The Krutar Homestead Vacation Lodge: Ovando, Montana

Off the grid. No cell phone service. No internet. No TV. Eeeek! This social networking Queen hyperventilated for about five minutes before I relaxed and succumbed to the idea of totally disconnecting.

 I am very blessed to have so many amazing family and friends that all have deep roots in Montana. This past Memorial Weekend was about both. My mother’s best friend all throughout school was Diane Krutar. Someone that has been very present in my life, is one of the kindest souls you will ever meet, and someone that I love very much, as well as her husband Jon. So, almost nine years after their wedding gift offer to stay at their vacation lodge in Ovando, Montana - we finally took them up on their offer, with two kids in tow. Better late than never, right? 

                          

 

 

I’m so glad we waited. Moments aren’t as sweet unless you get to enjoy them with your little ones and see those sweet memories reflecting in their eyes. From the moment we told our boys that we were going away for three days to a fly fishing ranch, they were ecstatic. And although our oldest wigged out a bit when he realized there was not going to be any cartoons to watch, he got over it quickly by exploring the beautiful glacial crystal clear Emerald Pond, hiking and throwing rocks into the North Fork of the Blackfoot River, playing baseball in the front yard with his dad, playing chase with his brother, scoping the mountains for wildlife out the front window, watching brilliantly colored Bullock’s Orioles and other Rocky Mountain birds, hunting wildflowers, playing croquet, eating s’mores, and not having a care in the world.  A handful of times Kash said “Mom, I really love this place!” and by the second day he even said “Mom, I’m getting used to not having TV!”

The homestead was built by John and his two sons Eric, and Chad. The family history here is rich and evident in the homestead. Two log buildings dating back to the 1880’s when the ranch was first homesteaded were dismantled to serve in the construction of the new homestead. Offering up stunning views of the Kleinschmidt Flat and Ovando Mountain, the home is in prime Big Sky Country, with awesome fly fishing right out your back door.

Three bedrooms that comfortably accommodate six adults, with two full bathrooms as well as laundry service available on site.  A full wrap around, covered deck to relax and either welcome the day on, or watch the final light of the day disappear over the mountains, the Krutar Homestead is the place to unplug, rewind and soak in the simple pleasures of life.