Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Perfect Home and a Perfect Location

Guest: Wayne (Madison, SD)
Date of Stay: 07/17/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

Six of us spent a week at the Yellowstone River Retreat (YRR), and it was awesome. I cannot recommend this home enough. As my title states, the home and the location are perfect. Ross and Norma took such good care of us. Their home has everything you could desire for spending time on the Yellowstone river and just a short 30 minute drive to Yellowstone National Park. All six of us would recommend the YRR, and would reserve it again in a heart beat. It was clean, comfortable, and oh so homey. We booked the home 10 months ago and we are 100% pleased with our choice. I would gladly visit with anyone thinking about a reservation. We shall return in the future. Thank you Ross and Norma.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Kish Family from California
Date of Stay: 09/17/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Ross and Norma, Thank you for a wonderful stay. Everything was just perfect. We enjoyed your beautiful home and seven gorgeous days in Yellowstone Park. We saw every species of park anaimal including the Lamar Wolves up close and personal as they fed on an elk carcass in the Soda Butte Creek. Thank you again for making your wonderful home available to share with others!

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Guest: Deysher family from Massachusetts
Date of Stay: 08/28/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Our return trip equaled our previous trip! Thank you so much for sharing your retreat with us again! Hope we can return! P.S. our son read your daughters book, "Eyes of War" and said it was wonderful. Nice work!

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Guest: Fletchers from Tennessee
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Norma and Ross, We had a great time; your home was more beautify than the internet pictures!! We went to Yellowstone almost every day and hiked or saw the sights. Two of our party had never been west and couldn't believe how beautiful and different it was from the south. Thank you again for letting us come.

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Guest: Myers Family from Vermont
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. The log home is just beautiful with so many lovely accents and it is so well furnished. Everything we neeeded was at our fingertips. We had a terrific week and toured pretty much all of Yellowstone. But we all looked forward to "our" log home and the doe and baby fawns who live here as well. It was an oasis for us!

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Guest: Geri, Greg, Ian, and Micah from Minnesota
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Dear Norma and Ross, Perhaps the most beautiful house, in the most beautiful setting, in the most beautiful place in the world! Thank you for sharing your beautiful, comfortable home with us. We loved staying here - it was a quiet sanctuary after our busy days. Montana, Wyoming, Yellowstone, and Paradise Valley are amazing! Everything exceeded our expectatons! I think I have the view out of your front windows memorized! From the kids - Thank you for letting us borrow your cabin for the week. It gave us extra activities to do and gave us lots of space as opposed to a cramped little hotel room where the service stinks!

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Guest: Andersons and Gallaghers from CO and PA
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Ross and Norma, Thank you for providing such a beautiful and comrfortable location for the 2010 Anderson-Gallagher reunion. We agreed that while it looked like a cabin, it sure felt like "home" for our visit. This week we explored Helena, Bozeman, Livingston, Emigrant, Gardiner, Chico Hot Springs and Cooke City. There were several expeditions to YNP and we spotted elk, bison, black bear cubs, grizzly bear, antelope, deer, marmot, otter, prairie dog, rabbits, pika, squirrel, pelican, hawk and crow. The girls enjyed the stage coach ride and hot springs. Gorwn-ups fished the Gallatin & Yellowstone Rivers. We tried to "skip" enough stones to build a bridge across the river but were unsuccessful :) ! Pictures can never quite capture the magnitude of this breathtaking scenery; so we take with us memories of the fun times spent with family in Montana & Wyoming and the relaxed feeling of a river retreat.

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Guest: The Williams family from Michigan
Date of Stay: 07/11/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing home with us! We enjoyed every minute in Montana/Wyoming. Loved your view of the mountains, river, and wildlife! Scott and Mitchell enjoyed fishing in the river and even caught a few "trophies." We panned for gold with no success, but had fun! Rafting with the Flying Pig Company was fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone! Chico Hot Springs was a welcome surprise on what would have been a chilly day. Yellowstone was breathtaking! Our family spent 2 full days in the park and caught every site to be had - loved the Firehole River and the falls! P.S. Thanks for the treat basket - my boys loved it!

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Guest: Bill, Norma, Donald, and Leah form New Hampshire
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Thank you so much for letting us stay at your fantastic "River Retreat." We love the view and the fishing - your place was everything we had hoped for. The park is fantastic and the wildlife is unbelieveable. This is our first trip to Montana and we are sure we will return many more times. Thank you again!

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Guest: Smith Family from Mississippi
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

We enjoyed our stay here - beautiful home and setting - so close to the park. Mississippi is the "hospitality" state and we've experienced much hospitality here. Thank you.

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Guest: Roger, Lyn, Penny and Mike from London, England
Date of Stay: 06/20/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Many thanks for the use of your home - it is beautiful! We have had a fantastic time in the Yellowstone area and getting back to the lodge in the evenings was a highlight. Like many others we were lucky enough to see many animals during our stay. Hopefully one day we can return with our extended families so that they can enjoy the area as much as we have!

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Guest: Clifford Family from Arkansas
Date of Stay: 06/13/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Ross and Norma, We LOVED the house....the kids want to build one exactly like it as soon as we get home :) I'm a beach girl so when my husband said we were heading to the mountains this year I was a little nervouse about what we could possibly do for a week in Yellowstone! This was BY FAR the best vacation we have EVER taken! The guys went white water rafting (Loved Flying Pig Raft company) and fished; we hiked everywhere and saw 2 black bear, a cinnamon brown bear, 3 adult grizzlies and 2 grizzly cubs, a wolf pup, big horn sheep, bull elk in velvet and many bison, mule deer and elk.....all amazing! The kids loved the games and sweets and we loved how it felt like home. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us! P.S. Today (Friday) was our last day in the park - we saw 2 black bear, 6 grizzly cubs and 2 female grizzlies PLUS a den of 3 adult wolves with 4 pups, badger, fox, and a golden eagle.....an AMAZING last day!!

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Guest: Schull Family from Minnesota and Arizona
Date of Stay: 06/06/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Ross and Norma: We loved our stay here! It really felt like home. We loved your kitchen! We spent a lot of time relaxing here and playing horse shoes and uno. We saw deer and a bald eagle in the yard. It was exciting getting up very early and going to Lamar Valley where we saw: black bear, elk, bison, bighorn sheep, deer and their babies! Thanks for all the great memories we made here.

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Guest: Morgan Family from Michigan
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 01/23/11

Thanks so much for sharing your home with us. Spectacular! We saw a grizzly mom with her two cubs, buffalo, a white wolf, moose, elk, bald eagle at Yellowstone and deer greeted us outside the cabin our first morning here! Thanks! Oh, and the welcome basket was enjoyed by all as well as the books and games. Our kids loved going horseback riding at Chico Hot Springs. Fly-fishing was spectacular! So was the cabin. Great place! We enjoyed the view and our time fishing was pretty good too!

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Guest: Whites & Tripletts
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

We have travled all over the U.S. and I must say your home and valley is some of the most picturesque. The house contained everything we needed and many sweet extras. The only thing we did not find was an apron which we have left as our gift to you. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.

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Guest: Coulters
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

June 20, 2009: The Coulters from Alabama We were all so glad we found this "Yellowstone River Retreat." Only wish we could have stayed at least another week! My family thought I was really smart for finding it. It would be a pleasure to return some day.

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Guest: Jouan & Herve Families
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

July 14, 2009: Jouan & Herve Families from France We really enjoyed the place. The house was perfect for us. The children played cowboy outside and made a small house. We had much travels in Yellowstone and around the house. We saw a black bear, elk, moose, wolf and coyote. That was a lot for us! Everything is so green, nice and quiet. Nobody missed the T.V.! Bye Bye. We hope to come back again soon.

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Guest: Thierry, and kids
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

August 2009: Family from England Grand Teton and Yellowstone were a revelation for us. We enjoyed so much the trails, the lakes, the wildlife, the colors, the large spaces.... the sky , the boiling river... Back at your house we loved the river, the peacefulness and the comfort. Thanks for opening this part of paradise to us. We will come again to Yellowstone, that is sure. Warm regards.

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Guest: Jim, Nancy, Ben, Wes and Grandma
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

August 2009: Minnesota family A perfect week in Montana heaven! We visited Yellowstone several times- had a trailride at 9,000 feet with the Hells Roarin Ranch, rafted down the Yellowstone and had a rock climbing lesson in Gallatin. Had fish for dinner two nights- mostly whitefish, but some trout as well. So many memories and so much time to reconnect as a family before our oldest heads overseas for a year. Thanks for the superb cabin - everything we could want and spotlessly clean. We loved the deer and fawns who nibbled in the yard most evenings. You've spoiled us and we'll definitely be back for more Montana Memories! P.S. Even saw President Obama's motorcade in Bozeman today. We waved but no response!

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Guest: Sturns Family
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

September 2009: The Sturns from Illinois Your house is wonderful and the scenery is beautiful. It was the perfect base for our vacation. The kids loved playing by the river, Sue loved the starlit nights, and I loved watching the sun wink out behind the horizon through your picture perfect windows. We made some great family memories in Yellowstone. Chuckwagon cookout with the Roosevelt 'wranglers', a wolf spotting trek (5 cubs and 2 adults of the Blacktail pack), kayaking on Yellowstone Lake, geyser watching (fountain paint pots were a hit), bison watching in Lamar Valley, and horseback riding out of Mammoth Hot Springs, PHEW...we need a break! Best wishes and hope to come back!

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Guest: Pater Family
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

August 2009: Pater family from Illinois Thank you for getting us in at the last minute. After camping for a week, your house was such a luxury to stay in. The views and the comfort of the house couldn't have been better. The Boiling River was a blast, especially fighting the current of the Gardner River. Took a raft from here to Emmigrant bridge - what a beautiful and relaxing ride - 3 hours of no need to paddle (except at about 6 miles where the giant eddy makes you sit up dead in your tracks)! There were a couple of small white water rapids, just enough to wet us and give us a little excitment for us novices. Too many deer in the yard to count - at one time there was one doe with 4 babies. The chocolate fudge bars from Wilsoxson's (made in Livingston) were too good. We went through 2 boxes - Yum! Oh, star gazing at night - we saw Mars and the Milky Way which takes up the whole sky out here where it is so visible!

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Guest: Jeff, Mat, Mark, Dan, Alred
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

September 2009: Michigan fisherman Thanks for providing a beautiful home, view, and everything we needed to make this one of the best Montana experiences our little group of Michiganates has ever had. The eagle out front, horses in teh pasture across the river, fishing and hiking were great. What a great slice of the country you have. Thanks for having us!

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Guest: Mallory
Date of Stay: 02/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

August 2009: Nebraska family This trip to Montana was amazing. You house is so comfortable. Right when we walked in it felt like home. The only thing I regret is not staying longer. Times goes by so fast. We saw 2 black bears, a ton of bison and we saw deer by your stairs of your house. We also went to Chico Hot Springs which was a blast! We went to the river a lot to go fishing. We played card games and my brother and I did one puzzle. Thank you for leaving those candies. They were wonderful. During the evening we played volleball, frisbie, and soccer. I hope we come back soon. Everyone had so much fun!

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Guest: David, Beth, Nate, Ben, Elliot
Date of Stay: 08/30/08 Review Submitted: 08/29/08

Our only regret is not staying longer. What a beautiful place to reconnect with family and friends. We explored the trails, fished for trout, spotted the owl and deer, and remembered who we are.

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Guest: Collins and Richards families
Date of Stay: 08/06/08 Review Submitted: 08/05/08

We had a great stay at your house - very comfortable and clean. Caught a few trout in the river. Went on a horseback ride with our daughter as guide. Also went on a rafting trip out of Gardiner - that was fun! Thank you for providing a great home for our family vacation!

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Guest: Sheards and Javorskys
Date of Stay: 07/31/08 Review Submitted: 07/30/08

What a privilege it is to enjoy your place of stay! Your lovely cabin was perfect for our families. We enjoyed your kitchen, making every supper meal at home. Our children all slept in the loft at some point during the week. We have friends back home who want to know if the cabin is as beautiful as it looks online. An emphatic YES is our answer. Perhaps they will come someday!

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Guest: Fielder Family
Date of Stay: 06/28/08 Review Submitted: 06/27/08

What a quick week it has been! Visiting Yellowstone and exploring the region by day - and then a beautiful home to come back to each night. We love that it stays light to almost 10:00pm but it does make for some late nights! Our girls have adjusted great to "no TV." When not out and about we're here reading, playing games, or just enjoying the amazing scenery. Really, everything here has just been perfect and we've had a great vacation. Our thanks to you for helping to make it possible. Best regards.

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Guest: Bullard family
Date of Stay: 08/11/07 Review Submitted: 08/10/07

A beautiful wonderful place. All thing here for a home away from home. We didn't want to leave! We had great fun rafting whitewater of Yankee Jim Canyon, seeing all the sites and animals of Yellowstone, and having the daily visits from the mule deer here at the cabin. I hope we can come back!

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Guest: Ken, Debby, Jack, Cheslie
Date of Stay: 07/21/07 Review Submitted: 07/20/07

A fabulous place!! Extremely quiet and restful! We caught lots of Browns, Cuts, and Rainbows on the Yellowstone, Lamar, Gibbon, Slough Creek, and the Madison. This is a thoughtfully equipped place that felt like home to all of us. We especially enjoyed the deer at night and having our own private daily caddis hatch so we could "match the hatch!" Thanks for a wonderful stay. We hope to be back!

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Guest: Bordley family
Date of Stay: 07/07/07 Review Submitted: 07/06/07

The heat wave of 2007 has been impressive - 105 degrees when we came out of the Tom Miner Basin, but heat is no problem when you have the glorious Yellowstone River in the front yard! We swam every day and floated the river in tubes each afternoon. Still managed to hike Pine Creek to the falls, the Livingston Round-up Rodeo, and hiked in Yellowstone. The fishing was spectacular in the Yellowstone every evening and we caught cutthrout and Browns regularly. Thanks for making your fantastic and spotless home avaialbe to those of us who dream of Montana and Western skies!

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Guest: the NY ladies!
Date of Stay: 06/30/07 Review Submitted: 06/29/07

What a wonderful home you have here in Paradise Valley. Location was perfect for all activites in Yellowstone. Safari Yellowstone was our guide to take us around YNP. I would highly recommend. Very knowledgeable! The Boiling River is a must visit for all. Go early and avoid the crowds. Montana Whitewater Rafting - Wonderful! Back to your home...What a comforatable home to sit, relax, after a long day of activities....aaahhh. Thank you for your hospitality and treats too!

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Guest: Legg Family
Date of Stay: 06/19/07 Review Submitted: 06/18/07

Another great time at your wonderful River Retreat. Saw every creature to be seen and had super weather. hate to head back south where the temp is in upper 90's. 70's here.... Thanks for everything, we'll be back!

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Guest: Riddles and Jones families
Date of Stay: 08/05/06 Review Submitted: 08/04/06

What a wonderful 1st visit we all had to Yellowstone NP! The views are priceless. We especially enjoyed your home and the many deer that our kids enjoyed watching. Thanks for a great place to stay!

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Guest: Bob and Sue
Date of Stay: 07/29/06 Review Submitted: 07/28/06

It's a wonderful house, great books, and games, comfortable beds, and the view is super! It was a bit hot this week but we saw lots of deer, bald eagles, and osprey. Thanks!

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Guest: Mike, Mary, Ben, & Simon
Date of Stay: 07/22/06 Review Submitted: 07/21/06

What a beautiful house you have here in the stunning scenery of Paradise Valley! It has been a perfect location for our visit to Yellowstone Park. Thank you for a great week!

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Guest: Achynyan family
Date of Stay: 07/07/06 Review Submitted: 07/06/06

I can't even begin to explain the excitment I felt the moment I stepped into this house. I am truly bewildered. It's so beautiful here, I mean, nothing like the endless cities in Chicago. I have NEVER seen such a starry sky. Yellowstone park was exhilerating also...when traffic was caused on a high mountain because someone spotted a baby bear eating grass!! And this cabin, well, we never ran out of anything. Thank you so much!! P.S. I was VERY inspired. This place really cured my artist block. Relief! ohh, after two years, I find my sanctuary here!

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Guest: Crenshaw family
Date of Stay: 06/23/06 Review Submitted: 06/22/06

Great week and great weather. The pond was great with lots of wildlife. The fishing was slow but good, especially in the channel in front of the house. We had a great visit!

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Guest: Lohse family
Date of Stay: 08/07/05 Review Submitted: 08/06/05

We couldn't have dreamed of a better stay! We loved the view, water, fishing, the comfort, and the space accommodated us so well. We can't thank you enough. Thanks for sharing your piece of heaven!

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Guest: Kaluzny Family
Date of Stay: 08/01/05 Review Submitted: 07/31/05

Twenty-six years ago, Stephen and I got engaged in the Tetons on our way to Seattle from Iowa. We honymooned in Yellowstone and the Tetons the following year. To celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, we wanted to return to the area. But whereas in the past we had backpacked, camped and hopped from hotel to hotel, this time we wanted to stay somewhere special. We found it in your Yellowstone River Retreat! What a great week we had! Visits to Yellowstone, Chico, and Livingston; whitewater rafting, playing in the river and pond and just plain relaxing. This area is truly paradise. Thank you for sharing your beautiful, comfortable home with us. We found everything we needed to make our stay enjoyable. We will have fond, special memories of our 25th anniversary! Thank You!

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Guest: Legg Family
Date of Stay: 07/24/05 Review Submitted: 07/23/05

Paradise Valley fits the bill as we have definitely had our slice of paradise this week at the Yellowstone River Retreat. We have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to see bald eagles soar the river for fish, the deer graze the banks and a pair of foxes just at the road. The location of your welcoming home has been a perfect vacation spot for our family. The best has been just the laid back atmosphere of your home here on the beautiful spectacular banks of the Yellowstone River. We look forward to returning again and are hopeful in our plans for July '06! Thank you for your hospitality.

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Guest: Faynlk Family
Date of Stay: 07/07/05 Review Submitted: 07/06/05

What a fun time we have had in your home and state! Your home is very comfortable. WE sense your hospitality and you're not even here! Our boys loved the treat basket. Thank you! They devoured the books (Dr. Seuss) and games and puzzles. We really enjoyed our TV-free time. You have a great fishing hole! One of our boys caught three fish in one outing! Thank you for sharing your home with us. We will leave your home and state with memories we will treasure the rest of our lives.

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