Location
Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Rainbow Ranch Lodge combines the rustic ambience of the Rocky Mountain West with classic elegance and contemporary sophistication. Top-tier accommodations, food and wine are central to a stay at this inviting property on the banks of the Gallatin River just south of Big Sky, Montana. Guest rooms feature handcrafted lodgepole pine beds with plush down comforters, a spacious sitting area with desk and chair, TV, woodburning river rock fireplaces, and a deck overlooking the river or pond. Furnishings with rustic details further the western atmosphere, including wrought iron lamps and a log coffee table. The main lodge contains the lounge, with large leather sofas for relaxing, a full bar and two dining rooms. The large covered deck overlooks the river, mountains and historic 1919 barn, now used for events. A hot tub and fire pit round out the spots where guests can kick back and relax. 

While Rainbow Ranch Lodge is just over a decade old, with all the modern amenities discerning guests appreciate, the original roadhouse that occupied this site was built in 1919. Named "The Halfway Inn" because of its location halfway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone, the property was originally homesteaded as a cattle ranch by the Lemon family. As travelers passed through the Gallatin Canyon, they needed a place to stay, so the Lemons began renting rooms and making meals. The ranch served as a hub for travelers and the local community alike into the 1940s, with services growing to include a gas pump, store, auto shop, smokehouse, blacksmith and sawmill. The founding owners sold the property in 1946, and the subsequent owners closed all other businesses except the inn, which became known as Rainbow Ranch Lodge because of the multicolored tiles on the the roof of the original building. The main lodge was continually improved throughout the 1980s and '90s, but a fire destroyed it in 2008. Within a year, it was rebuilt—the beautiful main lodge you'll enjoy today—incorporating the same rustic flair and understated elegance that had defined it previously.