Sportsmen and women are connected by a desire to experience nature in all of its raw beauty; the cold rush of a babbling stream as trout sip fluttering mayflies, deer peacefully grazing in a green pasture, the sun reddening the sky as it rises up from the mountains at dawn.
A true sportsman’s paradise, the High Alpine Ranch’s modern masterpiece of a home seamlessly blends into the surrounding Montana landscape as though a part of the earth itself, which is precisely what the owners sought when they went about designing it.
They used a modest trailer for a decade as they enjoyed the great hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits the nearly 1,300-acre Big Timber ranch and surrounding area had to offer before finally settling on a bold plan for a permanent residence. The chosen site was dotted with cottonwoods, boasted dramatic Crazy Mountain views, and overlooked the trout haven of nearby Big Timber Creek as well as a tranquil spring-fed pond.
The primary challenge faced by architects John Umbanhowar and Scott Hughes was that the site was on a 100-year floodplain, which they addressed by elevating the house on a plinth and diverting floodwaters to nearby ponds through a channel in the home’s foundation, thus making the home a part of the natural process of spring runoff. You must first cross one of the ponds to reach the front door.
It is unusual to find such a contemporary home in the West, where Ralph Lauren-style lodges and cabins are commonplace. The design evokes the prairie style of iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with its unobtrusive flat roof and overhanging eaves, continuous windows offering expansive views of the landscape, liberal use of natural materials and the flawless marriage of inside and out.
The cruciform interlocking of two volumes anchored by massive chimneys and its oneness with the surrounding water features and terrain is reminiscent of Wright’s famed Fallingwater in Pennsylvania.
“This home,” says Umbanhowar, “is supposed to seem as if it has come out of the ground naturally and has been and will be there for a while.”
Though the forms are contemporary and global, the home makes ample use of local materials such as raw slabs of limestone and weathered barn wood salvaged from an old building on the property, anchoring it to the natural landscape.
The owners wanted a place that was functional and felt casual and welcoming for their young family, but every aspect of the design process was thoughtful and deliberate. The ponds are incorporated into the geothermal heating and cooling system; their waters are also used for irrigation. The T-shaped layout, green roof, floor-to-ceiling windows (many of which slide entirely open to the outside), large eaves and minimalist interior make nature the most important aspect of the home, as even from inside you always feel you are a part of it.
Renowned Miami-based landscape architect Raymond Jungles was brought in to help with the landscape design, widening the pond in front of the house, adding two more ponds all joined by a stream and sourcing local trees, plants and boulders in collaboration with a local firm to make the landscaping look and feel as though it had always been there.
While the home itself is a masterpiece, the surrounding 1,261 acres are what truly make the ranch spectacular. The property starts at the base of the Crazy Mountains and stretches down to Big Timber Creek, with diverse terrain and wildlife throughout, and remarkable views of the Crazy and Absaroka Mountains.
The land has been thoughtfully managed for wildlife and features some of the best rangeland in Montana. An extensive road and trail system connects the rangeland, irrigated meadows and lush river bottom, providing easy access throughout the property.
The hunting and wildlife viewing on the ranch are excellent, with various species of upland birds, whitetail and mule deer, turkey, antelope and many other native western species found throughout. The owner—an avid bird hunter—has carefully managed the ranch for upland birds and other wildlife, with tremendous success. The ranch currently has a bird preserve license, enabling the release of pheasant and Hungarian partridge and extending the bird-hunting season.
The fishing on the property and in the surrounding area is also outstanding. Big Timber Creek, a tributary of the Yellowstone River, originates deep in the Crazy Mountains and provides excellent trout fishing in the tranquil waters that flow through the ranch.
Montana is revered for its diverse landscape, sweeping views and plentiful outdoor pursuits, allowing for year-round enjoyment of the natural world in all of its beautiful, contrasting seasons. There is perhaps no better example of quintessential Montana living than High Alpine Ranch. Rarely does a property offer such possibilities for the enjoyment and appreciation of nature, whether hiking, fishing, hunting or just enjoying the home itself.
