Rob W.
Yelp
Be forewarned: superlatives ahead. If you don't care for superlatives of a positive nature, you may want to skip this review.
We just returned from an overnight stay at the Inn and I'm ready to go back. Right now.
The lodge is beautiful. It has a rustic feel to it, but it is modern, clean, and welcoming. My immediate impression was that it could easily be home. Set in the mountains east of Bozeman, it feels in perfect harmony with its surroundings. Views in all directions are gorgeous. The sense of peace and calm is pervasive. I think my blood pressure dropped eight points just parking the car.
The hosts, Auriele and Nate were wonderful. Easy going and so easy to talk to, they made us feel like we had known them forever. They were always available but they were never intrusive. They let our experience at their inn, be ours...but were readily available for any questions or needs we had.
We stayed in the Southwest room, overlooking two enclosures that are home to the Inn's four wolves. Shasta, Koa, Chinook and Tahoe, the gorgeous Wolves of Howler's Inn, were the last things we saw at sunset and the first things we saw at dawn. We spent nearly the entire stay watching them interact with each other. Wolves are highly intelligent, social animals, fascinating to observe. and the time we spent with them passed much too quickly.
Our room was beautiful, tastefully decorated and comfortable. After a day spent in the mountains, we retired early and slept well..although I admit I woke several times...listening for any howling of wolves outside our windows
For breakfast, Auriele prepared caramel apple French Toast and it was delicious. (It may have ruined me for French toast prepared by anyone else.)
We dined with two other guests that were visiting Montana for the first time. The conversation was friendly and relaxed and it was fun listening to their excitement about exploring the area. Again, it felt like we were conversing with people we had known forever. I think this is the nature, and the magic, of Howler's Inn.
Our stay was an amazing experience. From the time spent with the wolves to the simple elegance of the Inn and the tranquility of the mountain setting, topped off by customer service so good that it that it almost redefines the term, every moment we spent there was a treasure.
There is no doubt we will visit again. For me, it can't be soon enough.