Our Story
How a log home above Flathead Lake became the place we share with guests from around the world.
A house we couldn’t stop thinking about
We bought Coyote Bluff in 2014. It’s a custom log home of 10,000 square feet on thirty acres above Flathead Lake. The previous owners poured an extraordinary amount of time and craftsmanship into it, with more than seventeen species of wood, timber beams and a great stone fireplace at the heart of the house. We still know the builder today, and the builder has really become a friend of ours. Guests from all over the world, and builders too, still tell us about the craftsmanship. We knew the day we walked in that we didn’t want to turn it into something it wasn’t.
So we didn’t. There’s still no front desk and no lobby. When you come up the hill, you’re coming to our home. We’ve simply tried to run it with the standards of a fine hotel and the personal warmth that so often gets lost in one.
Before the bluff
Hospitality has been the work of our lives. Eric has spent his career in the hotel business. He and Rita own hotels together, and today Eric leads MBE Hospitality Management as President and CEO. He was fortunate to be mentored by Horst Schulze of The Ritz-Carlton, who taught a generation of hoteliers what genuine service looks like.
Rita has a gift that can’t be taught: she notices. The suite that feels just right when you walk in, the snacks restocked before you think to ask, the small kindness you didn’t expect. That’s Rita.
Before we moved up the hill, our family lived in the house just behind our Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn & Suites, right at the bottom of the hill in Somers. We own that hotel, along with others, and it’s still part of every stay: it’s where our guests check in, and where breakfast is served each morning. The house itself is now Somers House, and it welcomes the families and groups the Estate isn’t designed for.
“Rita has the gift of hostessing as every comfort is provided and available for my husband and I to relax and enjoy the evening together.”
Why Montana
Montana has a way of slowing people down. The Flathead Valley holds Glacier National Park, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and mountains in every direction.
From the bluff we get to watch all of it: storms rolling across the lake, the whole valley turning gold in the evening, snow settling on the pines in winter. July is beautiful and busy. September is our favorite, and it isn’t close.
We love sharing it. Many of our guests come for Glacier and leave telling us the bluff was the part of the trip they’ll remember most.
Why we open our door
We believe hospitality is a calling. It’s about welcoming strangers, opening your home, sharing a table and caring for people along the way, and we’ve tried to carry that into everything we do here.
When someone books a stay with us, there’s usually more to the story than needing a room. People come for honeymoons and anniversaries, for proposals and birthdays, for trips they’ve saved years to take. Some come during the best seasons of their lives, and some during the hardest.
We’ve hidden engagement rings and chilled the champagne. We’ve planned surprises. Some guests have joined us by the fire and shared remarkable stories; others we’ve hardly seen, because that’s exactly how they wanted it. You can build a beautiful property and put a hot tub on every deck, but hospitality is ultimately about how people feel while they’re with you.
“The spirit of Gods love is felt the moment you step into their home.”
Luxury, to us, is personal
Over the years our guests have included newlyweds and couples married fifty years, entrepreneurs and executives, professional athletes and actors, people who flew in privately and people who drove two days to get here.
We don’t advertise who stays with us, and we never will. Privacy is part of the promise. What we will tell you is that every one of them was welcomed in exactly the same way. Some guests enjoy conversation by the fire, and others want complete privacy. Both are exactly right, and we’ll follow your lead.
What’s changed, and what never will
We’ve kept making changes based on what makes a stay better. Today each suite has its own private exterior entrance, its own deck and its own hot tub, so you can come and go without walking through the main house, and when you’re in that hot tub looking across Flathead Lake, the space is yours.
What hasn’t changed is the size. We’re intentionally small, and we’ll stay that way: two suites, hosts close by whenever you need them, a fire in the evening and a quiet you can feel. Coyote Bluff isn’t for everyone, and we’re at peace with that. But if it’s for you, we think you’ll know the moment you arrive.
Eric & Rita Your hosts at Coyote Bluff Estate
Good to know
Questions, answered
How far is the Estate from Glacier National Park?
The West Entrance is a scenic drive of about 40 minutes, depending on traffic. After a full day in the park, you leave the crowds behind and come back to a quiet deck above Flathead Lake. Our Glacier guide covers what’s new in the park this year.
Is the Estate adults only?
Yes. The Estate is an adults-only retreat, designed for privacy and quiet. The one exception: when your family reserves both suites, children over 10 are welcome, with a maximum of two guests per suite. Families with younger children are warmly welcome at Somers House.
Is Somers House part of the Estate?
No. Somers House is a separate three-bedroom home in the town of Somers, just behind our Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn & Suites, about a five-minute drive from the Estate. It does not share the Estate’s hilltop setting, views, hot tubs or fire pit.
Is breakfast provided?
Breakfast isn’t served at the Estate. You’re welcome to a complimentary full hot breakfast at our Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn & Suites, at the bottom of the hill, from 6:00 to 9:00 AM, and every suite has its own coffee service. We’re also glad to recommend a favorite local breakfast spot.
Can we have meals at the Estate?
Meals aren’t served on site, but we’re happy to arrange local delivery or to recommend and reserve a table at one of the valley’s restaurants.
What’s included with a stay?
Your own hot tub and deck, our house blends of whiskey and scotch and wine in your suite, a fully stocked beer fridge by the fire pit, snacks and drinks restocked daily, heated pillow-top king beds, robes and slippers, Wi-Fi, and our help with anything from dinner reservations to a Glacier itinerary.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations made at least 14 days before arrival are free. Within 14 days of arrival, the full stay is charged. No deposit is required; the card on file is charged 7 to 14 days before arrival, and you’ll receive an email before the charge is processed.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 4:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM. All of our guests check in at our Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn & Suites, at the bottom of the hill, before heading up to the Estate. We’re unable to offer early check-in: preparing each suite properly takes us right up to check-in time.
Are pets or smoking allowed?
The Estate is pet-free, and indoor smoking isn’t permitted. Cigars are welcome by the fire pit and in designated outdoor areas.
We’d be honored to welcome you
Summer dates often book well ahead. If you’d like to talk first, just call us. There’s a reason our number is on the website.
Dates taken? Join the waitlist
