Our Story

From a Dream to a Destination

Dave and Lorraine Wilson have been dreaming about building a foundation for whimsical memories their whole lives. After spending years creating thoughtful experiences for friends and family, they knew it was time to share their passion with the world.

What better place to establish that passion project than against the breathtaking backdrop of Northwest Montana? Located just minutes from Whitefish and Kalispell, the property backs up to a lush forest with towering trees, rolling green fields, and expansive views. You’ll know you’ve arrived from the deep breath of fresh air and immediate grounded energy.

The Foundation for Memorable Experiences

In the summer of 2018, Dave and Lorraine’s dreams finally manifested with the purchase of this blank-slate property. The remodel of the Main House kicked off in September of 2018 and shortly after they broke ground on the Forest Lodge.

After an ambitious winter build, Mountainside officially came to life on June 3rd, 2019.

Dave and Lorraine spent the next 3 days adding in those final magic touches and ensuring Lorraine’s vision was executed perfectly, with design elements and furniture she had been collecting and saving for this exact moment. On June 6th, Mountainside welcomed its very first guests, and on June 8th the first of many unforgettable weddings kicked off. A whirlwind of a start!

[if the owners have before and after images of the property, that would be perfect here]

Mountainside has hosted four amazing wedding seasons since then, each year learning and expanding more and more to deliver the utmost experience to guests and their loved ones. 

They have since been published in My Montana Wedding, Wedding Rule, 406 Magazine, Olivine Fox, listed as one of the Top 10 Wedding Venues in Montana, and ranked as a 5-star venue on Wedding Wire.

From a plot of land and a vision to a forest fairytale!

Mountainside is now home to X housing accommodations, [any amenities or additional features to call out here], a 3000-square-foot pavilion. and multiple outdoor ceremony sites for any customizable nature-inspired wedding or event, with the ability to host 200+ attendees. You can choose to get married on one of the manicured lawns nestled in the forest, the dock on our 1-acre pond, or in the forest. We encourage our couples to get creative!

Looking Forward

This year we are excited to announce our latest project coming to Mountainside: The Coop!

The Coop is our segue to adding even more value for our visitors by expanding our offerings via more lodging and space for the entire family, team, or friend group.

The vision of The Coop was inspired by Lorraine’s love for chickens, after raising her first 12 hens from hatchlings!

In addition to building The Coop to host future guests, Lorraine also has what she calls Chicken Village in the works–a custom designed coop, to host her chicken children through the Montana winters. Chicken Village will live on a quarter acre of landscaped English garden. This not only provides the chickens with lush edibles to live off the land but creates another dreamy and vibrant element on the grounds for guests to explore. 

The Coop (the one for humans) will be completed in early 2023 and contain lodging with 6 impeccably designed studios, each one named after different chicken breeds. The building itself was upcycled from what previously served as oil field housing in North Dakota. 

Lorraine’s goal for this lodging experience was to create the feeling of an old-time mercantile building reworked into a quaint farmhouse nestled in the forest of Northwest Montana. Once the facelift is complete, the accommodation will feel like a warm hug, inviting you to cozy up on one of the expansive wraparound porches. Backing up to 188,000 acres of national forest, you will be able to fully immerse yourself and enjoy the sounds of mother nature at her finest. 

In addition to The Coop, Mountainside is preparing to launch it’s retreat offerings!

Retreats will encompass a wide variety of options, such as yoga retreats, wellness retreats, couples retreats, winter retreats, as well as friends and family gatherings. If you can dream it up, we can execute it.

Stay With Us, Retreat With Us, Wed With Us, Explore With Us

We don’t want to just be a weekend getaway, we want Mountainside to be your home away from home. A serene retreat from the chaos of your day-to-day lives. Let us help you return to nature, in style.

We’ll be offering packages that allow you to ease into relaxation by providing a concierge for your entire stay. From a scheduled pickup at the airport to local recommendations and seamless checkout with transportation back–we’re here to make your vacation feel like a true escape.

Most people have Montana on their bucket list but get overwhelmed trying to figure out where to begin and what is a worthwhile addition to the itinerary. Let’s face it–everything in Montana is a day trip, so knowing the nitty-gritty of things and honing in on what guests want we can concierge the perfect package for the ultimate Montana adventure.

Looking for a weekend unplug with your significant other or group of friends? Look no further. You can achieve a true disconnect in nature here without having to pack the car with camping gear! Replace the craziness of busy family vacations with a week of connecting.

Are you as passionate about creating experiences as we are? Mountainside is the perfect venue for hosting your own custom events–whether it be a wedding, wellness retreat, corporate team bonding, or family reunion.

No matter the crowd, or the reason, we can guarantee lasting memories will be made here.