"The Most Beautiful Home on Flathead Lake" Winter Ski/Solitude Skidoo Bay, Montana Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 96053

Lake House from the dock (morning, before front lawn)

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Location: Skidoo Bay, Flathead Lake, Montana, USA (Flathead Lake/Finley Pt, Polson, MT. Missoula/Glacier Airpor) View Map

Accommodations:  House, 4 Bedrooms + Detached Unit, 2.5+ Baths (Sleeps 10)

Welcome to beautiful Flathead Lake - truly one of the last best places. Our home sits on Finley Point's protected Skidoo Bay, with views of the Swan and Mission Mountain ranges. Just steps beyond the stone steps of the house is a perfect lake shore where (weather permitting) you'll watch the sun rise each morning over those mountains.

This home is a newly constructed craftsman-style bungalow, designed by one of Montana's most famous living architects with inspiration from the famous Greene & Greene Pasadena houses. Natural materials, abundant with rock and stonework, prevail inside and out. The home itself sits on a single level - designed for maximum lake views throughout the house.

In the winter, radiant heat keeps the wood and stone floors warm to the touch. Two rock fireplaces will further warm and charm you. The great room features a 20' rock fireplace, which backs to an outdoor courtyard with a separate fireplace for year-round use.

This home provides the perfect vacation retreat in any season. In the summer, the possibilities are endless. Hiking, boating, golfing and swimming are just a few of the outdoor options. The nearby Polson Golf Course overlooks Flathead lake and is a terrific bargain with 9 holes of golf for $20. The Mission Mountain Golf Course in Ronan has breathtaking views of the Mission Mountains and is an equally good value. Proximity to Glacier National Park is excellent, with travel time to West Glacier of slightly over one hour.

The fall and winter bring incredible beauty and solitude. As fall creeps in come October, leaves begin changing colors, temperatures cool, and the air is clean and pure. The fall season is treasured by the locals. Picture yourself sitting on an adirondack chair with your coffee, watching the loons skim the lake. Or take your kayak out for a scenic tour on the placid lake, quiet but for the birds and lapping water.

Winter on the lake is surprising mild. But the surrounding mountains do get snow, and there are two terrific ski areas to enjoy - Blacktail and Big Mountain. Both are drive-and-return daily ski options. Winter is the perfect time to enjoy the snow and other recreation options, or to just get a fire going, curl up on the leather sofa in the library, and read one of the hundreds of books offered in the library.

Or start a fire in the outdoor fireplace, bring out your hot chocolate, and watch the stars appear in the dark night sky. In the winter, four wheel drive is occasionally advisable as the roads on Finley Point and the long driveway down to the house can become icy. (We have it plowed when we can.)

The house is configured for privacy, with the master wing separated from the guest wing, with the kitchen, dining and great rooms, as well as the library, in between. The master suite has a queen bed and French doors which swing open to the outdoor courtyard and fireplace. The master suite's bathroom amenities include a double walk-in shower, a Japanese-style soaker tub for two, a large double vanity and a separate washer and dryer.

The bathroom is fully trimmed in travertine stones and marble. The guest wing has three bedrooms, a large bathroom and a large laundry room equipted with efficient Bosch appliances. One of the guest rooms is a large room with a queen bed perfectly situated to overlook the dock and lake. The second guest room has four bunk beds, with a view to the woods and water.

The third guest bed has two bunks and a double bed, with a view up toward the cherry orchard. The guest bathroom is large with double vanities as well as a double walk-in shower. This bathroom is also nicely appointed with travertine and stone floors and a marble vanity.

There is an additional half bath off of the dining room, with a unique polished stone sink with a wrought-iron pine cone pedestal, pine cone light sconces and rock trim behind the vanity.

The kitchen is very generously equipped for a gourmet chef, with an island...

Vacation Rental Features

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• Amenities
  • Washer (2)
  • Dryer (2)
  • Linens Provided
  • Off Street Parking
  • Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
  • Gas Fireplace
  • Wood Fireplace
• Beds
  • Queen Bed
  • Double Bed
  • Twin/Single Bed
  • Bunk Bed
  • Convertible Bed
• Entertainment
  • TV (No Cable/Satellite)
  • DVD
  • CD Player
  • Stereo System
  • Music Library
  • Ping Pong/Table Tennis
• Kitchen
  • Full Kitchen
  • Cooking Utensils Provided
  • Refrigerator
  • Dishwasher (2)
  • Microwave
  • Ice Maker
  • Catering Available
• Outdoor Features
  • Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
  • Charcoal BBQ Grill
  • Deck/Patio
  • Balcony
  • Lanai
• View/Location
  • Lakefront
• Communications
  • Telephone
  • Free Long Distance
  • Broadband Internet
  • WiFi (Wireless Internet)
• Other Amenities
  • Indoor & Outdoor Fireplaces
• Suitability
  • Pet Friendly
  • No Pets Allowed
  • Kid Friendly
  • Minimum Age Limit for Renters
  • Smoking Not Allowed
• Activities (on site and nearby)
  • Golf
  • Zoo/Wildlife Park
  • Shopping
  • Sightseeing
  • Restaurants
  • Rafting
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Boating
  • Waterskiing
  • Parasailing
  • Jet Skiing
  • Swimming
  • Snorkeling/Diving
  • Windsurfing
  • Biking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Downhill/Alpine Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Snowmobiling
  • Sledding/Tubing
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Rock Climbing
  • Fitness Center/Gym
  • Health/Beauty Spa
  • Antiquing
  • Cinemas/Movie Theaters
  • Live Theatre
  • Museums
  • Horseshoes
  • Miniature golf
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hot Air Ballooning
• Other Activities
  • Four seasons of recreation in the heart of the old West

Rate Details (In US Dollars)

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Personal Currency Assistant™

June 15 to Sept 6 & major holidays: $7,250/wk(+7% tax and $250 cleaning)
Longer-term rentals may be considered. Contact owners.
Off season .................... $4,250/week + tax + $250 cleaning fee.
Over the garage loft ..... $ 1,000/week + tax + $50 cleaning fee.**
**Beautiful window over the lake, with shower.
This home was designed to comfortably accomodate three families (four w/loft.)
Dividing the cost with good friends is usually permitted.
Perfect base when BUILDING YOUR OWN HOME. Contact owner for discount/suggestions.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Map & Owner's Profile

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• All Photos (11)
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Property Photos

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• All Photos (11)
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Guest Comments (5)

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• 11/18/09
  Positive Rating
  Owner TIPS ,
  • Let me start to answer some of your questions now so that you can make reservations of check on-line reviews if you want. I don't think this time of the year that you'd need to pre-book anything. If you want a fishing guide, I'd recommend Eric Bjorge ("be-york-ee") at Two River Gear in Bigfork. For boat rentals in Polson, KwaTukNuk ("Quah- Tuck-Nuck") will have the most choice. Rentals are expensive - you might try negotiating. You could also ask around town to see if anyone else is renting now. There's a small sporting goods store in Polson on Main Street (Mission Mountain Water Sports?), and those girls would probably know. Right across the street from KwaTukNuk is Papa Don's restaurant, which I think is the best food in Polson. His tri-tip sandwich is a favorite, and salmon and ribs in the evening are good. Tell Don that you're staying at our place, and he may have some tips on fishing in the lake. Our neighbors are great people, and very friendly. You'll find that generally to be the case. Let people know why you're there, and they'll adopt you for what you need. You can also rent boats at Marina Cay in Bigfork. There's another place in Woods Bay, which might be a better bargain, and it's a pleasant little bay to boat from. It may be just called Woods Bay Marina. You could boat from there up to Bigfork, where there's a good public dock where you can tie up and walk up for lunch. You could also cross the lake and boat around Lakeside and Somers, which is also pretty. If you boat from Polson the area around Kings Point is pleasant, as well as Finley Point and the narrows islands. There are very few places to gas up on the lake, so you might want to carry a five-gallon can of gas with you. For horse-riding, I'd try Flathead Lake Lodge just south of Bigfork. It's a dude ranch, basically, but really a lovely place. Bigfork is full of great restaurants. In order, I'd recommend Showthyme, La Provence (also nice panini sandwiches during the day), The Coyote Roadhouse (out of town a little bit) and the Swan River Cafe (upstairs). The Bigfork Inn is nice, and a really great place to go for old time dancing if you're up there on a Friday or Saturday night. There's a fun community playhouse that the kids might enjoy. We saw an abridged version of the complete works of William Shakespeare there last summer, and the kids really enjoyed it. In Glacier Park, the walk/hike to Avalanche Creek is one of a kind, not too difficult, and very beautiful. That should get you started. We always make a Costco run in either Kalispell or Missoula. Nothing better than just relaxing at the lake, so don't feel like you have to do everything.
    
    Homeowner Response:
    These comments were added by the owner in response to frequently asked questions. (But feel free to ask more.)
• 11/18/09
  Positive Rating
  
  • Guest Comment entered by Homeowner:
    We are all having a fabulous time! It’s Saturday morning and we’re set to finish up our week with another trip up to Glacier National Park for hiking. We have done just about anything and everything we could possibly think of to do these past few days. We have been to Glacier multiple times for fabulous hikes, went to the bison range to see the bison and hike up to the top of the high-point to see the awesome beauty of the mountain ranges and valley. Phil and I went fly fishing on the Swan River on Wednesday. What an experience that was! Caught some whoppers and enjoyed the most magnificent 8 hour boat ride down the most beautiful river you will ever see. Thursday we went up to the Whitefish Mountain Resort and hiked up their trail to 7,000 feet until the trail became impassable by snow! It was a winter wonderland up there. Yesterday we did a 2 hour horseback riding excursion at Glacier and topped it off with dinner and bowling back in Big Fork! We ate at the Swan Hotel which was really nice. We have previously had dinner twice in Big Fork, once at the Big Fork Inn and the second time on Tuesday we ate at another fabulous restaurant called “Invite” or something like that. It was a great meal. Phil and I both had the most mouthwatering Elk steaks. Wow! We then went to see “Singing in the Rain”, one of the summer musicals at the theatre in Big Elk. What a nice theatre and they put on a great show. Haven’t had much “sitting by the lake” time but we’ve had our share of relaxation in the evenings at your beautiful home. The place is awesome! The first night we actually played ping pong in the garage. Have had a couple of really nice meals at the house with some fine dining and wine by candle light. The grill has not even seen the light of day at this point. Thanks Dennis for allowing us to use your fabulous home for this week. It was a truly memorable experience for all of us. This area is fabulous! I can see why you love it so much.
• 02/28/07
  Positive Rating
  Jim & Betzy , Oregon
  • We have been extremely fortunate to spend one week here for the last three years, and we eagerly look forward to vacation again at Flathead Lake. Time literally passes you by as you are overcome by the fabulous scenery and incredible calm of Finley Point. Lazy days are filled with swimming off the dock, but a night time canoe trip captures the amazing beauty and peacefulness of the Lake. Reading your favorite novel is difficult because of the convergence of the mountains and lake. This home should be featured in Sunset Magazine with every amenity imaginable – a gourmet cook’s dream kitchen, a slate deck with welcoming Adirondack chairs, an outside fireplace for late night star viewing and marshmallow roasts. The home is perfect for entertaining or a quiet escape. Our most significant decision each day is whether to have morning coffee on the deck or on the dock, or when to open a bottle of wine in the afternoon. Our best memories have been made here.
    
    Homeowner Response:
    These words are gratifying to hear from our friends. It is, I would say, my favorite place in the world to read, with the indoor fireplace, the large stone deck, and the library itself - well stalked and having a soft leather sofa looking out a wall of windows which frame the craftsman eves which themselves frame a view out to the dock. The distraction is deciding when to fold up the book to go and commune with nature.
• 02/27/07
  Positive Rating
  Tom Kelly , Camas, WA
  • We have stayed at this lake "cabin" many times. The view of the lake from the guest facilities over the garage is fantastic, and with the windows open at night, you can hear the slight waves lapping the shore and putting you to sleep. We have also stayed in the main guest bedroom, which has blinds to keep the morning sun out of your eyes if you want to sleep in. You can still hear the wave action, but this room is very quiet. We have also stayed in the master suite, but I must warn you, it does not have window coverings and the morning sunrise will waken you with all the glory of a new day. Peace and quiet are only interupted by your own exuberance of laughter at your meals, recreational activities or visiting with neighbors. Sun or shade, water or land are there for pleasure and relaxation. I also enjoyed assisting in some of the finishing projects and landscaping, especially laying the stone for the path from the house to the boat dock. A beautiful site.
• 01/04/07
  Positive Rating
  
  • We had the pleasure of staying at this beautiful home last May and had an incredible time. The house is absolutely gorgeous with beautiful stonework and milling. The open floor plan and four bedrooms easily accommodated our three families. When inside, we spent most of our time cooking in the huge kitchen or lounging in the family room with views of the lake and the Mission Mountains. Although the scale of the home is large, the feel is intimate and inviting. And oh, the scenery! You walk out onto a patio to find Flathead Lake 50 paces from where you stand. Looking east, all one sees are trees, lake, mountains, and sky. Our children loved playing on the lakeshore and when we weren’t with them playing, we were watching them from one of several beautiful patios. It was still chilly in the evenings, and the outdoor fireplace was the perfect remedy. While we were there we took day trips into Bigfork and International Glacier Park, which were very easy drives from where the house is located on Finley Point. It was a vacation we will never forget!

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