Helping You Find Your Dream Property in Montana

I have been in love with Montana since first driving across I-90 in May of 1971 heading west with my first husband to see if the state of Idaho actually existed (since we had never known anyone from there). We were both astounded by the horizons with clouds…no, those were mountains covered with snow 360 degrees around us. I remember we stopped in Butte, having read about an Italian restaurant that was highly rated. We drank martinis and had bad pasta served by waitresses in white patent go-go boots. We camped in the back of our Jeep and shivered as it began to snow.

I returned to Montana to buy a ranch in 1977 in the Madison Valley, another stunning large valley surrounded by mountains. As my soon-to-be second husband and I descended Norris Hill we pointed out a spot to the south of the valley that we thought was the coolest and said we wanted to buy a ranch there. It was just east of Cameron up Bear Creek. The ranch real estate broker told us about a property there but it was already under contract. The owner showed it to us and he won our hearts and we said, “let us know if it becomes available.” And it did! We bought the 800-acre ranch with two other partners; we were risk-takers even at 30 years old. Then we realized we needed cows and needed to learn a lot in a short time. That was how we learned to depend on our neighbors and the previous owner. They all taught us a great deal and we were eager to work hard. For a city girl, living on a ranch with no telephone (we took our calls at the Blue Moon Saloon) I learned to not stereotype the ranchers and enjoyed learning about what they thought. I also learned that I loved being around the animals, horses, cows, bulls, kitties and puppies.

Now when guiding buyers in Montana to their perfect Montana vacation property I get to know them and what their favorite activities are. If they love to ski, being near Bozeman or Big Sky or Red Lodge is ideal. If they love to fish, pretty much anywhere in southwest Montana is great. If they need to be close to an airport, Bozeman’s is the best. If they want few people and great views, peace and serenity, Augusta and the Rocky Mountain Front are very special. Big Timber is a charming town with The Grand Hotel and great fishing. I believe Big Timber is also the headquarters of the Ivy League in Montana—a lot of ranchers there graduated from Ivy League schools. If a buyer is interested in wilderness, fishing and hunting, Bull Lake in northwestern Montana is a very special place. If you are looking for milder weather the Bitterroot Valley, around Victor is great for fishing and hiking and socializing.

Whatever your outdoor passions, there is a place in Montana where you can live your dreams. I sure did, and I’ve never looked back.