Silver Forest Inn is about three things; comfort, location, and experience. We will never claim to be the most posh place to stay, but you will be comfortable and feel like you are at home (check out our testimonials).
If you want to play in the mountains, there simply is no better location in Montana. We are right at the base of Bridger Bowl ski area, Bohart Ranch cross-country ski area, and surrounded by a million or so acres of National Forest. There simply is no other public accommodations as ideally located to play or relax. Not bad, considering National Geographic just ranked Bozeman and Bridger Bowl as the number 4 ski town in the WORLD.
Finally, Experience. This is what we are all about. We want to share this very special piece of Montana with our guests and go far out of our way to ensure that your stay at Silver Forest Inn is unlike anywhere you have stayed before.
History:
The home was originally built in 1932 by an enterprising dreamer, Arthur L. McKinney, who envisioned a summer artist's colony and school of drama on his Silver Forest land in Montana. McKinney believed that the Silver Forest's rustic wilderness beauty would be the perfect inspirational setting for artists, writers and teachers to study and perform the arts. A large personal residence was built out of local pine logs, along with the construction of a 1000 seat playhouse, named the Silver Forest Theatre, and a nearby main lodge. McKinney died unexpectedly prior to the opening of his dream, and the grounds went unused and eventually traded hands many years later.
Patrick O'Neill purchased the building and grounds in 1978, using it as his personal residence until 1990. Taking the name Silver Forest Inn from McKinney's theater, the location has acted as an Inn/ Bed & Breakfast since. Through the years since, Silver Forest has maintained its unique and authentic Montana mountain feel and is in fact listed in the National Historical Places register. Time has certainly changed many of the conveniences and features of the business, but the structure remains true to McKinney's unique vision.
As of November 2011, operations of the business were assumed by the New West Experience; a Bozeman based company that specializes in providing superior tourist services. Founder of New West, Will Casella, hails from a long background in international, elite, destination lodge management. Along with management of the Silver Forest, New West Experience is partnered with Phasmid Rentals; a local rental vehicle agency, and is able to provide in depth travel planning and concierge services.
The Silver Forest Inn is now about experience. We are an Inn catering to a vibrant, active, and social clientele- and we treat our guests the way we would like to be treated ourselves. If location, atmosphere, and value are your top priorities, the Silver Forest is the right place for you.
