Great Getaway

Guest: Shazam (Nevada)
Date of Stay: 01/02/12 Review Submitted: 01/19/12

"Four of us (2 couples) rented this beautiful home for two nights and we left thinking the experience was much too short and should be repeated. Cougar Ranch was like a home away from home, with all the comforts of a well-furnished home. I have never been in a house with so many floor to ceiling windows taking advantage of the beautiful scenery, serene peaks, sunsets and sunrises with amazing colors. We also enjoyed the restaurants and a concert of local musicians in Missoula, home of the University of Montana, a city within easy commute that has a lot of cultural activities year-round, it seems. We used to live in Chicago where we didn't enjoy the winters much, but we found the dry Montana cold easier to cope with. A great place to get away from the routine and rediscover the beauties of Nature."

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

Just a heads up

Guest: Hern (Alberta )
Date of Stay: 12/23/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

We had a group of 8 stay here for xmas. We were satisfied with the property overall however here are a few little points that I would have liked to have known before we rented. Main floor thermosat locked up low 60's. Asked for it to be turned up and was told we would have to pay more! Fortunatly the temp was mild so we made due. The hot tub had lots of water but the temp was set at 98. We turned it up and it was fine. The kitchen is very dated with older appliances, silverware, cutlery etc. Fridge had some mold. There is some odd pictures around the house that aren't really what you would expect in a MT house with a muslim theme. My war vet relatives that visited were a little disturbed. The laundry room is coin operated. Only one warm shower every half hour. One very small older tube style tv in the bsmt. Septic system backed up last day and offered a rather unpleasent smell. There is a beautiful fireplace however we werent allowed to use becasue of insurance restrictions. Were told we could use fire pit but there was no wood anywhere. Pictures don't show 2 other homes within 200 feet of this one. So if you think your going to be tucked away secluded this isnt entirely the case. Owner was nice and left us alone. We didnt leave feeling ripped off. House served purpose and we had a good time with family. The house is big with lots of seating and is comfortable enough. Sleeping arrangements were comfortable.

Owner response:Twenty years ago, travelers had to make do with hotels and B&B accommodations -- could be lovely, but little privacy. In many countries we now enjoy the opportunity to rent what's often a family's second home. A host opens his/her home and hopes that guests will enjoy it and treasure the opportunity. It's a blow to find travel photos hanging on the walls damaged (because of Muslim theme, possibly,) new toilet plugged and white bath towels used to mop up the overflow. Cougar Ranch vacation rental home is 5000 square feet. The first owner thoughtfully equipped it with two big electric furnaces to provide central heating. They work so well that the thermostat controlling both has to be adjusted 5 degrees below the temperature that's needed. When there are guests, the thermostat is set at 64/65, to provide a constant temperature of 68/69. This is Montana and it's a good idea to bring sweaters in the winter. Conserving energy is an issue with most state residents, and in a house where guests are able to adjust temperature in all the bedrooms and bathrooms, and the bar and family room, the central heating is seen as adequate by most guests. The house also is equipped with 2 large water tanks, so they should provide more than 1 shower every half hour. As for the kitchen being dated, it does not have granite counters and a cappucino machine, but a twin-unit coffe machine, 4 electric burners, 2 electric ovens, one microwave, and a large barbecue on the deck outside the kitchen should keep the average cook happy. There is one small rental home nearby along the creek, and a corral area with miniature horses and barns. The young couple renting this smaller home took it upon themselves to provide a Christmas tree, decorations and snow shoveling for the guest family, but there was no thank you. Traditional Montana hospitality was wasted.

Recommended for:Pet owners, families with young children.

Wonderful Stay

Guest: krissiev (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 11/09/11 Review Submitted: 11/20/11

We had a group of 10 stay at this expansive home for most of a week and it was a great place! The only complaints were that the main floor's temperature controls were locked off and set at 60 degrees, and since it was in the 30's and 40's outside we were a bit cold! We were able to control the rest of the home's thermostat though so it wasn't awful. There also wasn't enough water in the hot tub to enjoy it our full stay and we were told not to use it after 2 days. It was one of the perks we were looking forward to so it was a bit of a bummer. Otherwise this was an awesome place to stay.

Owner response:I was very surprised to read this review. Given that the thermostat for the central heating in this 5000 square feet home is in a dark spot, it is set at 68/69 degrees, not what these guests think they saw. In addition to central heating, each bedroom (6) and each bathroom (5) has its own thermostat and baseboard heat, as do the family room and bar area which are separate from the main living room. Regarding the hot tub located on the main deck outside, there was an unfortunate mishap when these guests came for 4 nights: after 48 hours, when we did the regular spa checkup, we found that half the water was gone and that there was a leak in one of the pipe, causing the water level to fall well below the jets. We tried getting a repair person right away, but it was not possible and we apologized to our guests.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

Perfect for our Large family gathering for an out of town wedding

Guest: Loving mountain air! (Cincinnati,Ohio)
Date of Stay: 04/28/11 Review Submitted: 05/07/11

Our large family needed to gather in Missoula for our nephew's wedding. We all were from out of town and had never been to Missoula. this location was perfect- 10 minutes from the airport, 15 minutes from town. This was the IDEAL place for us as a family to get together, enjoy the views of the mountains, the hot tub and sleep14 comfortably ( we each had a vey comfortable bed!). We enjoyed sitting after breakfast with coffee and catching up with each other - something hard to do in a hotel. We had the rehearsal dinner out at " The Cougar Ranch". Costco is in town - we cooked up ham and beef brisket! We had 50 for a buffer dinner! Everyone loved it! helen was lovely and very accommodating - and the neighbor behind the ranch was very friendly when we had to borrow a cooler for the dinner and an iron ahead of the wedding. We'll do this again. You can not beat the value!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Fantastic Getaway

Guest: Megan (Helena, Montana)
Date of Stay: 01/28/11 Review Submitted: 02/04/11

We came for a large family get together and had a wonderful time! The house is beautiful with plenty of room and a nice layout for a large gathering. The owner was wonderful and very helpful, we will definitely be back again. Our only regret is that we could not stay longer! Great price and worth every penny!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

A Wonderful Retreat

Guest: kutuzov (Missoula, Montana)
Date of Stay: 02/19/10 Review Submitted: 03/17/10

Our family recently congregated at Cougar Ranch for a Montana reunion gathering, and couldn't have had more fun! The house was ideal for our multi-generational group, with plenty of common space for games, meals, and laughter, but also enough room to retreat for a little privacy. The views of snow-capped mountain peaks were spectacular, and a soak in the hot tub under the crisp, moonlit night was a highlight. The location is ideal for a short drive to the Mission Mountains and Flathead Lake beyond. We'll be back this summer to enjoy a summer escape!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Hidden in Sight!

Guest: el duque (Missoula, MT)
Date of Stay: 01/16/10 Review Submitted: 03/09/10

Very comfortable. Outstanding views. Serenity emphasized watching the sheep, horses grazing. When chilly, shoot pool, read by fire,enjoy hot tub. Plenty of places to walk. French owner gives European flair. 15 minute drive to Missoula to shop, same to Arlee, home of S/K native tribe, AND Garden of 1000 Buddhas. Simply put, accessible paradise, fine for family or small working group.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

A Fun Filled 70's Palace

Guest: Hop, Skip, Jump to Kalispell (Kalispell, MT)
Date of Stay: 11/26/09 Review Submitted: 11/28/09

Hello Fellow Traveler, My family and I just stayed at this property ThanksGiving 2009. There was a ton of room for everyone and the surroundings are amazing. It is a wonderful deal for what you get. We thought this property was so fun due to the 70's architecture and fixtures. What was so great is that every bathroom and bedroom was decorated differently. The two bars and the pool table were great, the two soaking tubes fabulous, and all the sunk-in living areas with fire engine red carpet were a kick. Now, trust me when I say that it may be 70's but, it has been remodeled and what hasn't been is in extremely great condition. Very clean house, lots of towels and other amenities on hand. Horses just feet from the house are friendly and seemed to enjoy having company on the very large deck off the back of the home. Lots of room in the hot tub, though it was a bit over chlorinated. Overall this was a wonderful place to stay, my only regret was that we didn't get to stay longer.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Beautiful Location - But caution on some items!

Guest: Happycampbeachbaby (Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 08/03/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/09

We just returned from our visit, and while this is a beautiful location, there are a few limitations that you should be aware of when planning your visit. First, you need to be aware that the washer and dryer advertised are coin operated - $2/wash and it took $3 to dry a load of clothes! Found this to be extremely unusual for a vacation rental! Next, the fully equipped kitchen contains one 4 quart soup pot and about 4 small frying pans - not really sufficient for cooking meals for 10 - 14 people! There are also some maintenance issues that need to be addressed - broken drawers, etc. Satellite TV was not properly installed, and we never did get it working, and the internet access is non-existent! In addition, the two bathtubs in the home are very difficult to get in and out of - but there are several walk-in showers available throughout the house. The owner is a lovely person, however, not extremely responsive! All in all, this is a wonderful location, the home provides lots of space to spread out and enjoy your family. The hot tub on the deck is wonderful, and the kitchen is not too bad to cook in (but bring your own pots and cooking utensils). The dining area is large enough to seat more, but the table is limited to 8 people. (There are folding tables, but they don't work really well in the dining area. Also, I would have to say that this is not the best house for people with limited mobility - there are a lot of stairs!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers.

What a Wonderful Vacation

Guest: Paula R (Tampa, FL)
Date of Stay: 07/29/08 Review Submitted: 08/26/08

My family and I was here the end of July beginning of August 2008 we spent seven days here, what a truly beautiful place. It was the most peaceful experience I have ever had. The owners are very wonderful people and were very helpful with suggestions on places to go and things to see and do. We are from Florida and see a lot of beaches and palm trees but nothing compares to the sights on this beautiful ranch. The have a great Jacuzzi and pool table that you can use while you are there and the horses are beautiful and loved all the attention. We spent a lot of time sitting on the back deck in the evening enjoying the beautiful stars and mountains. We will be going back next year and I am sure several more times after that. I would definitely suggest this cabin to everyone,

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.