FLATHEAD VALLEY, MONTANA
The “Flathead,” as locals call the valley, lies just west of the Continental Divide in northwest Montana. Here you’ll find the gateway to what will someday be Glacier National Park and the home of Whitefish Mountain.
Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, is also among the cleanest large lakes – perfect for sailing, cruising, swimming, and fishing.
A surprisingly mild climate invites you outside all year. Typical winter temperatures are in the 20s and 30s. Summer temperatures usually range from the 70s to the low 90s. Winters can be harsh at times with massive amounts of snowfall and dangerous blizzards.
Kalispell is Flathead Valley's county seat, and there are smaller towns dotted around the lake and into the northern regions. Five miles south of Kalispell is Fort Somers. It sits on a low plateau overlooking Flathead Lake.
*Note: Since Flathead County was not incorporated until 1893, we will call our "country" Flathead Valley.
IN CHARACTER INFO
Timeframe
Months: October - December
Year: 1875
- Remember to use the post tagging system to designate dates and specific locations.
Click on Weather Conditions to view the climate chart for the Kalispell region.
Adding Sub-forums
Sub-forums will be added when a location's activity warrants it. To request a sub-forum for your ranch or homestead, follow the steps below.
- Go to the Help Me! forum.
- Create a new topic titled Sub-Forum Needed for Ranch or Homestead Name.
- Provide details regarding the ranch or homestead (i.e. a short write-up for the sub-forum's description).
- DO NOT post the request in our Discord!
Forums
EVERGREEN RANCH
14 posts
Evergreen Ranch is the home of the Steelgrave family. The initial property was established between 1862 and 1864. Among the family's many business interests, they raise prize Black Angus cattle. Evergreen is smaller in the overall land area than Lost Lake Ranch. However, it is less mountainous and has more continuous grazing lands.
Owner: Elias Steelgrave
See Map for location.
FORT SOMERS
97 posts
Before 1876, the nearest fort was located at the southern end of Flathead Lake. It was a former trading fort known as Fort Kilpatrick, although the locals just called it Fort Poison after the fur trading village next to it. As the trouble with the native populations increased, it was determined that the booming town of Kalispell and its surrounding area and population needed more protection, so Fort Somers was established five miles south of the town at the north end of Flathead Lake.
Commanding Officer: Wellington MacKenzie
See Map for location.
LOST LAKE RANCH
8 posts
Lost Lake was discovered by Ishmael Thornton, one of the geologists accompanying the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803 - 1806. He claimed most of the mountain and valley land surrounding the vast crater lake and named the mountains the Choguns (chogun means blackbird in the Blackfoot language). The main ranch house, Blackbird Lodge, is located in the mountains overlooking the lake.
The ranch raises a hardy and meaty breed of cattle, crossbred between Angus and Texas Longhorns. They also raise horses for the military, a cross between the Colonial Quarterhorse and local Mustangs.
- Ranch Owners: Shade Thornton, Antoinette Thornton, Cody Thornton
- Business Partner: Quentin Cantrell
See Map for location.
OPEN RANGE
65 posts
There is a vast amount of unsettled lands around the Flathead and many small homesteads and ranches. Use this forum for posting in these wilderness areas or on a ranch or homestead that does not have its own forum.

- On The Dodge
- By Longshot,
REDMOND HOMESTEAD
98 posts
In 1875, Aurelian Redmond bought an established homestead from Lloyd Sidwell. The land was situated within five miles of Kalispell and shares borders with Lost Lake and Evergreen Ranch (see map). Its location could mean trouble since it is in a prime location, and the ambitious Steelgraves would love to acquire it to expand Evergreen Ranch's southern border.