Their Families with Life-threatening Medical Conditions in 2020

Tuesday, September 10, 2019—Bigfork, Montana—Flathead Lake Lodge, a family-owned guest ranch in Montana, is honored to announce that it will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020 with “A Week of Hope,” an event that will welcome families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition to their 2,000 acre ranch in Bigfork. Slated for June 7 – 14, 2020, “A Week of Hope” was created to honor the ranch’s 75th anniversary and to give back and commemorate the last 75 years of family and Western traditions.

“As we thought about how to celebrate our 75th anniversary, we knew it had to be bigger than us,” said Chase Averill, the third-generation General Manager at Flathead Lake Lodge. “For our family, it was important that we celebrate the legacy that was started by Grandpa Les when he opened the lodge is 1945 and continued by my own father, Doug as he helped carry on the Western way of life.”

To bring “A Week of Hope” to life, Flathead Lake Lodge has partnered with HopeKids, a national organization that provides ongoing events and activities for families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition—and Montana Children’s, Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s pediatric facility offering high-quality inpatient and outpatient pediatric specialty care in northwest Montana. HopeKids works throughout the United States, with chapters in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas.

Through their cooperative efforts with HopeKids and Montana Children’s, Flathead Lake Lodge will welcome up to 20 children who have a life-threatening medical condition and their families for a week at Flathead Lake Lodge where they will experience the ranch like any other guest, complete with authentic Western experiences, horseback trail rides, water recreation, a barn dance and more.

“HopeKids prides itself on being an organization that builds deep relationships and community not only amongst the families we serve but also with our supporters,” said Josh Taylor, President of HopeKids, Inc. “We are thrilled to be working with Flathead Lake Lodge, an organization with values that not only align with ours but is also helping provide hope to families across the United States who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. The partnership between HopeKids and the lodge is just another example of the power of giving and the impact it can have on those around us.”

Throughout “A Week of Hope,” Montana Children’s will be facilitating medical care and support to the guests, as well as providing onsite physicians at Flathead Lake Lodge.

To help bring “A Week of Hope” to life, additional sponsors and donors are needed to help cover travel and hard costs for these children and their families. Flathead Lake Lodge has set up a donation page where individuals, companies and more can make tax-deductible donations, become a corporate sponsor or donate Delta SkyMiles.

Learn more about Flathead Lake Lodge at www.FlatheadLakeLodge.com and become involved with “A Week of Hope” at www.FlatheadLakeLodge.com/AWeekOfHope.

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About Flathead Lake Lodge
A family-owned and -operated guest ranch, Flathead Lake Lodge is located in Montana on the shores of Flathead Lake—the largest freshwater lake in the West. Encompassing 2,000 acres of terrain, Flathead Lake Lodge has been welcoming guests from around the world for nearly 75 years with its one-of-a-kind hospitality. A family travel destination, the lodge also hosts groups, corporate retreats, meetings, events and destination weddings. More information can be found at FlatheadLakeLodge.com or on Facebook and Instagram.

As summer continues here in Montana, we are excitedly awaiting the arrival of our latest additions to Flathead Lake Lodge, our three brand-new, all-inclusive, adults-only fall packages. Autumn in Montana is one of the most breathtaking times of year and we’re looking forward to sharing it with our guests through these three packages: the Montana Adventure in the Crown of the Continent (September 1 – 5, 2019), Relax and Restore in Montana’s Wide-open Spaces (September 12 – 15, 2019) and Unplug and Reconnect: Retreat to Montana (September 25 – 29, 2019).

Fall along the Middle Fork of the Flathead.
Fun fact: Western larch (also known as tamarack) turn yellow in autumn.
Photo: NPS / Jacob Frank

In case you’re looking for that perfect adults-only retreat, here are five reasons to visit Flathead Lake Lodge.

1. Fall is for the Grown-ups

If you’ve been to Flathead Lake Lodge during the summer, you know by know that our summer season is geared toward families. But heck, we also think adults deserve the chance to enjoy the beauty of Flathead Lake Lodge sans kids. Which is why our three fall packages are geared specifically toward adults, with each offering a distinct experiences based on adventure, relaxing and reconnecting.

2. Fall Foliage: We’ve Got It

Chances are, Montana is not at the top of your fall-foliage viewing destination list but we’re here to tell you that it should be. Honestly, there’s nothing quite like Big Sky Country in the fall. Here in northwest Montana, you’ll see our mountains and valleys welcome vibrant shades of yellows, golds, oranges and reds. Combine fall colors with crisp mornings, sunshine-filled days and fewer people visiting and you’ve got yourself a beautiful getaway. Plus, each of our three packages includes elements of exploring the outdoors, whether it be on a guided horseback trail ride, quiet morning walks, yoga overlooking the lake or a tour along Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road.

*A bird’s-eye view of Flathead Lake Lodge in autumn.*

3. Bison

American bison (also commonly nicknamed buffalo) are a rich part of America’s landscape and have an incredible history in this part of the West. One of our packages—the Montana Adventure in the Crown of the Continent—is just that, an adventure. This five-day, four-night package takes place over Labor Day weekend and includes Glacier National Park and a visit to the ranch’s herd of bison on the Blackfeet Nation.

4. Peace and Quiet

Truth be told, summer is busy. We’re lucky that our guest ranch sits on 2,000 acres along Flathead Lake and offers a private reprieve, even in the height of July. But during fall, the peace and quiet found in this place and in northwest Montana can be felt and we’re convinced that Big Sky Country is the best place to get away from it all. Throughout your time at Flathead Lake Lodge, you’ll hear some of the most perfect sounds in the world: birds chirping in trees, horses whinnying in the distance, a soft breeze moving through the trees and water from Flathead Lake lapping up onto the shore.

5. Finding Your Own Montana Moment

Around here, we’re big on inviting people to discover their own #MontanaMoment. Whether that’s seeing gorgeous fall colors during a hike or taking in the smell of the mountain air from the back of a horse, we want each of our guests to leave Flathead Lake Lodge feeling relaxed and recharged, and with your own #MontanaMoment firmly in hand. No matter when you visit or what fall package you book, we’ll work hard to ensure you leave with plenty of memories and unforgettable moments.

If you haven’t yet, call us at 406-837-4391 or drop us an email and we’ll walk you through each of the packages to help you pick the best one for you. Here’s to a beautiful fall at Flathead Lake Lodge.

Happy Trails,

-Chase

Just like that, our favorite summer holiday—the Fourth of July—has passed. Independence Day at Flathead Lake Lodge and in Bigfork, Montana, is one of the biggest parties you’ll ever find in Big Sky Country and we’re so grateful that all of our guests— some new, others long-time returners—were here to celebrate with us. Between rolling our firetrucks through the famous Bigfork Fourth of July Parade and ending the day with our weekly steak fry, it was a fun day for all and we already can’t wait for next year.

Here’s a little taste of the Fourth of July at Flathead Lake Lodge.

The Parade

One of our favorite Fourth of July traditions is decorating our vintage firetrucks to drive in the parade. The best part about the decorating is that our guests get in on the fun and help us deck them out with American flags and red, white and blue streamers. Once our floats are good and decorated, we load up into three firetrucks, an army truck, a tractor trailer and our Checker Aerobus and head for the parade in Bigfork.

And while we’ve always had a soft spot for this parade (our family and the lodge have been participating for years), locals and out-of-town visitors love it as well. Armed with buckets (and buckets and buckets) of candy to toss to bystanders along the route, we closed out the parade with our decorated vehicles, patriotic attire and “U-S-A” chants. And, as per tradition, Doug got in on the fun by spraying the crowd with water from his firetruck.

Steak Fry

After the parade, one of our other Fourth of July traditions is our steak fry. Guests head up to the steak fry meadow on board our firetrucks or on horseback, where we greeted them with sirloin steaks cooked over the fire, homemade potato salad, my mom’s famous baked beans (you probably know here as Maureen) and cowboy music from our friend, Gene.

*Our group of riders headed off to the steak fry.*

*Cooking up the steaks with my best helpers.*

The Grand Finale: Fireworks

Every year, we end Independence Day with our own fireworks show at Flathead Lake Lodge. Guests lay out blankets and cozy up next to campfires as we celebrate America with a fireworks show over Flathead Lake. While we’ve been doing it for years, it’s one of those traditions that means the most to our staff, our guests and our family.

*One of our favorite nights of the year.*

The Fourth of July week is one of our favorite weeks at the lodge and we love celebrating it with our guests. If you’re interested in joining us for future celebrations, visit us here or call us at 406-837-4391.

Happy Trails,

-Chase

Earlier this month, we welcomed thousands of Spartan racers to Flathead Lake Lodge for the Montana Ultra, Beast and Sprint Weekend. And as always, it was one of the most adrenaline-pumping events that we host on the lodge’s 2,000 acres. While we’re a traditional guest ranch in the summer season, during the off season our location and space give us the opportunity to host a variety of events, with the Spartan Race continually bringing 7,500+ people to our ranch every May.

And we’ve got to tell you, it’s a fun one to watch. Take a look at some of the photos from the event below…

*Mud, trees and racers. Three of our favorite Spartan weekend things.*

*One of the race’s views: Flathead Lake.*

*Thinking of adding this to our kids’ activity offerings. 😉*

*This team of ladies came up from Bozeman to compete.*

*Call us cheesy, but we love that this family raced together and made a memory at Flathead Lake Lodge.*

In case you think you missed the fun, we’ll be doing it again next year. Save the date for May 9-10, 2020 and come join us at Flathead Lake Lodge.

Until next time,

-Chase

While you may have seen a mention of some of the new things we’re lassoing up here at Flathead Lake Lodge, we wanted to come right out and tell you about our newest endeavor: our adults-only fall packages.

Making their debut for the first time ever, we’re pretty pleased to be offering three distinct experiences for guests at Flathead Lake Lodge. And while we could ramble on and on about why we did it, what we’re most excited about and more, instead we’re gonna skip the small talk and introduce you to the latest additions to the lodge.

Montana Adventure in the Crown of the Continent: September 1 – 5, 2019

This package is well-suited for travelers looking for an adventure that combines Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, fall colors, horseback rides and the ranch’s bison herd on the Blackfeet Nation. This package, truth be told, is one of the ones we’ve been looking forward to offering for quite a while as it beautifully blends some of the best natural wonders in the place we call home. Additional package highlights: boat cruises, campfires with live music, touring the elk preserve, sailing on Flathead Lake and driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.

Relax and Restore in Montana’s Wide-open Spaces: September 12 – 15, 2019

If you’ve ever been to Flathead Lake Lodge, chances are you’ve felt the spirit of restorative wonder that’s found here in Montana. This package takes that feeling a step further by transforming our 2,000 acres into a place that allows you to unwind, relax and recharge your spirit. Retreat highlights: onsite massages, golf, yoga, horseback trail rides, apple pressing and guided walks.

*The barn and corral at Flathead Lake Lodge*.

Unplug and Reconnect: Retreat to Montana: September 25 – 29, 2019

While you can be connected while you’re here in Western Montana, this package encourages you to unplug and soak up the vibrant colors of autumn on the shore of the largest freshwater lake in the West. This all-inclusive package features OULA, a Montana-born dance workout, quiet trail rides and plenty of opportunities to learn how to feed your body, mind and soul. Basically, we want to leave you better than we found you. Wellness retreat highlights: sunset restorative fitness classes, trail runs, horseback riding and a mountain meadow steak fry.

And with that, you’ve met our three newest offerings at the lodge. We hope you love them as much as we loved creating them and that you find just what you’re looking for when you visit Montana, Bigfork and Flathead Lake Lodge.

If one of the new packages tickled your fancy, you can find more information here, contact us here or call us at 406-837-4391.

Until next time,

-Chase

While we’re deep in the midst of various projects, updates and planning for summer and fall (in case you missed it, we’re offering new packages this fall), we wanted to provide a behind-the-scenes look at what winter is like at Montana’s Flathead Lake Lodge.

Even though we only welcome guests during what we like to call Montana’s warm season, you’ll find staff, horses, elk and more throughout our property during the winter months. And since this is a time of year at the lodge that not many get to see, we wanted to provide you with a glimpse into what winter is like in and around Bigfork, Montana.

Take a look…

*If you close your eyes, you can *almost* imagine the icicles being replaced with hanging baskets of flowers.*

*On snow days in Montana…we still come to work.*

*While winter started pretty mildly, the last few weeks have seen several inches of light power falling across the state.*

*Our horses don’t mind a little cold and fresh snow.*

*While Flathead Lake gets most of its attention in the summer, there’s something truly beautiful about its calm and utter vastness during winter.*

*A different view of the dock than our guests are use to.*

*Views like this get us every single time.*

We also often get asked if we’ve ever thought about opening during the winter season. Just for fun, we did a poll on our Instagram stories and the vast majority of you say YES, we should open for the winter.

For now, if you’re looking to plan your summer trip to Montana, call us at 406-837-4391 or learn more about our offerings, including our brand-new fall packages, here.

See you when the snow melts,

-Chase

Earlier this month, the 14th Annual Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame banquet took place in Billings, where the organization honored my dad, Doug Averill, with the Western Heritage Award. Every year, this award is given to individuals who have contributed to rodeo and the Western way of life in Montana. Now, as you can likely imagine, I’ve grown up with Doug and learned from him what it was like to live and love the cowboy way of life. There’s not many men that still exist like Doug and to see him be honored with this award for the man he is made me proud and humble, all at once.

*Doug receiving the Western Heritage Award in Billings, Montana.*

As part of the banquet, the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame did a write-up on Doug and we thought it would be appropriate to share some of the tidbits they included about him:

Doug is a third-generation Montanan who grew up with eight brothers on his family’s ranch.
While he’s had a rich life, one element he has focused on has been to share, teach and promote the cowboy and ranch lifestyle to families around the world as he welcomes them to Montana, Flathead Lake Lodge and Quarter Circle LA Ranches.
He’s a wealth of knowledge when it comes to cattle and horse ranching, as well a ranch, farm and recreational management.
Throughout his life, Doug has had a unique outlook on what to offer guests in Montana. Throughout his 44 years of running the lodge, his accomplishments include bison ranches, tree farms, sailboats, restoring historic ranches, creating a 500-acre elk preserve and continuing to teach the next generation about ranching and the cowboy way of life.
He’s received the highest civilian honor awarded by the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff and has hosted military leaders from 104 countries on the shores of Flathead Lake.
Doug and Maureen (AKA Dad and Mom).

Doug Averill.

To Doug, we’re proud to call you our dad and grandpa. Thanks for showing us what it’s like to live a life fully and with intention.

-Chase

At Montana’s Flathead Lake Lodge, one of the things we’re most proud of is our family’s heritage and the love that’s been poured into this place for the last 74 years. Since its founding in 1945, Flathead Lake Lodge has been owned and operated by the Averill family, including Les (founder/my grandpa) and Doug (Les’ son/my dad).

As the third generation of my family to take the reins at the ranch, I can’t help but think about the foundation that’s been laid by my grandfather and my dad (as well as my grandma and my mom). Their work, dedication and commitment to our 2,000-acre guest ranch on the shores of Flathead Lake has been ingrained in me over the years and I’m looking forward to continuing their legacy. As a Montana boy, I know what it’s like to be feel connected to the mountains, to the lake and to the lifestyle that’s found in the West. For our family —and it’s my hope that our guests feel this way too — Flathead Lake Lodge is a special place.

There’s not many places like this that still exist, and if you’ll forgive this cowboy for being a bit of a softie, I’m proud to continue to build upon the foundation that’s been built over the last seven decades. If you’ve been to the ranch, I can’t wait to personally welcome you back. And if you’re planning your first visit, I look forward to meeting you and introducing you to our piece of Montana paradise.

Until then, happy trails.

-Chase