Lone Mountain Ranch was first homesteaded by Clarence Lytle in 1915 as a working cattle and hay cutting ranch. Clarence and his brother William built many of the original structures on the ranch including the Meadowlark Cabin (which still welcomes guests today), barns, corrals and fence lines. In 1927, he sold the ranch to a Chicago paper mill tycoon, J. Fred Butler, who spared no expense in building the ultimate vacation destination for his family. The Butlers built many of the existing lodgepole guest cabins and named the property the B-K Ranch.

In the 1930s, the younger generation of Butlers opened the ranch to friends and guests visiting from back east. “Dudes” rode horses, panned for gold, fished, trapped, collected wildflowers and enjoyed meals cooked by campfire. Guests flocked to the ranch to fulfill their cowboy ambitions, and as they do today, discover an authentic experience that is true to nature.

After World War II, the Ranch took on new purposes. For a few summers, it was used as a boys camp – a place for young men to ride, fish, camp and hunt while exploring the wilds of Montana. Later, the ranch became home to a logging operation, and dozens of families took up residence in the old cabins and temporary tar paper houses. To accommodate all the children living on the Ranch then, the B-K Lodge was converted into a schoolhouse.

In 1955, the loggers left and the Ranch went back to welcoming guests in the tradition of western hospitality. The property earned the name we still know it by today – Lone Mountain Ranch – and became a successful hunting and fishing camp for visitors seeking a true Montana experience. An old brochure referred to the property’s “hundreds of white faced cattle,” part of the cattle ranching business the owners kept in the low seasons. Much like today, guests were greeted in Bozeman and brought them back to the Ranch for a week of horseback riding and other adventures.

In the early 1970’s, the Ranch became headquarters for a group of influential figures and investors planning and developing the town of Big Sky. Newscaster Chet Huntley (seen here), golf legend Arnold Palmer, executives from the Chrysler Corporation, Connoco and others took inspiration from the Ranch, entertained visitors and used this scenic landscape as their office. Because of their planning, Big Sky is today a thriving community, home to now legendary downhill skiing, golf and shopping.

In 1977, Bob and Vivian Schaap bought Lone Mountain Ranch with a dream to turn it into one of the world’s premier cross country ski destinations. Over the course of 30 years, the Schaaps established and refined a year-round guest experience that celebrated the good things in life – and the very best of Montana. Guests from all over the world became regular faces at the Ranch, and generations of families made their memories here. The Schaaps also achieved their dream of Nordic skiing greatness: Lone Mountain Ranch was rated the #1 destination in North America by Cross Country Skiing Magazine.

Today, Lone Mountain Ranch is part of Auric Road, a collection of experiential, historic destinations dedicated to preserving the character, culture, and heritage of extraordinary places across the Americas. Auric Road’s philosophy is rooted in honoring the unique story of each property while thoughtfully restoring and stewarding it for future generations.

At Lone Mountain Ranch, that commitment means preserving the ranch’s historic cabins, Western traditions, and deep connection to the Montana landscape while creating authentic experiences that immerse guests in the history, culture, and spirit of the American West.

The Auric Road collection also includes Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, California, with Rex Ranch in Tubac, Arizona, opening in 2027.