Couple discovers 'that long time ago feeling' in Beartooth Valley

June 2004 - Bozeman, Montana
Originally published in Dispatches, our online newsletter

Dave Sanders is loading up his gear for a long-awaited summer adventure. Driving from his home in California, Dave will make his way up through the Rockies to Beartooth Valley, Montana. He'll camp on the 20 acres he recently purchased, then work through the summer to build a home he can retire to.

Photo of Beartooth Valley by Jim Harris

"I love the location," Dave said. "The river, the mountains, those granite slags. And it's horse property."

For wife Jill, her first visit to Beartooth Valley Ranch meant flying up to Bozeman, then driving up to the property with Rocky Mountain Timberlands' Jeremiah Hartman. Remote and bordered by National Forest land, getting there meant passing near Red Lodge, Montana. Having arrived and parked their vehicle, Jill stepped out to discover a view "that went forever."

"The hugeness of the mountains is what I liked," said Jill. "Just seemed vast and huge. We were there, but we felt kind of insignificant compared to the mountains. You've got to get out, walk on the land, and feel the hugeness."

Customer Q&A

Let's visit with Dave and Jill a little longer to learn more about their new mountain getaway, and why they chose a parcel at Beartooth Valley Ranch:

What can you tell me about the property?

Dave: "Other properties we've purchased have had up and down hills, but our parcel is flat, and I like that it's flat. I also thought it was a great 8 or 12 mile road into Red Lodge.

Jill: "We had been looking all over. Didn't know if we'd ever find something. Then we got a packet from Jeremiah and made a special trip up to Montana to see it."

Dave: "It's definately a good value. I'd been looking a long time. I've been all over Montana looking at properties, and anything over $50k, or even $100k -- well, without covenants you never know...I like the covenants that came with the property."

Are you an outdoorsman, into hunting?

Dave: "Not really a hunter, just like to be out. Love to get out in the mountains. But basically we bought it because of the remoteness, while actually being kind of close to the paved road and Red Lodge."

What's your plan this summer?

Dave: "I'm going to build a 1,500 square foot rustic cabin."

What about working with Rocky Mountain Timberlands?

Jill: "As far as Jeremiah goes, he's a great guy. We did have one little snag: the parcel we had chosen was sold on the day that we called about it. But it worked out okay. The one next to it was available and so we got it. Don't delay!

Meet the Agent

Jeremiah Hartman Dave and Jill worked with Rocky Mountain Timberland's Jeremiah Hartman to purchase their property... "I love it when people want to live their dream of retiring out in the country," Jeremiah said. "It's nice to get a feeling from people that hey, you're doing your job, but you're helping them with the rest of their life. It's where they're going to be living out their retirement. So it's a great feeling to see people happy. "I think a big reason they bought at Beartooth Valley is all the public lands around them. There's 14,000 acres. You can buy such a small piece of property and feel like you've got the whole country. "They wanted a remote area, wanted something quiet -- a kick-back relax kind of place...So we just walked the property and checked it out."

What's special about your property?

Jill: "The hugeness of the mountains that I liked. Just seemed vast and huge. We're there, but we felt kind of insignificant compared to the mountains. You've got to get out, walk on the land, and feel the hugeness.

"Then when we left and went into Red Lodge, we were sold.

"We're into the solitude thing. In California, we live at 6,000 feet on 10 acres. I can see our neighbor at about a mile away. So we're used to the "outness." But we have a lot of trees in California. We used to think that a lot of trees were good. Now we like the view.

"At Beartooth Valley Ranch, you've got sagebrush and little cactus. Now, I'm not a big fan of sagebrush, but it's got that 'You can just look over there forever' kind of feeling. I like the forever, forever land."

Is being close to Yellowstone National Park appealing?

Dave: "I'll probably never go to Yellowstone. But I like the fact that anytime down the road, it's resale value would be a plus being that close to the Park."

Why did you choose Montana over another state?

Jill: "We bought property in Idaho near the Snake River 10 years ago. In winter, we used to have ride snow mobiles 2 miles into the property. Today, it's just like a neighborhood you drive around. Wanted something remote like what we had before, and found it in Beartooth Valley Ranch."

Dave: "It's remote, real remote compared to California."

Where's the value in this property?

Jill: "It was a great deal: both price wise and feeling wise. We're feeling people. Again, I'm not really into sage brush and cactus, but we just walked around and said: "this just feels good." It was the big panoramic view and the space. You have to appreciate what Montana is...It's the vastness."

Anything else?

Jill: "We just referred the property to another neighbor of our property in Idaho. What can I say?"

Dave: "Yes, we like it. Two friends already bought acreage right next to mine. Now we all have 20 acres, but for us, it's like owning 60."

Jill: "This property has a special feeling. It's a 'long time ago' kind of feeling. Makes you wonder what it must have felt like to be out in the West a long time ago, and you're out there and nobody's around. You have to appreciate that. It's rare.

"We're anxious to get there..."

Check out this recreational property in Montana at Beartooth Valley Ranch.