absarokee

Absarokee is a scenic, small community serving as a gateway to fishing, hiking, camping and outdoor exploration along the Stillwater and Yellowstone Rivers and the nearby Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Summertime brings many visitors traveling from Red Lodge to Columbus on the Beartooth Highway. The downtown area of Absarokee has all the amenities you would expect—a gas station, grocery store and plenty of local shops. Fly fishing enthusiasts will enjoy the easy access to the Stillwater River that flows directly through town, with plenty of access points to the river.

fishtail

Close to halfway between Bozeman and Billings, you’ll find the small unincorporated community of Fishtail—established when a post office was opened in 1901 and named for a rocky outcropping that resembles the shape of a fish’s tail. Situated along the West Rosebud River and in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains, the landscape is both rugged and beautiful with plenty of dramatic views. Mountain adventures are plentiful in Fishtail, including camping, hiking, and fishing. Experienced backpackers can hike to Granite Peak, one of Montana’s highest points, via the West Rosebud Trail. Whether you are exploring the backcountry or enjoying a stay at one of the authentic Big Sky Country guest ranches, be sure to stop at the Fishtail General Store. Opened around the time as the post office, the general store has been in business for over 100 years. Don’t miss the cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven and be sure to try the special sausage when you are stocking up on essentials for a day of outdoor fun.

The Tippet Rise Art Center is also worth a visit. The 10,000+ acre working ranch is host to large art installations and sculpture, films and classical music performances, set amongst the inspiring landscape.

red lodge

Red Lodge, Montana is known for its charming and historic downtown, friendly eateries, small town brewery and offers plenty of arts and entertainment for visitors and locals alike. Red Lodge is also home to one of the best downhill ski areas in Montana – Red Lodge Mountain. Tucked into the Beartooth Mountains, the Red Lodge Mountain ski area is less crowded and expensive than other ski resorts and gets an average of 250 inches of snow during a season on its 70 ski runs, with options for every experience level.

Red Lodge is also a gateway to Yellowstone National Park via the breathtaking Beartooth Highway, designated a national scenic byway.

Fishing

With almost 1 mile of private access to the exceptional small water fishery of the East Rosebud Creek, all fishermen will appreciate the opportunity right outside their backdoor. Rainbow and Brown Trout can frequently be caught, averaging 8-12 inches in length. Larger Brown Trout in excess of 16 inches have been caught on occasion, especially in the fall when they are spawning nearby.

Wildlife/Hunting Opportunities

The rich riparian area creates a thriving habitat for waterfowl and upland birds alike. Turkeys can be reliably found immediately upon entering the property while eagles, sandhill cranes, ducks and geese are all frequent flyers at the East Rosebud Retreat. As for big game animals, you will often see a sizable elk herd with a mixture of white-tailed deer, as well as moose, black bears, coyotes, and foxes. While they aren’t commonly seen here, there has been a wolf sighting on this very property. Additionally, the river habitat is home to varying smaller critters such as beavers and rock chucks. The wildlife in the area is abundant and healthy, and can be enjoyed right through the windows of the home.

Morel Mushrooms

The morel mushroom, a Montana staple, can be found in the river bottom and riparian areas of the East Rosebud Retreat. These wild and edible mushrooms are considered a delicacy and can be found by the boxful and thrive where the Aspen and Cottonwood trees are in abundance. Enjoy the one of a kind “treasure hunt” just a stone’s throw away from your front door.

Nearby recreation areas:

• Red Lodge Ski Area
• Beartooth Pass
• Tippet Rise Art Center
• Yellowstone National Park NE Entrance

The property contains roughly 35± acres of irrigated, high producing grass hay meadows. With brand new gated pipe recently installed, every drop of water can be used with ease of operation in mind. The headgate for the irrigation ditch was just recently renovated which will appease any seasoned or new operator. Just above the hay meadows sits a 35± acre pasture that contains a natural spring that provides a reliable water source for grazing livestock. Just below the gravel driveway, in the riparian area filled with billowing Cottonwood trees, sits a new and improved 10± grazeable meadow. The removal of deadfall and overgrown forage has created an ideal environment for native grasses now to thrive. This area was leased to a neighbor which held 15 cow/calf pairs for 45 days in the summer months.

THE HOME

Newly finished in May 2021, the custom home consists of 6,274± sq ft which includes 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. New up/down blinds can be found throughout the entirety of the home plus a state-of-the-art air ventilation system, and a top of the line Emtek electronic lock system for peace of mind. The oversized 30 ft x 25 ft two car garage complete with radiant floor heat is an additional convenience that adds to the functionality of this luxury home.

The main floor features an oversized kitchen finished with quartzite countertops, GE Profile appliances, top-of-the-line soft closing cabinets, and overwhelming views of the Beartooth Mountains through the large windowscape. With an open floor plan, the dining area and living room are perfectly situated to absorb the views next to the wood fireplace. Just through a set of French doors you’ll find the back deck which is the quintessential set up for alfresco dining with views of the mountains and river. Additionally, there is a family media room or library just upon entry of the main door and another room used as a formal dining room. All of the flooring on the main level with the exception of the laundry and bathrooms are Engineered Hardwood Oak Blanche flooring from Kahr’s, which is a Swedish company renowned for its high quality material.

A true primary suite can be found at the end of the main room, which is flooded with natural light and mountain views. It contains two walk-in closets, a comfortable sitting or vanity area, and a large luxurious tiled master bathroom with two sinks and a full size freestanding bathtub and walk-in shower. Private French doors lead to a covered deck area fit to absorb the Montana serenity over a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

At the front door entry, the stairway leads to the second floor which offers five mixed-use rooms. There are two large bathrooms all with tiled floors and walk-in showers. One bedroom suite has an outdoor deck area that overlooks the river with the Beartooth Mountains as the backdrop. All the flooring on the second level with the exception of the bathrooms and the bonus room are a high quality wool carpet. The newly finished back bonus room provides additional space for guests, or it can be used as a multipurpose room with space for a workout equipment, or a designated kids play area.

The lower level of the home is 2,424 sq ft and fully finished with its own kitchen and living room that would be a great space for a pool table and bar featuring 10 ft ceilings and a convenient sliding glass door that leads directly to the backyard. There are also two very impressive bedrooms both with large walk-in closets, and one full bathroom. One bedroom suite has its own private sliding glass door leading to a covered backyard patio. The utility room can also be found on the lower level.

OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENTS

Constructed to absorb 180 degree views of Montana mountains and rivers, the outdoor area and the backyard will truly take your breath away. Alfresco dining can be enjoyed from the back patio with room for outdoor furniture that’s complete with an impressive built in grill. Also on the patio you will find a new Caldera Spas hot tub, that can comfortably seat 7 people and contains an impressive 38 jets for pure relaxation in a one-of-a-kind setting. A value of $70,000 worth of new landscaping improvements were added to the front and back yards which were both reseeded to enhanced the enjoyment and made the house look and feel like a home. Additionally, the concrete parkway for the two-car garage was extended significantly to around the west side of the house with an accompanying impressive rock retaining wall. This made way for an RV or trailer to be parked, as well as a matching storage shed fit to hold yard and gardening equipment.

Similarly to the home, the outdoor equine improvements are top quality and newly finished. The equine enthusiast will appreciate the three steel pipe fenced corrals each with their own shelter sheds that were finished in 2022. Just above the pens and hay meadows sits a 35± acre pasture that has a natural spring for reliable water. The perimeter fence around the property is also new, and ready to support livestock immediately.

Irrigation: Approximately 35± acres are flood irrigated by brand new gated pipe, plus the headgate for the irrigation ditch was rebuilt in 2022.

Shop Pad: Adjacent to the home sits a 45 ft x 60 ft concrete slab with plumbing stubs and in-floor radiant heat tubing. The concrete is a 6 inch slab of 6,000 psi concrete with thicker pours under the areas designed for hydraulic vehicle lifts and a concrete gun room. There is 400 amp electric service stubbed to the pad site.

River BBQ Pad: At the banks of the Rosebud Creek you will find a concrete pad perfectly situated to soak up everything the water has to offer. The pad is roughly 30 ft x 20 ft situated with metal brackets in place for a pergola and could be used as a fishing headquarters, barbecue space, a fire pit location, or a combination of all of the above.