Bigfork, Montana
The charming and picturesque village of Bigfork is nestled between two rivers at the north end of Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Endless recreational opportunities await on 191 square miles of sparkling waters and the hundreds of hiking trails with abundant wildlife in the forests surrounding this gem of a lake. Often called “the banana belt” of Montana, the mild climate of Flathead Lake’s East Shore is ideal for growing the famous Flathead sweet cherries savored all over the world.
Bigfork’s story began over 100 years ago when it was a logging and farming community. The thick timber provided surrounding sawmills with lumber and produced over 600,000 railroad ties per year. Bigfork grew from the hardworking, entrepreneurial spirit of the adventuresome individuals who came west to make a life here. Today it is a unique and lovely village with a vibrant arts culture. Bigfork’s main street, Electric Avenue, was the first street to receive electricity from the small powerhouse built in 1889, and still in operation today on the Swan River. Today, Electric Avenue is home to extraordinary dining establishments, world class art galleries, artists-in-residence, and live theatre. In 2009, the Bigfork Playhouse celebrated 50 years of repertory theatre which has drawn audiences from around the globe. An evening at the theatre, preceded by a gourmet meal from one of Bigfork’s fine restaurants, is a treat to be remembered.
Chosen as "One of the 50 Great Towns of the West" and designated as "One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns of the Nation", Bigfork offers you and your family part of the West that you will never forget.
Minutes from Bigfork is Eagle Bend championship golf course and Eagle Bend Yacht Harbor and just east rise the mighty Swan Mountains with the Jewel Basin Hiking Area, and numerous high elevation lakes. Along the Swan River, much of the ruggedness that defines Montana can be found with a tremendous variety of game and a diverse ecology. The angler, hunter, hiker or nature lover will love exploring “the Swan”.
The greater Flathead Valley. . . is home not only to Flathead Lake and Bigfork, but also to abundant farm lands, a thriving equine community, numerous golf courses, and two ski resorts. It is also the gateway to Glacier National Park. At the valley’s northern end is the town of Whitefish nestled on the shores of Whitefish Lake below the vast Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort. On the western shore of Flathead Lake is Lakeside, a boating community which also boasts the family-friendly Blacktail Mountain Ski Area. There are three Wilderness Areas proximate to the Flathead Valley: The Bob Marshall Wilderness and Great Bear Wilderness Areas to the east and the Mission Mountain Wilderness Area to the south. The area abounds in excellent recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, skiing, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, kayaking, canoeing and hunting.
Drawn by the lifestyle, the valley is home to a wide range of professionals resulting in excellent medical facilities, two newspapers, a community college, sports complexes, parks and all the amenities of more populous areas while retaining the openness and splendor of Big Sky Country.
Select here to see a printable map of where Château Sur Le Lac is located in the Flathead valley
A selection of short videos on nearby Glacier National Park