This Year Could Use a Little Magic

Have you congratulated yourself lately? You’ve nearly made it through 2020, and that was no small task. If you have kids at home, you’ve accomplished the nearly impossible—virtual schooling—while virtually working! Maybe you adopted a puppy to provide the family with extra comfort and entertainment. You’ve done your best during a time when nothing has gone according to plan.

You’re invited to stick around after the holidays to make The Resort your home away from home. Paws Up now offers the ultimate in remote learning and working, with uber-fast Wi-Fi, inspiring work-and-study spaces, in-home dining and personalized shopping. Just ask your Reservations specialist about extended stays.

The year’s not over yet, and we have some plans in mind that you can actually keep. Plans like ice skating, snow tubing and snowmobile runs, followed by festive drinks around the fire. Cookie baking with a master pastry chef. Rocking out to a live band. Opening presents in your beautifully decorated wilderness home, and even getting a visit from Santa. There’s still plenty of room for magic this year with a holiday visit to The Resort at Paws Up. Not only can you continue your favorite holiday traditions, but you’ll make lots of new ones, as well. Who knows—after coming to our winter wonderland this year, your family may not want to spend another Christmas without sleigh rides and Cow Croquet. Or spend another New Year’s Eve without fireworks and a midnight dip in your hot tub underneath the twinkling sky.

Join us for a holiday season that will renew your spirits and officially hit the refresh button for a better new year. Oh, and that puppy you adopted earlier this year? She’s more than welcome to come, too.

Wondering about our Winter Wonderland?

You’ve heard the phrase “It’s a dry heat!” But what about a dry cold? With lower humidity along with low temperatures, western Montana’s average winter day makes for a surprisingly comfortable setting to let loose during all those awesome activities.

December Average Temperatures:                                                       December Average Snow Depth:

High 37°F                                                                                                                      5″

Low 25°F

January Average Temperatures:                                                             January Average Snow Depth:

High 40° F                                                                                                                     8″

Low 27° F

February Average Temperatures:                                                          February Average Snow Depth:
High 42°                                                                                                                       7″

Low 26°

Then again, Montana’s anything but average.

The Big Sky creates unrivaled snowflakes.

Back in 1887, people claimed to witness 15-inch snowflakes falling from the sky in Fort Keogh, Montana. Think they needed helmets instead of wool hats?

Montana has its ups and downs.

On January 11, 1980, the temperature in Great Falls, Montana, rose from –32°F to 15°F in just seven minutes, marking the most rapid temperature change ever registered in the U.S.

Sometimes winter can’t wait till December.

Last September, Missoula broke the previous record set in 1934 for all-time September snowfall with

1.6 inches of snow.

7 Reasons to Visit The Resort at Paws Up for Memorial Day Weekend

Are you still trying to make your Memorial Day weekend plans? The Resort at Paws Up will be serving up barbecue, beverages and live entertainment at Montana Master Grillersa three-day event that celebrates the art of the open flame on 37,000 acres of stunning wilderness. Here are 7 reasons to visit this Memorial Day weekend.

1. Activities: Guests can eat and play to their heart’s content with more than 70 wilderness adventures, such as ATV tours, fly-fishing and horseback riding.

2.  The Last Best Grillers: Montana Master Grillers consists of America’s top culinary talent, including Tim Byres (a James Beard Award-winning author), Burke Holmes (of the Notorious P.I.G. BBQ—voted Best BBQ in Missoula, Montana), Paws Up Executive Chef Sunny Jin, Pat Martin (of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in Nashville), Nicole Pederson (a Food & WinePeople’s Best New Chef nominee) and Steve “Nookie” Postal (the chef/owner of Boston’s Commonwealth and a finalist on Around the World in 80 Plates). Apart from outdoor activities and demonstrations, guests will also witness a competitive cook-off amongst the chefs

3. The Beverages: To accompany the phenomenal fare, Paws Up will host KettleHouse Brewing, Glacier Distilling and the Wagner Family of Wine. Each will provide designated pairings to amplify the complex flavor profiles of juicy meats.

4. Live Entertainment: We are thrilled for our amazing weekend musical lineup, featuring solo acoustic guitarist Dan Dubuque, singer-songwriter Andrea Harsell, high-energy duo the Timber Rattlers and Missoula-based bluegrass musicians the Lil Smokies.

5. Island Lodge Escape: New this summer, guests at Paws Up can discover the Island Lodge at Salmon Lake, a private retreat 15 minutes from Paws Up. Reserving the Island Lodge at Salmon Lake is like having your own private island where you can enjoy water sports, fine cuisine and breathtaking scenery. Full-day plus morning, afternoon and evening excursions are available.

6. Our S’moreologist: That’s right—the resident s’moreologist is really a thing at Paws Up. Our s’moreologist specializes in making perfect, decadent and delicious s’mores every time—and he’s more than happy to show you how it’s done—whether at the inviting fireplace in Tank or around a fire pit in the great outdoors.Our s’moreologist will lead you through each part of the time-honored s’more making process.

7. Spa Town®: Guests will enjoy spa treatments in pristine white tents where a traditional “spa” soundtrack isn’t required. The sounds of Mother Nature are all you’ll hear while you completely relax and rejuvenate.

For reservations, please call 877-588-6783 or visit Paws Up’s Live chat.

Give Your Thanksgiving Cook a Holiday

Give thanks and go off duty. At Paws Up, you can celebrate Thanksgiving by sitting down to a bountiful spread of locally sourced five-star cuisine. But you won’t have to lift a finger. Instead, you might raise a glass or two from Rombauer Vineyards. And forget cleanup duty; your after-dinner tasks will be s’more-tasting, movie-watching and memory-making. Of course, the feast itself is just one portion of a weekend stuffed with thrilling outdoor activities and cozy nights in.

Note: We have special pricing for Montana locals.  Contact Paws Up to talk to our reservations on our live chat.

Schedule:

Possibly the World’s Most Uplifting Countdown

Make a resolution to finally have the New Year’s Eve of your wildest dreams. No crowds, no traffic. Join us for a weekend filled with wintery outdoor adventures like snowmobiling, horseback riding, snow tubing, and cross-country skiing. Then get cozy inside with movie nights, shopping and bowl game watching. And when it’s time to ring in the new year, you can celebrate in spectacular fashion right here at The Resort. You’ll find a dazzling night that begins with an elegant, five-course dinner and ends with fire dancers, fireworks and a live performance by American Idol’s Crystal Bowersox. After you retire to your private vacation home and wake up to a lavish breakfast buffet, you’re looking at an ideal welcome to 2018.

Our vast menu of activities provides opportunities to do things you love, as well as things you’ve always wanted to try.

 

Paws Up’s Featured Entertainment

“Crystal has ‘a voice like dirt and diamonds.’ Her music is intended to bring a positive message of love and light to the world—things that folks will be able to take with them on their own journey, so that they, too, can feel truly alive.”

— from crystalbowersox.com

Crystal Bowersox will provide the music for Paws Up’s extravagant end-of-the-year celebration. She will perform with her trio for all New Year’s Eve revelers to enjoy. Crystal Bowersox’s emotive folk-rock-country style catapulted her from the cramped coffeehouses and cavernous subway tunnels of Chicago to millions of homes across the United States when she placed second on Season 9 of American Idol. Along with her old soul of a voice, her carefree style and “don’t mess with me” attitude set her apart from the other contestants and landed the self-taught songstress performances with Joe Cocker, Harry Connick, Jr. and Alanis Morissette.

This Year Between Christmas and New Years, the Holidays Are Even Sweeter at Paws Up.

Because we like to do everything right, down to the last little detail, we’ve arranged for our very own Sugar Plum Fairy to make a visit this winter. Chef Mindy Segal of Chicago’s ever-popular HotChocolate restaurant will be providing heavenly cupfuls of her signature dessert. Stop by the fully stocked HotChocolate Bar for an assortment of concoctions. Winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef and author of Cookie Love, Segal will also be leading cookie-making classes* and creating a featured dessert. As if you needed any other reason to visit during this magical time of year.

10 Reasons to Celebrate Christmas at Paws Up

This holiday season, leave behind the hustle and bustle for something truly magical: Christmastime in Montana. At The Resort at Paws Up, you’re in for a warm and adventurous holiday weekend. We have elves to take care of everything. Here are 10 reasons to spend Christmas at Paws Up in pictures and words.

  1. You get to experience a picture-perfect backdrop of snow-covered mountains.
  2. You’ll rock around your very own decorated tree.
  3. You’ll receive a surprise personal visit from Santa, right in your cozy luxury home with gifts and all.
  4. You’ll experience bonfires with s’mores and downhill snow tubing with a snowmobile chauffeur, followed by hot apple cider.
  5. You’ll participate in a gingerbread house decorating contest.
  6. You’ll enjoy quality family time with bingo game nights and more.
  7. You’ll warm up with indoor activities such as holiday crafts, movie nights and plenty of shopping at our Wilderness Outpost.
  8. You’ll experience a family broomball game on the Paws Up ice skating rink.
  9. You’ll enjoy the best Montana Christmas brunch and a glittering Christmas dinner with live music.
  10. You’ll end each day soaking in a soothing hot tub and then relax by your roaring fireplace.

Enough said? Contact our live chat on pawsup.com now for more information.

Kick off the holidays with something spectacular

This Thanksgiving, create new traditions with a family vacation to The Resort at Paws Up. With an abundance of activities to choose from, there’s something on the menu for everyone. Get cozy inside with family movie nights and football and parade viewing parties, or satisfy your appetite for outdoor adventure with horseback riding, ATV rides, hayrides, touch football, bird watching and more.

Of course, we haven’t forgotten the feast itself. For Thanksgiving dinner, you and yours can sit down to a spectacular spread at Pomp or opt to have a private, plentiful meal brought to your home, which will be whisked away when you’re done. That’s just one portion of a weekend filled with sumptuous, locally sourced fare brought to you by our world-renowned Executive Chef Ben Jones.

We sincerely hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable Thanksgiving weekend at The Resort at Paws Up. We’ll take care of everything—you just make the memories.

Along with five-star cuisine, you’ll enjoy exquisite vintage wine all weekend long from our featured vintner, Rombauer Vineyards. Established in 1980, Rombauer Vineyards is a family-owned and operated business with deep roots in food and wine. Owner KR Rombauer is a great-nephew of The Joy of Cooking author Irma Rombauer, and his ancestors originated from the winegrowing region of Rheingau, Germany, where wine is considered an essential complement to a meal. This rich history has led to an award-winning selection of wines that will make for an ideal pairing for your
Thanksgiving weekend.

Paws Up welcomes Dan Dubuque as the special musical guest for our Thanksgiving celebration. A solo acoustic guitarist, Dubuque is known for his unique approach to the Weissenborn, a slide guitar that’s played lap-style. Dubuque often adds percussive effects, playing the guitar like a drum while infusing every song with his free-sounding style.

5 Reasons to Visit Paws Up This Winter

spring break at the resort at paws up

Winter is going by so quickly so be sure not to miss your chance to spend it in style at The Resort at Paws Up—an authentic working cattle ranch where adventure awaits at every turn. We will be hard at work with our pre-arrival department to create a custom stay for you and your family. Below, find our top five activities to enjoy this winter.

kids winter at The Resort at Paws Up

1. Kids Corps of Discovery

Our Kids Corps of Discovery offers half-day and full-day programs that include pony rides, field trips to the Blackfoot River, a petting zoo, horse painting, scavenger hunts and more for children. Older kids can enjoy geocaching, target shooting, the Grizzlyman Fitness Trail, archery and more.

The resort at paws up snow tubing

2. Snow Tubing

Do you have the need for speed? If you like living in the fast lane but are tired of lift lines and toe-crushing ski boots, the surrounding hills and meadows of Paws Up offer ample opportunities for other snowy pursuits. Test the limits of gravity aboard one of our snow tubes. The Resort offers two kinds of tubing:

Downhill Tubing

Tubes in varying sizes are offered to guests for downhill tubing every afternoon between 2PM and 4PM. A tubing chauffeur drives guests back up the hill on a snowmobile after each run. (Helmets and goggles are provided at the top of the hill, but guests are encouraged to bring their own.) Guests may tube downhill at any other time of day without a chauffeur. Just remember: Extra calories burned climbing back uphill equal extra hot chocolate at the end!

Meadow Tubing

This style of tubing is slightly different, with tubes attached to a rope that is then secured to the back of a snowmobile that runs a course through the meadow behind the Wilderness Outpost. Guests should sign up in advance for a riding slot between 10AM and noon. One or two people can ride a single tube together, and guests are encouraged to bring their own helmets and goggles.

For both downhill and meadow tubing, bonfire pits at each location will be lit during specified operating times to warm up after runs.

Dogsledding at the resort at paws up

3Dogsledding

This signature adventure is centered around man’s best friend. Horsepower has nothing on our paw power. Iditarod champion Alaskan Huskies pull guests through the wilds of Montana at the foot of the Garnet Mountains—one of the most handsome ranges in the Rockies. The Blackfoot Valley is home to some of the best dogsled racing in the United States. In fact, four-time Iditarod (also known as the “Last Great Race on Earth”) champion Doug Swingley lives and trains here, as do dozens of his best local competition.

Ice hockey at paws up

4. Ice Skating and Hockey

Winter at Paws Up still means frosted pine trees, snow-covered meadows and frozen lakes. Turn circles around your companions at our royal ice rink, located across from Pomp and Tank & Trough—the perfect spot to thaw out with a golden goblet of gourmet coffee or sinfully rich hot chocolate. We provide the ice skates, hand warmers and hockey sticks. You provide the double toe loops and winning shots.

sleigh rides at the resort at paws up

5. Sleigh Rides

Join the Paws Up wranglers and their majestic Percheron draft horses for an enchanting sleigh ride through frosted forests and over powdery hills. While your mind is devouring a smorgasbord of tasty historical and naturalistic facts—told in storybook style by your sleigh guide—and your eyes take in the dreamy Montana scenery, your palate will be treated to gourmet hot chocolate, exquisite coffee and delicious hot cider to keep you toasty-warm during the entire experience.

spring break at paws up

SPRING BREAK SPECIALS

Visit The Resort at Paws Up for the ultimate spring break vacation with your family. Book your spring break stay today, and take advantage of our special offers. Our Spring Break Package includes meals and one half-day activity per person, per day. Rates start at $562 per person per night (based on two adults and two children). Or you can enjoy a limited-time discount of 30 percent off lodging when you book a stay for dates between February 1 and May 26, 2017. (Blackout dates include all special events.)

winter adventure at the resort at paws up

The Best Christmas Vacation Ever

montana-christmas-vacation-1

At The Resort at Paws Up, we do the holidays right. Christmas on our 37,000-acre ranch is a truly magical time when doubters are transformed into believers and family bonds are fortified—all against a backdrop of pristine white. From Santa’s workshop (his Montana branch) and an old-fashioned tree trimming party to a gingerbread house building contest, horse-drawn sleigh rides and even an in-home visit from Kris Kringle himself, you’ll be singing an epic yuletide carol.

montana-christmas-vacation-5

Our family-owned ranch resort is perfect for multigenerational trips with its incredible collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. Ranging from 1,100 to 3,250 square feet, each home features scenic views and is impeccably appointed with rustic furnishings and amenities such as fireplaces, hot tubs, expansive wraparound decks and more.

paws-up-homes

YOUR CHRISTMAS PACKAGE INCLUDES:

  • Accommodations for five nights
  • All daily meals, snacks and nonalcoholic beverages
  • Your family’s own personal Santa
  • Christmas Eve dinner in Pomp with a distinctiveChristmas menu
  • Christmas night dinner feast
  • Decorated Christmas tree in your home
  • Horse-drawn sleigh rides or wagon rides
  • Choice of one half-day activity per person, per day*
  • Gingerbread house building contest
  • Holiday DVDs available for viewing
  • Christmas Eve kids party in Trough, a visit fromSanta, cookie decorating and other activities

christmas-paws-up

  • Paws Up signature Christmas stockingPlus, all taxes and resort fees, airport transfers from Missoula International Airport and on-property transportation *excludes dogsledding and hot air balloon rides

paws up wintertime

ALSO: LET’S RING IN THE NEW YEAR TOGETHER.

Stay and join us for an incredible evening of live music, games, bonfires and fireworks. The Resort at Paws Up celebrates The Last Best Night of the Year in spectacular style. You’ll feast on a five-course dinner that will make even your New York friends envious. You’ll enjoy a concert by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Seth Glier. And then you’ll retire to your own vacation home, complete with a hot tub and a sumptuous bed. Then wake to a lavish breakfast buffet.

snow mobile at Paws Up

For those who yearn to explore the great outdoors of Big Sky Country, we feature unforgettable adventuress like dogsleddingcross-country skiingsnowmobiling, tubing, private indoor equestrian lessons and even ice skating – all in winter wonderland full of peace and magic

Where to Spend Thanksgiving This Year

PAWS UP THANKSGIVING

Kick off the holiday season with something beyond spectacular—a family trip to The Resort at Paws Up. It’s the first Thanksgiving celebration at Paws Up, and we’re planning generous portions of fun activities and excursions. From a petting zoo with pony rides and family game nights to owl watching, hayrides and concerts, plus football and parade watching, there are plenty of options to satisfy everyone’s tastes. Don’t forget we have horseback riding, ATV rides, paintball, archery, hiking, biking, spa town and so much more.

Thanksgiving food shot paws up

Of course, we haven’t forgotten the Thanksgiving feast. You and your loved ones will sit down to dine on one sumptuous meal after another filled with locally sourced holiday favorites. We often say our world-renowned executive chef is a culinary artist. You can count on every last bite to be delicious. Giving thanks will surely come easily at The Resort at Paws Up.

Inside look at paws up homes

THANKSGIVING SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

  • Cookie decorating in homes
  • Petting zoo visits and pony rides
  • Lighter, leaner lunch options available
  • Game night in the Bull Barn
  • Fireside s’mores on The Yard at the Cook Shack

Thursday, November 24, 2016

  • Extended breakfast hours
  • Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade watching in the Village
  • NFL game watching with snacks in Tank
  • Petting zoo visits and pony rides
  • Owl Prowl bird watching excursion to Jones’ Pond
  • Hayrides through the Wilderness Estates
  • Lighter, leaner lunch options available
  • Thanksgiving Day Festival with apple bobbing, sack races, archery and more on The Yard at the Cook Shack
  • A grand and glittering Thanksgiving Dinner at Pomp or a private feast delivered to your home and whisked away afterwards
  • Cookie decorating awards ceremony
  • Family movie night and wildlife presentation in the Bull Barn
  • Fireside s’mores on The Yard at the Cook Shack

Friday, November 25, 2016

  • Resort tour, with visits to the Morris Ranch House, Blackfoot River Lodge, Elk Creek and Cliffside Camp
  • Petting zoo visits and pony rides
  • Hayrides through the Wilderness Estates
  • Lighter, leaner lunch options available
  • Black Friday sale at the Wilderness Outpost
  • Happy hour and whiskey tasting and demonstration with the Rattlesnake Creek Distillery
  • A special dessert menu including pumpkin pie flambé, an ice cream station with toppings such as flambéed cherries, Bananas Foster and house-made goat cheese pumpkin cheesecake
  • Pajama party and movie night in the Great Angus Hall
  • Live musical performance from the Beargrass Bluegrass Band in Tank
  • Fireside s’mores on The Yard at the Cook Shack

paws up equestrian photo

Saturday, November 26, 2016

  • Resort tour, with visits to the Morris Ranch House, Blackfoot River Lodge, Elk Creek and Cliffside Camp
  • Petting zoo visits and pony rides
  • Owl Prowl bird watching excursion to Jones’ Pond
  • Kids crafts and photo center family fun projects
  • Lighter, leaner lunch options available
  • Sale at the Wilderness Outpost
  • Happy hour and hard cider tasting and demonstration with Brewmaster Lee McAlpine at the Wilderness Outpost
  • Mini Rodeo at the Equestrian Center
  • Appetizers and cocktails in the Saddle Club
  • Show in the Arena
  • Campfire music jamboree and s’mores on The Yard at the Cook Shack

The Resort at Paws Up bathrooms

Sunday, November 27, 2016

  • NFL game watching with snacks in Tank (Lighter, leaner lunch options available)
  • Family movie night in the Bull Barn

Note: All Thanksgiving weekend activities, apart from dining and shopping, are complimentary. Space is limited. Reserve early. For delivery of an in-home Thanksgiving feast, please provide advance notice 48 hours prior to desired delivery.

Call Concierge Services at 406-244-7333 to make your plans now.

PAWS UP THANKSGIVING BY THE FIRE