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Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch
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Reviews
9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms 4 bathrooms Sleeps 16 603.9 sq m
Popular amenities
Explore the area

Gardiner, MT
- Yellowstone Hot Springs23 min drive
- Yellowstone National Park North Entrance35 min drive
- Mammoth Hot Springs50 min drive
- West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone)152 min drive
Rooms & beds
5 bedrooms (sleeps 16)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 3
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 4
1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 5
1 Double Bed
Bedroom 6
1 Single Bed
Bedroom 7
1 Queen Bed
4 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub
Bathroom 2
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 3
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 4
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch
This property is the original 'McDonald family homestead', 20 minutes from Yellowstone Park line, 25-30 minutes to pay shack in Gardiner. 6 miles of dirt road and 8 miles of interstate highway.
* It consists of a log lodge on the hill, 3 log cabins down by the creek
* private from each other
* the lodge-- 6 Bedroom / 4 Bathroom home that sleeps 12, more if needed at extra cost; 6500 square feet.
King Master suite with walk in rock shower, big jacuzzi tub with beautiful mountain/meadow views, double sink, walk in closet, and upper balcony deck. 2nd floor.
3 Queen bedrooms with a bath/shower tp share, double sinks,
* twin bed in 1 of the queen bedrooms with 16' climbing wall and rope.
2nd floor
*Antique queen bedroom with bath attached, very comfy/cozy. 2nd floor.
*Twin bed in loft Workout area. 2nd floor. Close to Antique queen room.
*Downstairs main ground floor is 1 queen bed in rec room area. 1 bathroom downstairs.
*Downstairs is main floor area with kitchen, great room, walk out to decks, yard, parking, etc.
*Large kitchen with multiple stations, all equipped with everything, 2 sinks, 2 refrigerators, double oven, lots of sitting in area. Opens to dining room with 6 chairs at table.
*Open great room with large couches, leather recliner chair and big rock fireplace. There are 72 windows in lodge, the views are beautiful and plentiful.
Laundry room with LG front load washer/dryer.
Lodge made with logs up to 40 inches in diameter.
Big deck out front opens to nice green yard with automatic sprinklers, a fire pit, more land to stretch out on, & a very large quality trampoline with safety net.
Views of Yellowstone Park mountains, meadows, wildlife, forests, and the company of our ranch's friendly horses, cats, dogs, cows.
We like to think you are coming to get away from it all & hoping you don't get too tempted with the cable and wifi. Let us know if you need it disconnected. Families claim to bond more when not so tempted. Cell service is not the best in Montana or Wyoming area of the park, & Verizon is the best coverage. NO cell service in the mountains at ranch.
We do have a log barn and attached indoor arena above the lodge higher on the hill for private use only. Many guests come watch the ranch girls ride and rope in the arena when they happen to be between rodeos, visit the cats in the hay, and the miniature cows in the pens. The smaller animals are penned by the barn and arena for their protection from the wildlife.
We have a resident elk herd of a few hundred. They have their babies throughout the basin, as well as in and around the cabins, lodge, & along the road. Howl for the wolves at night, enjoy no city lights up here and many a bright stars and beautiful big sky!
We are open year around. The beauty never stops!
* It consists of a log lodge on the hill, 3 log cabins down by the creek
* private from each other
* the lodge-- 6 Bedroom / 4 Bathroom home that sleeps 12, more if needed at extra cost; 6500 square feet.
King Master suite with walk in rock shower, big jacuzzi tub with beautiful mountain/meadow views, double sink, walk in closet, and upper balcony deck. 2nd floor.
3 Queen bedrooms with a bath/shower tp share, double sinks,
* twin bed in 1 of the queen bedrooms with 16' climbing wall and rope.
2nd floor
*Antique queen bedroom with bath attached, very comfy/cozy. 2nd floor.
*Twin bed in loft Workout area. 2nd floor. Close to Antique queen room.
*Downstairs main ground floor is 1 queen bed in rec room area. 1 bathroom downstairs.
*Downstairs is main floor area with kitchen, great room, walk out to decks, yard, parking, etc.
*Large kitchen with multiple stations, all equipped with everything, 2 sinks, 2 refrigerators, double oven, lots of sitting in area. Opens to dining room with 6 chairs at table.
*Open great room with large couches, leather recliner chair and big rock fireplace. There are 72 windows in lodge, the views are beautiful and plentiful.
Laundry room with LG front load washer/dryer.
Lodge made with logs up to 40 inches in diameter.
Big deck out front opens to nice green yard with automatic sprinklers, a fire pit, more land to stretch out on, & a very large quality trampoline with safety net.
Views of Yellowstone Park mountains, meadows, wildlife, forests, and the company of our ranch's friendly horses, cats, dogs, cows.
We like to think you are coming to get away from it all & hoping you don't get too tempted with the cable and wifi. Let us know if you need it disconnected. Families claim to bond more when not so tempted. Cell service is not the best in Montana or Wyoming area of the park, & Verizon is the best coverage. NO cell service in the mountains at ranch.
We do have a log barn and attached indoor arena above the lodge higher on the hill for private use only. Many guests come watch the ranch girls ride and rope in the arena when they happen to be between rodeos, visit the cats in the hay, and the miniature cows in the pens. The smaller animals are penned by the barn and arena for their protection from the wildlife.
We have a resident elk herd of a few hundred. They have their babies throughout the basin, as well as in and around the cabins, lodge, & along the road. Howl for the wolves at night, enjoy no city lights up here and many a bright stars and beautiful big sky!
We are open year around. The beauty never stops!
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Gym
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9.6 out of 10, (114 reviews)
House Rules
Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Very family orientated
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Outdoor space for smoking, no cigs on ground plz
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Gardiner
Located in Gardiner, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Roosevelt Arch and Fort Yellowstone Historic District are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Yellowstone National Park North Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Parks' Fly Shop, or check out an event or a game at Rodeo Arena. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Gardiner, MT
What's nearby
- Yellowstone Hot Springs - 23 min drive - 11.6 km
- Cutler Lake - 27 min drive - 13.3 km
- Roosevelt Arch - 34 min drive - 25.7 km
- Yellowstone National Park North Entrance - 35 min drive - 26.4 km
- Mammoth Hot Springs - 50 min drive - 35.0 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Paradise Perk Espresso - 24 min drive
- Lighthouse Restaurant - 21 min drive
- Follow Yer Nose Smoke Wagon - 24 min drive
- Grizzly Grille - 24 min drive
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Shai McDonald

McDonald family homesteaded this basin in the 1800's on their way to visit Yellowstone Park. They bought the other homesteaders out, living in seclusion working hard, cutting lumber from the forests, clearing fields for hay, working cattle, filling their bellies with local elk, deer, moose, wild strawberries, and even kept ice in a little mini log ice house on the side of the mountain.
They had a keen eye to keep safe from the numerous grizzly bears and many a story to tell of that. Great Grandma McDonald still holds the record for harvest of Montana's largest grizzly when this griz decided to see what was in the storeroom while Great Grpa was in town getting supplies.
Our kid's grpa, Jack McDonald worked for the national park service for 43 years, while enjoying raising his family on the ranch, along with many pet moose.
Riding horses and hunting indian arrowheads and special rocks was a favorite hobby of the family.
We are now the 5th generation McDonald family preserving the original homestead cabins, sharing the beauty. We spend the summers competing in rodeos with our 3 kids all over Montana and checking in on our guests and ranch animals. Winters are spent sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, roping inside the indoor arena, basketball, football parties & keeping warm by the fireplace.
They had a keen eye to keep safe from the numerous grizzly bears and many a story to tell of that. Great Grandma McDonald still holds the record for harvest of Montana's largest grizzly when this griz decided to see what was in the storeroom while Great Grpa was in town getting supplies.
Our kid's grpa, Jack McDonald worked for the national park service for 43 years, while enjoying raising his family on the ranch, along with many pet moose.
Riding horses and hunting indian arrowheads and special rocks was a favorite hobby of the family.
We are now the 5th generation McDonald family preserving the original homestead cabins, sharing the beauty. We spend the summers competing in rodeos with our 3 kids all over Montana and checking in on our guests and ranch animals. Winters are spent sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, roping inside the indoor arena, basketball, football parties & keeping warm by the fireplace.
Why they chose this property
We are content settling on our family ranch raising kids, cows, horses, logging & fencing.
We just recently built the lodge with massive logs and over 72 windows to help accommodate multi-family gatherings.
We enjoy sharing the beauty with others and our animals sure love the extra attention.
Depending on season, the wildlife of mountain sheep, mountain goats, antelope, elk, deer, bear, buffalo/bison, coyote, fox, wolves, badgers, gophers, eagles, hawks, other birds are the most prevalent animals seen on the ranch and driving to/from.
We just recently built the lodge with massive logs and over 72 windows to help accommodate multi-family gatherings.
We enjoy sharing the beauty with others and our animals sure love the extra attention.
Depending on season, the wildlife of mountain sheep, mountain goats, antelope, elk, deer, bear, buffalo/bison, coyote, fox, wolves, badgers, gophers, eagles, hawks, other birds are the most prevalent animals seen on the ranch and driving to/from.
What makes this property unique
Getting away from it all, yet still close enough to all the activities. Animals all about in a private, quiet and very beautiful setting while enjoying the comfortable log lodgings.
20 minutes from Yellowstone Park line
25-30 minutes from Yellowstone Park Entrance Station other side of Gardiner.
1-1.5 hours from Old Faithful
4 hours one way to Jackson Hole, WY
Gardiner entrance is the original entrance to Yellowstone Park, and the only one open year around.
20 minutes from Yellowstone Park line
25-30 minutes from Yellowstone Park Entrance Station other side of Gardiner.
1-1.5 hours from Old Faithful
4 hours one way to Jackson Hole, WY
Gardiner entrance is the original entrance to Yellowstone Park, and the only one open year around.
Languages:
English
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