Holt Stage Hideaway hosts a place to have fun and celebrate in a beautiful barn surrounded by mountains.
By Justin Wachtel. Photo by Marianne Wiest Photography.
Laurie Mason was born into the recreation business. Her father owned the largest privately-owned picnic park in California. Her childhood jobs ranged from serving sno-cones and cotton candy to running a bounce house. Later she travelled the world working as an international event coordinator and as a cruise ship worker. Creating fun, memorable experiences for people are the only jobs she’s known, so it’s no surprise that she continued this path when she moved to Montana in the early 90s.
One thing that stands out about Laurie’s story is her spirit of entrepreneurship. She began her business with nine holes of mobile mini golf called “Giddy Up Golf.” As one of the country’s only rentable mobile mini-golf courses, it took her a year to find a manufacturer for the course. She eventually added bounce houses and games and her company grew until she bought the land that became the Holt Stage Hideaway.
Located on 15 beautiful acres with a picturesque mountain backdrop, Holt Stage Hideaway is the perfect venue for any family event one could dream of.
Looking for something to do with the kids? Holt Stage Hideaway has you covered. Your child can have all the fun they want. Do they want to jump in a bounce house until their legs hurt? Done. Would they like to work on their short game with nine holes of mini golf? Easy! All the kids need are socks (and a waiver signed) and they can be turned loose. The Hideaway also offers private parties any day of the week to host your little one’s birthday or your family reunion.
Laurie explains, “I want people to be aware that we do have both indoor and outdoor activities. Not only is it a great place in the winter but a fun place in the summer too. It’s safe and contained.”
Holt Stage Hideaway also hosts weddings in the summertime. Surrounded by mountains and nature, the scene is both rustic and modern. Laurie clears out the entire barn, providing a blank slate that you can transform into a venue that belongs at the end of a Nora Ephron movie. It’s your canvas and you’re the artist. You can dress it up with white linens and candles, or lean into the Montana vibe with rustic wooden tables and mason jars. For an extremely fun time, you can even include the mini golf, bounce houses, and games that Holt Stage provides.
The versatility of this venue is bound to fit any niche a couple is looking for. “We’re definitely a family friendly wedding venue. We turn your wedding into a fun, memorable event for both the kids and the adults who love playing a little mini golf too.”
Laurie is not done yet. This summer she plans on having a wet and wild day for kids. Her hope is to ad a splash pad someday, but for now we will enjoy fun water features and a wet/dry bounce house. It will be a super fun day when the kids can just run around outside in their bathing suits.
Long term, Laurie has plans to fill the 15 acres with fun and hopefully accommodations for visitors and wedding parties. “I want to keep growing, but at a pace that I can handle. I’m a single mom with two kids trying to keep a healthy balance. I’m doing this with the help of an incredibly supportive family and friends.”
For more information on Holt Stage Hideaway visit their website www.holtstagehideaway.com or call (406) 270-1258. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Author: Justin Wachtel is an intern at Citizens for a Better Flathead. He plans on attending the University of Colorado – Boulder this fall, majoring in film.
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