The Montana Hills Guest Ranch is located in the forests of British Columbia, Canada. The property has been functioning as a guest ranch since 2017, under the direction of owners Al and Elaine Dillabaugh. The property sits on 137 acres of land and has 5 cabins for patrons to stay in. Open year-round, the ranch has many different activities depending on the season, including snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ATVing, and horseback riding. Each cabin has a queen-sized bed as well as a pull-out double bed. They also have private hot tubs on their patios and kitchenettes. Upon arrival, there are farm-fresh eggs from the chickens on the property. Due to the secluded area surrounding the property, owners recommend that guests bring their own food with them.
The Montana Hills Guest Ranch, located in British Columbia Canada, has five cabins available for guests to stay in. The property is seated in 137 acres of land and is between Jasper and Whistler, British Columbia. The cabins are all separate from each other and include kitchenettes, private hot tubs, and queen-sized beds. Each cabin has farm-fresh eggs and coffee available for guests to use.
Guests can enjoy different activities at the guest ranch including ATV's, snowmobiles and snowshoeing in the wintertime, and horseback riding. The owners also offer private cheese-making classes and guests are invited to help with milking cows and other jobs along with the ranch if they want to. There are mountain biking trails on the property as well that guests can enjoy if they bring their bikes. During the summer months, the owners will often have a fire in the pit in front of the lodge that all guests can come to and socialize at. Each cabin has an occupancy of two adults and two children or three adults. There is a queen bed in each cabin as well as a double bed in a pull-out sofa. Each cabin has its own unique decoration style, fitting under the theme of the establishment of the outdoors and ranch life.
The property features a main building with a firepit out front. Each cabin has a small porch area with chairs and private hot tubs. The property has a relatively large grass area where families can play games with each other or visit the animals, and the property is home to a variety of farm animals including horses, cows, and a barn cat. The Montana Hill Guest Ranch is pet friendly and can accommodate children.
The Guest Ranch is nearby multiple lakes including Montana Lake, West Twin Lake, and East Twin Lake. Guests can go fishing in the summer at these lakes, as well as ice fishing in the winter months. The property is open year-round and has multiple activities to do depending on the season. Due to the secluded nature of the property, guests are encouraged to bring their own food when they stay, as there are not many places nearby to eat.
The owners, Al and Elaine Dillabaugh, try and create an environment where guests can feel peaceful and have privacy, but still, feel welcome to interact with other guests and the owners if they choose. Most days, Al and Elaine invite guests to help them with the animals on the ranch, generally milking the cows or helping them with calves. They strive to give guests the opportunity to interact with the animals as well as ask the owners any questions about places nearby, the ranch, or anything the guests need help with.
On the ranch, there are multiple classes or activities that guests can do. Elaine hosts private cheese-making classes that guests can sign up for at an additional cost. During the summertime, there are ax throwing, horseshoes, archery for children, and bird watching opportunities that guests can take advantage of as well. The area is home to different types of birds, including the Sandhill Cranes, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Grey Jays. Guests can often see these birds on the grounds of the Montana Hill Guest Ranch. Due to the relatively secluded area of the property, guests may also see many stars at night during clearer skies in the summer months. The area surrounding the guest ranch is mainly forested with lakes, which leads to stars in the sky easier for guests to enjoy.
Guests to the ranch often comment on the location of the ranch, calling it a "serene place to getaway". Other guests have mentioned the tidiness of the cabins and the opportunity to experience many different aspects of staying on a ranch during their visit. One guest said, "The cabin and its amenities were well thought out in our experience. Well stocked for a simple peaceful get-away into prime beautiful BC." Multiple guests comment on the hospitality of owners Al and Elaine, saying they contributed to the positive atmosphere of their trips. A guest said, "Our cabin was clean and comfortable with everything we needed to relax and enjoy our stay." The owners of the guest ranch strive to provide those who stay on the property with a positive, peaceful experience away from city life.
In order to try and help guests have an accommodating experience, there is no smoking allowed inside the cabins. There are designated smoking areas outside on the property for guests to use if needed. Guests can stay as little as one night, and the guest ranch is child-friendly. The owner's goal is to create a place for families to be able to enjoy the outdoors and animals together. Many patrons of the ranch are couples or families on long weekends from work or school. Al and Elaine strive to create a "paradise for children" where kids can get to know animals and nature.
The area surrounding the property is home to various wildlife and nature. Guests can explore the grounds of the ranch and the surrounding area at their own leisure. Most guests come for the year-round fishing, as well as the trails in the area.
The Montana Hill Guest Ranch was established originally in 1994. 28 years ago, the original owners of the property built the cabins and hosted guests on the property. After some time, the original owners sold the land and the guest ranch was used as a recreational area. The grounds did not function as a guest resort during that time, but was home to many activities that the property is known for today. In 2016, the current owner's Al and Elaine bought the property and hoped to restore it to the original function of guest cabins. After renovations and updates were made, including new hot tubs, the Montana Hill Guest Ranch officially opened again with Al and Elaine in the spring of 2017. It has functioned in the same capacity since then, with updates periodically to maintain the overall appearance and cleanliness of the property. Al and Elaine's favorite part of running the guest ranch is being able to meet many different types of people and have personal experiences with them. They love the campfires in the summer with guests and look forward to them each year.
Box 227, 7915 Machette Lake Road,
Bridge Lake, British Columbia V0K 1E0
Canada
Cabins
Al and Elaine Dillabaugh
