Mountain Sky Guest Ranch

The history of Mountain Sky Guest Ranch epitomizes the authenticity and romance of Montana's Paradise Valley and the American West.

The warm Western hospitality and superb service enjoyed by today's guests have deep roots in the ranch's history as a working and guest ranch. Serving guests since 1929, the ranch and its historic buildings resonate with the memories and storied lore of the Old West. Through successive ownerships, the AAA 4-Diamond rated dude ranch was officially named Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in 1979.

Today, guests who vacation at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch share in the wonder of the "pretty little canyon" discovered by Nelson Story at the turn of the century (read more here: http://www.mountainsky.com/AbouttheRanch/History.aspx). The romance between the land and its guests continues, warming cabins, lodge and countryside with the same Western-style friendships and conversation celebrated here since 1929.

Atlanta Falcons owner, co-founder of Home Depot, Arthur Blank escapes every summer to Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. He and his family first visited in the summer of 1999. He loved it so much that in the fall of 2001 he bought the place. Arthur spends five to six weeks at the ranch every year – without TV, radio, cell phones or a Blackberry.

In his own words:

"When I was younger, I did a lot of horseback riding. I rode at several camps in upstate New York. I used to teach hunter jumping when I was a teenager... I wanted a place to get away from the East Coast and get into the mountains, a place that was unique.

We have slightly over 17,000 acres. It backs up to the Gallatin National Forest, which is 1.4 million acres. It’s beautiful country. The weather is great. Days are long. Sometimes there’s light until 10 o’clock at night.

We have a place on the beach in Hilton Head and we love that. But this is very remote. At Hilton Head we have all the distractions you can have at home. At the ranch, it’s almost like living in a cocoon. It’s very much a nurturing kind of atmosphere. Part of the tone is there’s no TVs, no radios, no newspapers. People come there and spend a lot more time talking to each other, communicating with their families and their friends. People just get away from all of the noise that’s in their life.

It does very much the same thing for me. I spend more time with the family. I read more. I have more time to reflect. I don’t wear a watch. When I do work, at most it’s a couple of hours a day.

It’s just amazing quite honestly how much doesn’t change in the world, nothing of substance. The stuff that happens that you don’t know about really aren’t things you want to hear about or know about any way. You just get all of that out of your life."

-Arthur Blank, Owner

Since we opened as a dude ranch in 1929, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch has topped the list of the nation's upscale guest ranch resorts, and there is no big secret to our success. While there's no doubt you'll admire the breathtaking views, fine food, amenities and luxury environment, it's our staff who make the difference. When you arrive at the ranch, you become a member of the Mountain Sky family.

Known by guests for caring, attentive service, the staff at Mountain Sky is known by residents in the local community for the same thing. Throughout the year, our staff gives back to the communities in which they live and work — through their physical involvement and through grants made to non-profit organizations by the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund. Established in 2001, the Fund has exceeded $4.0 million in grants.

The mission of the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch Fund is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Park and Gallatin Counties in Montana. The Mountain Sky staff is especially interested in supporting projects in rural areas where resources and services are limited, to address community challenges.

For an unforgettable dining experience, just leave it to our chefs! You'll soon find that our meals are one of the most memorable parts of your stay at the ranch.

Breakfast and lunch buffets are sumptuous spreads providing a variety of options for every taste, and dinners are gourmet 3 to 5 course plated affairs. Bison tenderloin, fresh Alaskan Halibut, and truffled Portobella pasta are just a few examples of our evening entrees, and our chefs are happy to accommodate special requests and unique dietary requirements.

Spring, Summer or Fall!