Medical - Explore Big Sky

a Staycation
for any Season
by abbie diGel
stay·ca·tion noun \ˈstā-ˈkā-shən\ vacation spent at
home or nearby
The sound of pool balls cracking against each other,
followed by a high five and cheers of excitement,
echoes from the dining cabin at 320 Ranch. A line
of snowmobiles is parked outside of the cabin, and
a warm glow lights the evening. Inside, Chef Nick
Mehmke and his staff are boiling lobster, grilling
local steaks and keeping wine glasses full.
“It’s a quick getaway, far enough
that it feels like a weekend away, but
close enough so it’s not time consuming,”
said General Manager John
Richardson. “People really gravitate
toward that. With less families
travelling since the recession, more
people aren’t able to get away like
they could in the past.”
320 offers $15 all-you-can eat prime
rib on Mondays, an extensive wine
list and a saloon menu featuring Wild
Boar Mac and Cheese and Cowboy
Pie, all served by friendly staff.
Promotional deals and consistent
low prices differentiate 320 from
other ranch vacations in Montana,
and Richardson says they want to
make the property as accessible as
possible. “We want guests to have
that ranch experience, where everything
is larger than life.”
Over a plate of heaping eggs, cheesy
hash browns, and sausage links at breakfast, General
Manager John Richardson, points to a large
family sitting at a table in the corner. They came
from Bozeman just for the night. 320’s local market
includes a four-hour radius, including Helena,
Butte and Jackson.
“There’s still a misconception that we’re private
and only accommodate our on-ranch guests, but
we are open to the public; everything we do is a la
carte,” Richardson said.
This means guests can pick and choose from various
seasonal activities like trail rides, Western
style barbecues, fly fishing on the
Gallatin (right on the property), and
rafting. In the winter, their popular
sleigh ride is always a hit for families,
as well as dog sledding and nordic
skiing. New this year, 320 introduced
free shuttle rides to and from
their restaurant, as well as free rides
for guests up to the ski hill and to
other nearby restaurants.
“overall, it’s all about being present in a simple, quiet setting.
richardson says, “coming here has a therapeutic
effect on people.” - General manager John richardson
This hospitality is a throwback to the time when
Dr. Caroline McGill, the first woman doctor in
Montana, purchased the property and used it as a
resting place for patients. McGill worked and died
there, and as she aged, she donated most of the
items from the ranch to the McGill Museum in
Bozeman (now Museum of the Rockies).
The 320 team is made up of 20 winter staff, and 50 in
summer. Providing staff housing creates “an informal,
professional and relaxed environment,” says Richardson.
“We want guests to feel like they are coming to a
relative’s home they haven’t seen in awhile.”
explorebigsky.com
big sky Weekly
After breakfast, Richardson meets
320 staff members, and they pile
into a car and head up to Big Sky
Resort for an employee ski day. “We
have our own little family here. We
dine together, play together—it’s
fun. Everybody lives and works
here. Our free time and work time
meld together.”
The staff is currently gearing up for
the summer months, where they’ll
host a $10 Monday night pig roast.
They also are busy hosting 50-70
wedding events, yearly. The ranch
offers offering multiple venues for
events, including their banquet
hall, 1800 square foot tent, and
pastures along the river. The ranch
is also a popular place to book family
reunions and corporate groups.
But most importantly, “We love our community
support, and we want to offer incredible meals to
our friends in Big Sky and West Yellowstone,” says
Karen Macklin, Director of Food and Beverage.
“We’re a little over 10 minutes out of Big Sky, and
just over a half hour out of West Yellowstone. It’s
easy to come down and join us for dinner any night
of the week.”
Overall, it’s all about being present in a simple,
quiet setting. Richardson says, “Coming here has a
therapeutic effect on people.”
320ranch.com
march 18, 2011 35