If owning a private ski haven without the hassle of crowded lifts or regulatory hurdles sounds like the dream, a nearly 2,000-acre ranch in Montana might be exactly what you’re looking for. Just 20 minutes south of Missoula, Lolo Ranch—spanning 1,981 acres at the base of Lolo Peak—has just been listed for $24 million. This sprawling estate includes more than 20 professionally designed ski runs already cut into the mountainside.
The property was once the centerpiece of an ambitious luxury ski resort plan in the mid-2000s, spearheaded by local landowner Tom Maclay. He envisioned a full-fledged slopeside resort with lodges, shops, and upscale homes. But the plan hit regulatory snags with the U.S. Forest Service, and after years of gridlock, it unraveled. The bank foreclosed, and in 2014, the land was quietly sold at auction for $22.5 million, as reported by The Missoulian.
What remains today is a rare collection of cleared and graded ski trails that snake down from elevations near 6,000 feet through forested terrain and open pastures. There’s no ski lift infrastructure, but snowcats and snowmobiles make accessing the upper trails easy. “On a good snow year, you could be there shredding for a couple months,” said listing broker Deke Tidwell of Hall and Hall, speaking with Mansion Global. In warmer months, the trails are ideal for mountain biking.
The rest of Lolo Ranch is just as striking. The main lodge spans 5,000 square feet, with five bedrooms and six baths, all designed in rustic style with plenty of space for entertaining. Additional outbuildings support livestock operations, and about 155 acres are irrigated via pivot systems. The land benefits from significant water rights and includes McClain Creek, which winds directly through the ranch.
Positioned against the Bitterroot Mountains, Lolo Ranch borders more than three miles of public land. That gives it direct access to Lolo National Forest and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, one of the largest untouched wilderness areas in the continental U.S. Several high alpine lakes are located just past the property line and are accessible by hiking, biking, or using a high-clearance vehicle.
The wildlife is thriving, but elk are the undisputed highlight. “The largest resident elk herd in the northern Bitterroot Valley lives here year-round,” Tidwell notes. “They don’t go anywhere because they’re so happy.”
Though the resort plans never materialized, the groundwork remains. Miles of roads, underground utilities, and smoothed trails give the next owner flexibility for future development. Importantly, the ranch has no conservation easement in place—offering the new buyer the freedom to build, preserve, or simply take in the expansive solitude Montana is known for.
