Country House on Flathead Lake

Welcome to the Big Sky Country! A lovely country home overlooking Flathead Lake is located in a gated community called "The Reserve" in Mission Bay.

This big-sky home has cathedral ceilings and panoramic windows looking across a wildlife refuge out to the shores of Flathead Lake. Step out onto the patio, where the surrounding mountains are highlighted by a broad expanse of lakeshore – an idyll for naturalists, birders, and painters.

There are three outdoor entertainment areas. One includes a circle of Adirondack chairs with a lake view and the best sunset viewing. Adjacent to this area is an outdoor hot tub with a stellar view of the lake and mountains. There is another large covered porch with outdoor upholstered furnishings. It's an excellent place to have a cold drink in the shade on hot afternoons or enjoy the fireplace's ambiance in the evening. The third area features comfortable seating for outdoor dining, replete with a Wolf grill and Ooni outdoor pizza oven.

Inside, a large open chef's kitchen has Wolf, Asco, and Subzero appliances and is well equipped so you can make gourmet or simple meals as you wish. The open floor plan encourages you to see across the dining room and out the living room windows from the kitchen, so you are able to engage with your friends and family as you prepare meals. Ice cream maker, Instapot, espresso machine, grill, blender, Cuisinart – it's all there. A long counter with bar stools is handy for convivial happy hours or pancakes & coffee.

A charming little breakfast nook is off the kitchen with a cozy round table and gets lovely morning light. It's a good spot for watching birds over coffee or playing games on a rainy day.

A dining table can seat up to twelve people if you add the leaves for a larger group or a more formal occasion. The owners replaced all the lighting in the main living areas with state-of-the-art Hubbardton Forge lighting on rheostats for fabulous mood elevation. There are suitable table linens for every season.

The living room has very comfortable leather couches draped with Pendleton blankets, a fireplace, games, a stunning view of the lake, and if you're lucky, you can see foxes, deer, migratory songbirds, tundra swans, and other waterfowl. You're close to town, but it feels rustic and wild as you relax on comfortable leather couches, gazing outside, reading, conversing, or enjoying Tex Wilson's art depicting the history of the American cowboy and a Remington sculpture. There is a 50 inch TV with cable in the living room, tucked away, so it is not the room's focus. We have 100 GB of wi-fi, and when you want to listen to music, we have a Bluetooth Music system. One can find a powder room off the living room.

The large master bedroom celebrates Glacier National Park. It has a lake view, a sitting area with two reclining chairs, a queen sleigh bed, a walk-in closet, and a full bath. The fishing-themed guest room has a view of the mountains, books to read, and movies to watch. There's a monitor and a VCR player with many older, classic films. A second guest room is large enough to have a sitting area, a desk, and a very comfortable murphy bed. The owners like to allow their Grandchildren to set up trains and dolls, so they designed the room to maximize floor space. It has a territorial view. The guest rooms share a full bathroom. There is also a comfortable study available to Thirdhome exchange guests who need to do a bit of writing, thinking, or pondering.

The three-car garage has one of the owner's cars parked inside, but there will always be room for your car. Inside the garage is a laundry room with a new, large capacity washer and dryer, a drying rack, and plenty of space to fold laundry.

This home was designed for relaxing and entertaining, so come, bring friends and family, and enjoy your visit to Polson on Flathead Lake in beautiful Big Sky Montana.

You may find yourself content to stay put, but here are some nearby options if you wish to explore. Stay close to home and make a 10 – 15 minute walk from the house down a nature trail that leads to the community canoe barn (a large canoe that can fit four people is provided by the owners), swimming dock, and gazebo area on the lakeshore. With several places to rent boats in the summer, you are sure to enjoy every bit of residing lakeside. There is also a private community pool and pickleball court just a short walk or a five-minute drive from our house in the summer. A wonderful farmers market is not far in the summer.