Montana magic
Lakeside gem is one of 23 exhibitors at Rec Property Show Jan. 13-15
Bernie Slogotski’s passion for Montana began in the 1970s, carving turns on the scenic slopes at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
When he familiarized himself with the rest of the Treasure State, Slogotski found his gem nestled between the vibrant town of Bigfork and pristine Flathead Lake.
There, in 2010, Slogotski’s company Atlas Development Corp. joined 11 other investors to form Bigfork Landing Corp.
The cottage community is one of 23 developments to be showcased at the Calgary Herald Recreation and Investment Properties Show, taking place next Friday through Sunday at the BMO Centre in Stampede Park. The Recreation and Investment Properties Show is part of the larger Homexpo home, renovation and decor show.
Bigfork Landing consists of 175 home sites, 132 of which Bigfork Landing Corp. owns and markets.
“It’s a little bit of a hidden experience,” Slogotski says. “Although many Calgarians know about Whitefish Mountain, they weren’t as familiar with Flathead Lake.
“We found it to be a great place to introduce to other people.”
Albertans are now becoming acquainted with the area’s recreational possibilities. Five and a half hours from Calgary, Bigfork Landing is a convenient getaway for a long weekend by the lake.
“In Alberta, I think we’re a little bit lake-starved,” says Bob Mckercher, Atlas’s vicepresident of business development.
“It’s great to be able to access a lake that large, to be able to do some serious fishing and boating.”
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States.
Part of what drew Les Duncan, 73, a semi-retired Calgary lawyer, to ownership at Bigfork Landing was its proximity to water-skiing and fishing. Weekend fun at a lakeside property was part of his upbringing in Northern Ontario.
“It wasn’t new to me at all,” Duncan says. “Having a large lake, I was comfortable with that because of my background.”
In addition to Flathead Lake, Bigfork Landing residents are surrounded by a host of recreational activities, including the 27-hole Eagle Bend Golf Course, skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail, and hiking at the nearby Glacier National Park.
Another upside for Duncan was Bigfork itself.
“Bigfork is a cute little town,” he says of the village, which is noted for its thriving musical theatre and art scene. Mckercher agrees. While some developers try to manufacture community culture, Bigfork’s spirit is organic, he says.
“It’s not something where we build a box and say ‘There’s your community.’ It’s not forced.”
Ron Delisle, another Calgary buyer who has joined the Bigfork Landing community, says being so close to amenities and recreational oppor- tunities made it an instant attraction.
“You have everything there,” Delisle says. “We’re just a few minutes away.”
Another quality that charms Albertans is the consistency of the area’s weather conditions.
“You don’t get the extremes of the really hot days and then the cold days — you get consistency,” Mckercher says.
“You get a temperature that’s nice for golfing, boating and other recreational activities.”
Sunbirds from states with sweltering summers, such as California and Texas, see Montana as an ideal place to beat the extreme heat.
“The summers are beautiful,” Delisle. “They’re not extreme in any way. They’re just what you want.”
Ten different home plans have been designed for Bigfork Landing, ranging from cabin-duplexes at less than $200,000 US to estate-style residences at $400,000 plus.
The single-family cottages at Bigfork Landing are Craftsman-style models with softly lit walkways and exteriors made from materials such as brick, stone and cedar.
“The workmanship is wonderful,” Duncan says. “It’s large and beautifully done, and it accommodates any of my family that wants to go down there to ski and bring their kids with them and so on.”
The cottages range in size from the 1,300-square-foot Apgar model to the 2,212-sq.ft. Livingston design.
Covered patios and gas lines for barbecue hookups accommodate outdoor living, and vehicles have their own homes in insulated, heated double garages .
Inside, cottages have hardwood flooring, granite countertops and wood cabinetry, while the kitchens and great rooms feature nine-foot and vaulted ceilings.
The cottages also have lockand-leave appeal with tankless water heaters.