In The Press

The Wild Wild West

David Leishman and his wife Janet run a successful guest ranch in Montana. David talks to Corporate America about the ranch, the industry in general and how he strives for success..

Through a Dreamer’s Lens

Danny Nestor teaches a photography workshop at the Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish, Montana. That’s where he captured Painted, the shot that takes home the gold in this year’s Cowboy’s & Indians 2017 photo contest.

Cozy up on a Horse-Drawn Sleigh

Enjoy the magic of a sleigh drawn by gentle draft horses while snuggling up with friends and loved ones.  Sit back and enjoy the fresh air on a sleigh ride at the Bar W Guest Ranch.  Afterward, warm up with hot chocolate and cookies.

Best Resorts for Your Next Girls’ Getaway

This special package combines nature’s simplicity with western informality and provides you with a true Montana retreat to refuel your spirit and delight your body.

To say that Dave Leishman has embraced Montana is an understatement. He and his family visited several western states, riding and enjoying the outdoors for years, before settling in at Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish.

Tucked back off Highway 93 just north of Whitefish is the Bar W Guest Ranch. In the typical fashion of a western guest ranch, the Bar W offers all things and experiences having to do with horses but it is much more than that. “It is a place where guests dreams come true,” said Carrie Austin, Sales and Reservations agent at the Bar W.

The sleigh rides are especially popular around the holidays, but most rides are offered as long as there’s snow on the ground. Reservations are typically required as the sleigh rides often sell out quickly.

The ranch itself was beyond beautiful, but it’s the intangibles from this trip I will hold near and dear to my heart.

In addition to a full range of on–property activities, guests can also choose from a number of attractions and excursions located just a short drive from the ranch.

Picking the best mountain town in Montana is a little like naming the perfect bar or trout fly – a great way to start an argument. The town is genuinely western, welcoming, and surprisingly busy given its small populace.

This northwest Montana ranch provided us with a ranch experience we’ll long remember.If location is everything, then the Bar W Ranch has it all! The ranch is located in jaw-dropping, scenic northwest Montana, and is 23 miles from Glacier National Park. It’s also 3.5 miles from the town of Whitefish, rate one of “The Top Ten Cool Towns” by Frommer’s Budget Travel.

Picture yourself lost in the commotion of everyday life watching the moments fly by and you slowly escape to the peaceful surroundings of Montana. You picture your family smiling around a campfire roasting s’mores over an open flame as country music plays in the background and strangers become friends.

When I first arrived for the Cowgirl-Up week I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect.” Schelin said. I’d never done this before. The whole atmosphere, the wranglers, the cook, the girls from all over the place have been so wonderful. We’ve become a big family.”

The day was beyond perfect. We rode for miles along the border, and then dropped down to a pure white sandy beach surrounding azure blue waters. Soft mountains…. We had not seen another person for the entire day. We could have been in Mexico, Italy, Spain or Greece.

The beauty of Montana is that its vast wilderness really is as stunning in person as it looks in movies – if not more so. Combine the scenery at the 100-acre Bar W Guest Ranch with the friendly staff and you might start to think you’ve been transported to your own movie set.

After researching the country’s horse towns, I decided that Whitefish, Montana has everything a girl could ask for. Wild West action (from rodeos to hoedowns), great restaurants, and message therapists who know what to do with a pile of hot stones.

Rope steers like a Montana cowhand. Your plaid, western-style shirt is fine for Valencia Street, but it’ll look even more appropriate in Whitefish, Montana, newly reachable via affordable non-stop flights (from as low as $80) on Allegiant Airways.

But at the Bar W, you can have a true Montana wilderness experience, yet be close enough to the resort town of Whitefish to take advantage of great shopping, fine dinning, theater, or nightlife. Or you can just sit back at the ranch and let Montana surround you.

I have been to ranches, and have always ridden horses. But riding in an English saddle around a ring and riding up mountain trails with Montana scenery in the background is quite different. Horseback riding at Bar W Guest Ranch is, well, something special. Any place that has a pet goat who acts like the family dog gets my vote from the get go.

Both green and seasoned riders are welcome, and most of them leave as better horsemen…. work in the arena too, sharpening skills such as learning how to cut cows from the herd, barrel racing and even roping.

Thinking back to my childhood growing up in Colorado, my fondest memories are spending time with my family outdoors. When I arrived at the Bar W Ranch, nestled in the backwoods of Whitefish, my childhood came flooding back to me and I couldn’t help but think of the many families who are shaping their memories at this home away from home.

Between Glacier National Park, Big Mountain Ski Area, Whitefish, Flathead and Spencer Lakes, travelers can enjoy every outdoor activity imaginable hiking, fishing, camping, and mountain biking to world class skiing and snowboarding.

‘Cowgirl Up,’ the extremely popular, all-inclusive girls’ getaway, is in its fourth season and is a six night getaway that takes place in May, September and October. Trail rides are not the only horsing around on the agenda. Cowgirls also learn to work cattle and learn the skill of team sorting and penning, a surprisingly fun activity that gives even the most high-maintenance city slicker a tantalizing taste of the West’s allure. For more experienced riders, barrel racing and roping are also on the menu.

Tom and Jessie went on a sleigh ride at Bar W Ranch and thought it was such a magical place. Neither of them had been there in the summer, but knew it was where they wanted to get married. There’s something truly romantic about the mountains and horses. The Bar W Ranch was indeed the perfect place for their special day to take place.

As the Mercury drops and the flakes begin to fall, a whole new playground awaits visitors as skiers and snowboarders can delight in the area’s signature slopes. Whitefish Mountain Resort is just a twelve minute drive.

I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Cowgirl-Up experience. I had been daydreaming about this vacation since I signed up for it last May and when it finally arrived it was better than my wildest expectations! Thanks to all of you who are part of the Bar W “family” for making it so special.