This simple but quaint farm cottage, originally a Sears Roebuck/Montgomery Ward catalog house from the early 1900s, was lovingly renovated in 2015. Every effort was made to honor the charm of this historic farmhouse while providing modern comfort, creating a welcoming, cozy, and homey ambiance. It is located on the property of the historic Bitter Root Stock Farm started by copper magnate, Marcus Daly, in 1886, and which is still in operation today. This is a unique opportunity to experience Montanaâs history on a personal level, as part of the Daly property that continues to be a working ranch. What sets this vacation rental apart, in addition to the unique history, is the privacy. The house is adjacent to fields and pastures, so you have no neighbors. You experience a relaxing setting while listening to the mooing of the cattle or the sprinklers irrigating the fields. The only people you may encounter are the ranch personnel in the adjacent fields. In addition, guests can easily walk to the historic Daly Mansion, just adjacent to the Bitter Root Stock Farm. This is one of the premier museums in Montana and a tour of this historic property will provide an understanding of the history of Marcus Daly and his beloved Bitter Root Stock Farm. During the museum's tour season, first time stays of five nights or more come with two free passes to this historic museum, a local treasure worth seeing.
This cottage is a cozy two-bedroom home that comfortably sleeps 4, and is the epitome of homey-ness. I try to do my best to make you feel welcome and relaxed. Among the welcoming features of your vacation home are: a comfortable, relaxing living room with a sofa and two recliners where you can enjoy watching movies on a large screen television or just look out the windows to watch the grazing cattle; a well equipped kitchen that has most, if not all cooking needs, as well as basic staples (a variety of spices and condiments) and coffee and tea supplies (coffee, sugar, small creamers); a quaint separate small dining area (I call it a breakfast nook); a completely renovated bathroom with a shower (no bathtub), and a laundry/mudroom with washer/dryer; you will enjoy a restful night's sleep, with one bedroom having a queen bed, the other bedroom having two twin beds, all with high quality mattresses and bedding. ALL bedding is professionally cleaned between guests. The house is furnished throughout with an eclectic mix of antique and modern furniture. The meticulous cleaning staff takes pride in all the positive reviews we have had regarding this home's cleanliness. There is great wi-fi throughout the house, and a large flat screen TV with Roku access to Netflix (or also access your own streaming subscriptions with the Roku) and some TV stations in the living room, and a smaller flat screen TV in the queen bedroom with Roku access, as well as DVDs/DVD players. There is even a guitar for musically inclined guests, as well as a vintage style radio/CD/record player/Bluetooth, with a selection of CDs and records. However, you will not want to watch TV, as it is the views of the Sapphire range to the east and the Bitterroot Mountain range to the west that will keep you coming back. We also have two fenced corrals to accommodate horses upon prior approval and we welcome dogs (we do not accept cats) on a case-by-case, pre-approved basis (please see pet rules). There is a back deck with a BBQ grill and a small café table, a perfect spot from which to watch the pink light of sunrises coat the mountains as you sip your morning coffee, and maybe even spy a fawn nibbling on the apples from the tree right out off that porch. There are Adirondack chairs and a picnic table for sitting and dining out on the lawn under majestic cottonwood trees. There is a small front porch, warmly lit by café lights, to relax on with very comfortable patio furniture. This is the spot you will find yourself, staying cool under grand cottonwood trees while enjoying an evening drink and watching exquisite sunsets.
This farmhouse is just off the Bitterroot Valley's scenic Eastside Highway, and within a five minute drive to the heart of downtown Hamilton, which is the county seat and home to favorite stores such as Chapter One Bookstore and Ford's Department Store, and varied restaurants and eclectic stores, as well as easy drives to all of the outdoor opportunities that the Bitterroot Valley has to offer. This includes cross country skiing, downhill skiing, and snow-mobiling in the winter, and fly fishing, hiking, bicycling, golfing, and horse back riding in the summer. Countless National Forest trails are accessible from this central location, offering hiking and mountain biking for all levels. Lost Trail Powder Mountain ski area, a wonderful family run ski mountain with a great variety of runs of all levels and some of the best powder around, is less than an hour's drive. Nearby to Lost Trail is Chief Joseph Cross Country ski area where you can find wonderful, groomed ski trails. You will find the best of outdoor activities in the Bitterroot Valley, and as outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we would happily provide you with information for recreating to make the most of your visit. The options for activities are endless! Numerous books related to the history of Montana and the valley, as well as hiking guides, are supplied for you to peruse during your stay.
I will make sure to keep you posted about any events going on in the area during your stay, as there are numerous cultural events that are usually exclusive to bigger towns. This includes a wonderful concert series presented by the Bitterroot Performing Arts Council, local community theaters at the Hamilton Playhouse and Stevensville Playhouse, annual events such as the Bitterroot Brewfest and Daly Days, Celtic Festival, and other festivals, and a wonderful Farmer's Market every Saturday in Hamilton, from May to October, where you can get the best of local produce and peruse the wares of talented arts and craft vendors while enjoying live music. Missoula, home of the University of Montana, wonderful shopping, and numerous restaurants, is less than an hour away and is serviced by the Missoula International Airport for the many who have already discovered the beauty and appeal of the Bitterroot Valley.
This cottage is in a country setting, so various small critters may be seen and/or heard, to include marmots (known around here as rock-chucks), raccoons, owls, voles, field mice, and small bugs such as flies, mosquitos, box elder bugs, spiders. We do our best to keep small bugs from the house but can't guarantee that you won't see the occasional spider or fly. The door to south side porch has a screen door (and all windows have screens) and it is suggested that in the summer, opening only the door that has the screen door (north door does not have screen door) to minimize any flies or mosquitos coming in. All trash bags should be placed in the trash can in the shed and not left outside, to minimize raccoon interest. While they are pretty cute, they can be pests if they think this will be a great restaurant!
There is a small amount of road noise that can be heard if windows are open, but each bedroom is supplied with a fan and a small white noise sound machine to keep the road noise from being heard.
Enjoy your visit and experience a slice of history by staying on the historic Daly property! My husband and I look forward to having you as our guests and will do our best to assure you will want to return many times! We take pride in the fact that many of our guests return to stay with us multiple times and we hope you will want to as well!
