Imagine A Place Where Time Stands Still…
Where breathtaking scenery abounds… where “the neighbors” are deer, moose, mountain lions, bears, bighorn sheep and mountain goats… where your morning “workout” is hiking up a mountain.
A place rugged yet luxurious, remote yet easy to reach, wild yet whimsical… a place where you’re invited to take the time to reconnect with that greater part of you.
Designed For Communal Fun & Decadent Relaxation
Glacier Bear Retreat is a spectacular 4 bedroom/3.5 bath luxury home located INSIDE Glacier National Park on the west side of Lake McDonald. With an outdoor fire pit, brand new hot tub, pool table, dartboard, hammocks, bicycles, yoga mats and more, you’ll have everything you need for a perfect vacation when you stay at Glacier Bear Retreat!
Located on almost an acre of private property with Fish Creek and Apgar Creek flowing through the property, Glacier Bear is a quiet, private and peaceful haven. Aptly named “Retreat”, Glacier Bear is perfect for nature-loving families who are looking for a quiet place to reconnect with the natural beauty of Glacier National Park. (If you’re looking for a party house, this isn’t the place for you.)
This storybook cottage in the woods was designed and built as the perfect place to create memories, so your Glacier holiday is one of your best vacations ever. And because you’ll be staying inside the park, you’ll be able to relax the entire time – no need to wait in the long lines at the entrance station every day!
From the welcome basket waiting for you, to the fully stocked bar and rec room, we want you to feel like you’re on vacation. From bathroom amenities like soap, shampoo and bubble bath, to the warm, cozy down comforters, we want you to feel like you’re at home.
With three bedrooms and a bunk room, Glacier Bear Retreat can easily accommodate 9 people. (Please contact us if you have more than 9 people in your party to discuss options.) You’ll have special rooms for gathering together and cozy nooks for private time, in the perfect combination of indoor and outdoor living.
In the more than 1,000,000 acres that comprise Glacier National Park, there are only 124 private landowners, and combined, these parcels equal less than 300 acres. Owning a home inside Glacier is rare – staying in one as a guest is even more so.
Luxurious Amenities & Accommodations Over Three Floors
The main floor contains the Great Room, the Dining Room, the Chef’s Kitchen, the Lazy Bear Master Suite with private bath, a powder room, and a hallway with reading nook and library shelves. Most of these books came from the original Grist home and date back as far as the early 1800’s. You are welcome to enjoy them with care while you’re here. From the main level you can also easily access the screened porch for outdoor grilling, dining or simply relaxing.
The upper level contains the Grist Room queen bedroom, the Bunk Room, a shared bathroom, and a small desk on the mezzanine above the Great Room. You’ll also find our complete collection of the classic Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, as well as more recent novels, in the mezzanine bookshelf.
The lower level Rec and Media Rooms are your recreation destination with a large flatscreen television, an Olhausen pool table and our beautiful custom built bar, showcasing local Montana spirits and beers as well as fine wines from California, Oregon and Washington. The Garden Room queen bedroom and a separate bathroom finish off the level.
You can also experience Glacier’s beauty just by walking outside from the main level. With a brand new hot tub, hammocks, a large fire pit, and even your own “private island”, outdoor living at Glacier Bear Retreat is as good as it gets.
Upstairs or downstairs, indoors or out, you can be as connected as you want to be, whether that’s not at all or in touch with family, friends, or others using our fast wifi network, our landline with unlimited US long-distance calls, or your AT&T or Verizon mobile phone.
The Great Room
The Great Room has reclining leather seating, a beautiful Montana Moss rock fireplace and soaring 18′ ceilings. It connects to the kitchen and dining room creating a large open space living area.
The Dining Room
A centerpiece of Glacier Bear, the dining room has a round table that seats 8 and has a built-in Lazy Susan. Surrounded by tall windows, you’ll feel like you’re dining al fresco!
The Chef’s Kitchen
Fully equipped kitchen with custom countertops and a 3′ x 7′ island/bar with 3 stools. This large prep and eating area faces both the dining room and the great room offering lots of open space.
The Lazy Bear Suite
The Lazy Bear Master Suite with king bed is conveniently located on the main level and has a double vanity private bath and walk-in closet. It connects to the exterior screened porch.
The Grist Room
The Grist Room is an upper level queen bedroom that sleeps 2 guests and honors the history of the original Grist home with furniture and photos. It shares the double vanity upper bath.
The Bunk Room
This upper level bedroom with shared bath sleeps 5 guests in two bunked double/full beds and a twin bed. The expansive windows make you feel as if you’re in a treehouse.
The Garden Room
The lower level Garden Room with its lovely custom built headboard sleeps two in a cozy, comfortable queen bed. The two ground level windows offer views to the front and to the side of the house.
The Rec Room
The Rec Room is a place for friendly competition and great fun! With an Olhausen pool table, professional dart board, and our beautiful custom bar, you’ll love hanging out here.
Outdoor Living
With a screened wraparound porch, a brand new hot tub with seating for five, two cozy hammocks, a fire pit with eight chairs, and your own “private island”, it’s a wonder you’ll ever spend time indoors!
Your Perfect Home Base For Glacier National Park
Regardless of the season, Glacier Bear Retreat is perfectly located for exploring the wonders of Glacier National Park. Just steps away from breathtaking Lake McDonald, you can fill your day with recreational boating (rentals available), fishing, swimming, or photographing the range of mountain peaks that frame the lake.
You’re only a few minutes walk from the town of Apgar, where you can grab a morning coffee, an ice cream, enjoy the offerings of the café, or browse in the gift shops. We’re also connected to miles of paved trails leading into the town of West Glacier (about 3 miles away), so you’ll have ample opportunities for easy hiking and mountain biking too. Or, just hang out by the stream, make yummy s’mores, pick huckleberries, curl up in the window seat and read a book, or just rest, relax and enjoy the beauty that is Glacier Bear Retreat.