C hristy Dunn jumps out of her seat to point out an impressive buck through the window. We’re sitting inside Moose Cabin, one of the four cozy accommodations at Reclusive Moose Cabins on Blankenship Road. It takes me a while to find him through the bright fall leaves, but Christy is patient. I finally spot him grazing near the outdoor grill area. Her excitement and appreciation for the beautiful scene is infectious. “Can we say, wildlife?” she laughs.

Reclusive Moose guests are frequently treated to views like this, be it deer, bears, foxes, or elk. The name itself is a tribute to an elusive white albino moose the Dunns would spot from their home across the road – a perfect fit for these secluded cabins in the woods.

“Who knew, after all that time, that we would have bought land, and built cabins, and had a business of our own. It’s not what our degrees are in,” Christy tells me. Christy and Ryan Dunn met in high school growing up in South Georgia. They spent a summer working in Yellowstone National Park together, and after college decided they had to go back west. “We didn’t know where. But that was our future.”

They ended up with jobs at Glacier National Park, both bartending at Lake McDonald Lodge. They didn’t expect to stay. “We saw ourselves going to Alaska, moving around. We weren’t ready to settle down. But, that’s what happened.” Christy quickly moved up the ranks in Glacier, and then the Belton Chalet called. She moved across the highway to manage the historic railway lodge for 14 years.

Christy attributes a lot of Reclusive Moose’s success to what she learned at the Belton, and she’s incorporated their first-rate customer service and housekeeping standards into her own business. With these touches, the Dunns have put their own spin on vacation cabins, blending the seclusion of a Forest Service cabin with the amenities of a five-star hotel.

The four cabins – named Bear, Trout, Elk, and Moose – were designed by Christy. Each includes an open kitchen and living room common area with two private bedrooms and a bathroom. They are beautifully furnished while maintaining a relaxed cabin feel. Christy describes it as, “A true Montana cabin experience, with the comforts of home. It’s cozy; it’s comfortable.” Each has its own covered porch out front, and there’s a shared firepit and barbeque area nearby.

The location is special as well. Located just off of the North Fork Road, the cabins are in a quiet section of woods on the border of the Flathead National Forest, and just a mile from the North Fork of the Flathead River. Each cabin has views of the Apgar Range in Glacier, and the West Glacier entrance is ten minutes down the road. With Columbia Falls only 15 minutes the other direction, guests also have easy access to services in town.

After building the four Reclusive Moose cabins in 2012, the Dunns converted their own home across the road into a rental as well. Called the Glacier View Chalet, this larger cabin includes a hot tub, a large master suite, and a private deck with beautiful views into Glacier National Park.

Christy and Ryan now live on a neighboring lot and bicycle over to visit with their guests. It’s this dedication to customer service that sets Reclusive Moose apart. “We’re attentive, and we’re there quickly if they need something. We make our guests a priority.”

The three lots – The Reclusive Moose Cabins, the Glacier View Chalet and their current home – were all originally one homestead that was subdivided. Now, under the Dunns, the historic property has been put back together. And they couldn’t be happier to call this place home.

“We love traveling, and we love staying in nice, clean places. So that’s what we wanted to give people. You can be away from the crowds, and yet be close to the park, and have a concierge who can bicycle over,” explains Christy. “We wanted to give them that Montana experience.”

Warm up after your winter excursions at Reclusive Moose. Whether you’re a local looking for a weekend staycation or a visitor coming to explore the area, the cabins are a wonderful home base year-round. Learn more at reclusivemoosecabins.com or by calling (406) 250-1576.