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Flathead Lake Lodge is a third generation family-owned and -operated dude ranch that sits on the shore of Flathead Lake in Bigfork, Montana. The ranch offers unlimited horse and water activities and is only 40 minutes from Glacier National Park. Your family will enjoy a rustic ranch atmosphere, endless activities and unmatched hospitality by the Averill family and staff. Recreation includes a complete horse program, sailing, water sports, hiking, mountain biking, cookouts, campfires and a party in the pasture.
This is our 5th year at Flathead Lake Lodge and it was another wonderful week, The staff is friendly, helpful and fun. The food more than ample and tasty. Everyone from Grampy to the grandchildren had a terrific time. There is always something to do, new people to meet and the great scenery to enjoy. A drink on the patio before dinner is the perfect way to relax after a day at the ranch, Love Flathead Lake Lodge!
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Be prepared for a great time!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Aug 6, 2023
Thank you so much for being part of the Flathead Lake Lode family! We love having you here and are so glad you continue to enjoy yourselves. Happy trails!
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It's hard to put into words the magic of this place. Everything about it is amazing. The property, the activities, the placement of the property on the lake - especially if you like sunsets, the food, and the service. But, what is best about it is the people. They genuinely care, they get to you the guests by name and they are the reason it's so amazing. Plus, this lodge gives back each year with the Week of Hope to families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Top notch people and top-notch ranch!
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Date of stay: August 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Oct 28, 2022
Thank you so much. We are fortunate to have incredible staff and are so thankful for them. We hope you come see us again. Cheers!
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We traveled to the Lodge last week with very few expectations and absolutely fell in love with this place. It is like going to sumer camp if summer camp were gorgeous, clean, filled with fun, good food and remarkable staff . The Lodge is beautiful and cozy and we loved gathering for meals, relaxing by the fire and listening to music. Our little cabin had lovely lake views, a relaxing porch to relax and a spacious lofted bedroom with comfortable bed. The bell rings three times a day to invite you to the lodge for delicious meals from scratch. The homemade bread, pastry and deserts are impossible to pass. Happy Hour each day features excellent music from a talented couple. My husband and I rode horses, hiked trails, learned to paint, did yoga, took boatrides, kayaked, had fly fishing lessons, shot clay pigeons, spotted elk, rode a firetruck to a steak fry, jumped off the tower into the lake, sang by the campfire under the Milky Way, took naps, laughed and remembered what joy it is to be in nature. We were both sad to leave. What a beautiful experience. What heightens the experience are the kind, hard working, smart, talented staff that work here. They love what they do and where they work and it is contagious. We learned much from them and felt so welcome. This is not an inexpensive trip, but it is worth it. Really, a once in a lifetime experience. Honestly, we never stopped smiling.
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Date of stay: September 2020
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Apr 7, 2021
Jennifer, thanks for coming to spend time with us! We're so glad you enjoyed your time at the ranch and that you had such a wonderful experience with our staff. We feel pretty darn lucky to have incredible folks who work for us and are so glad you could feel the love of this place through them. Happy trails.
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This was one of the best times I have had in my life. Arrived and checked in my room in the south lodge was awesome with a very comfortable king bed with the windows open slept better than I have for years. Breakfast horse ride to best bacon on the face of the earth plus bonded with Buster who I rode the rest of the week and I don't like horses, BUT. I went paddle boarding, skeetshooting, archery, rode on sailboat, sat by the pool, and painted a picture. The happy hours with the different types of alcohols was educational and fun. The dinners with the wine pairing plus riding the fire engine to the steak fry will never be forgotten, but the best was the people I met and will stay in contact with. Will be back.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Â Great place to unplug and enjoy
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Aug 6, 2023
We are so glad you enjoyed your time at the ranch and your stay in the beautiful South Lodge! We're glad you found so many things to do here and we can't wait to see you down the trail.
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This place is absolutely amazing! My husband and daughter love to ride horses and our daughter did the teen ride almost everyday. The breakfast ride was a highlight of our vacation. The rest of our family was able catch a ride in a vehicle to the top of the mountain to join the horse riders so we could all enjoy breakfast together. I participated in the guided hikes every day, while my son who loves mountain biking, was able to ride either the intermediate or the advanced trail at least once a day (sometimes twice). Our other son enjoyed fishing and the sporting clays range. We all enjoyed the outdoor laser tag adventure. We definitely needed all this activity to counteract the extra calories from the amazing food. The ultimate family vacation - everyone is able to pick their favorite activities but you are still together for all meals and evening activities.
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Date of stay: July 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â All rooms and cabins have a spectacular view of the lake!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Apr 7, 2021
Hi! Thank you for choosing to spend your summer vacation at Flathead Lake Lodge and for sharing that experience with us. I'm also glad you enjoyed Chef Rob's culinary offerings - he keeps us full around here, but you're right in the the trails and activities are the perfect way to balance out his meals. Plus, I love that you all found the perfect activity for each of you. Thanks again and happy trails!
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Flathead lake lodge is such an incredible place. We were at one of the adults only weeks and it was wonderful! The staff is so friendly and everyone treats you like family. The lodge takes care of everything. From meals , drinks, activities, and anything else you can think of. The activities are endless! All of the guides had so much knowledge of the area and the wildlife. The elk tour was amazing!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Jan 16, 2024
Thanks so much for sharing this review! Our adult weeks - summer camp but for grown ups is how we like to refer to them - have been such a lovely addition to the ranch and I'm glad you were able to experience it. We hope to see you again down the trail and thanks again for taking the time.
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I went with 8 others and had the week of a lifetime. I met new people, had amazing food and pastries, and improved my riding skills (even though I am fairly experienced). I also enjoyed hanging out with my family as well. The staff were all amazing as well.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Aug 6, 2023
Thank you so much for visiting and making memories with us. It means a lot that you took the time to leave a review!
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It doesn’t get any better than Flathead Lake Lodge. The best family vacation we’ve ever had. The perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, hospitality, beauty and absolute fun for the whole family! The lodge is gorgeous, the activities are numerous and well executed, the food is delicious and the staff is an absolute joy. We would return again and again!
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Bring your adventurous spirit and choose your own adventure. Ride, hike, relax, create, swim, try...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chase Averill, General Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Sep 27, 2024
Thank you so much for taking time to leave a review! From all of us at the ranch, it was a delight to have you and your family here.
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We went the week of the 4th of July. The same group of families has been going for 30 years. It's a great time for them and their group. They are 90% of the guests that week. If you want to walk into the dining room each meal to 90% of the chairs tipped and reserved and be treated like you are intruding on their trip..... Otherwise it's pretty brutal. I can see how other weeks it could be terrific, but I would find out if your week is going to be like this. We made some friends but it was tough for our kids to be treated so poorly.
Management should have told us, so I blame them.
Also, depending on your cabin it may be "overly" rustic.
Staff was genuinely nice. Food was fine. You have to bring your own wine which is actually fun. You can horse trade a bit in the bar.
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Date of stay: July 2014
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from FlatheadLakeLodge, Manager at Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge
Responded Apr 7, 2015
Dear Player-Coach, Thank you for the review and feed back on your visit to the ranch. We're sorry to hear about your experience and apologize for not clearly communicating the unique and fun differences during the 4th of July week here at the Ranch. It is our protocol to let all new guest know what to expect during that week and we did not make that happen. We strive to make every guest, new and returning, feel like they are a part of the ranch and provide a truly personal level of hospitality. I think your review speaks to that with a week composed of 90% return guest who've been coming for 30 years together. I would like the opportunity to talk to you more about your experience and see if there is another week we can make happen for you and your family and show you a much more terrific time like you say. One where your expectations are more than exceeded and you truly feel part of the ranch family. Thanks you again for your feedback, we truly appreciate it. Feel free to contact me here at the ranch at your convenience. My Best, Chase Averill 406.837.4391
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Our family looked forward to this vacation for nearly a year. We were horribly disappointed to find our cabin dirty with soiled carpet, a thick layer of dust on the furniture, worn bedclothes and a leaky tub faucet that management was unable to repair. The horses were unhealthy. They had dull, ragged coats and were obviously stressed. Many of the animals had a constant hacking cough. Safety was not stressed in the riding program. We could hear the sounds of traffic throughout our entire trail ride and had to cross a busy two lane highway to reach the trails. People were allowed to ride in shorts and sandals! Safety supervision of children was inadequate. After one day my family decided to cut our losses and leave. The ranch had a mobil four star rating but we can only surmise that mobil has not been there in awhile.
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Date of stay: June 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Responded Jul 27, 2005
I am terribly disappointed in this review considering the individual only stayed at the Lodge for a couple of hours. They did not particpate in any of activities and did not eat any meals. At no time did the individual express any displeasure with our accommodations, staff or riding program. They expressed to me that they were looking for a wilderness experience and were experienced riders. They didn't go out on an adult ride and couldn't in any way evaluate our riding program in an objective manner. Flathead Lake Lodge has a return rate of over 65% and has been a Mobil Four Star Resort for over 10 years. Mobil personally visits our facility every season for rating purposes. Flathead Lake Lodge offers weekly family vacations all inclusive of meals, accommodations and recreation. I find it hard to believe that you could write an objective review on a weekly vacation after two hours.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Bigfork area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
averill`s flathead lake hotel bigfork
LOCATION
United StatesMontanaBigfork
NUMBER OF ROOMS
52
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