23782 MT Hwy 35 Bigfork, MT 59911

This rare Flathead cherry orchard is nestled right in the very heart of Montana's favorite cherry orchards just 13 miles south of wonderful Bigfork and right across the street from the Yellow Bay State Park on Flathead Lake with beaches, a boat ramp and dock, and picnic areas. The property is graced with a lovely and very cute home on a private and forested knoll overlooking a broad expanse of cherry trees with nearly 180° VIEWS of awe-inspiring Flathead Lake drawing your eyes west to Wildhorse Island, and Thompson Peak beyond. To the east are the Mission Mountains for breathtaking sunrise scenery. Enjoy the majesty of the tree-lined driveway as you climb the nearly 5-acre (4.89) productive cherry orchard parcel with nearly 350 mature trees, composed mostly of the most popular Lapin cherries in addition to some apples, walnuts, plums, raspberries, and more ... please see the additional remarks. Call Angie Killian at 406-249-7617, or your real estate professional. This rare Flathead cherry orchard is nestled right in the very heart of Montana's favorite cherry orchards just 13 miles south of wonderful Bigfork and right across the street from the Yellow Bay State Park on Flathead Lake with beaches, a boat ramp and dock, and picnic areas. The property is graced with a lovely and very cute home on a private and forested knoll overlooking a broad expanse of cherry trees with nearly 180° VIEWS of awe-inspiring Flathead Lake drawing your eyes west to Wildhorse Island, and Thompson Peak beyond. To the east are the Mission Mountains for breathtaking sunrise scenery. Enjoy the majesty of the tree-lined driveway as you climb the nearly 5-acre (4.89) productive cherry orchard parcel with nearly 350 mature trees, composed mostly of the most popular Lapin cherries in addition to some apples, walnuts, plums, raspberries, and more ... please see the additional remarks.

The home is very cute and has over 2500 sf of freshly painted living space with incredible lake views from the living room and kitchen/dining areas. Off the kitchen the covered deck enjoys continued views of the lake that stretch from north to south and across Flathead Lake. There are also two bedrooms on the main level along with a laundry area and bathroom. There is a separate living area downstairs in the walkout basement with a separate kitchen/laundry/bathroom and two bedrooms that do not have legal egress windows. (There's a separate power meter in the basement that can be consulted if desired.) There's a large patio off of the lower level, and another large deck on the upper level where you can enjoy morning sunrises and evening shade. Virginia creeper vines that wrap around the deck and garage are just starting to bud this spring and will be lovely all summer long for the new owners. The birds love the berries!

The home has both an AC/heat mini split in addition to a wood stove fireplace, an electric fireplace, and a pellet stove, along with baseboard heaters, that all contribute to a well heated home at low cost. There's a whole-house Generac generator that automatically starts up in the event of an area power outage.

There are two garages and a shop on the property to house all of the orchard equipment and lake toys.
Older garage built in 1967 - 26' wide x 32' deep, with a 11' wide x 32' deep lean-to; two car doors are 8'10" w x 7'-6" h, and one man door.
Newer garage built recently - 24' wide x 26" deep, with a 16' wide x 7'-10" high door and a man door.
Shop at the highway was built in 2009 - 30' wide x 40' deep, with a car door 8'+10" wide x 7'-6" high, and an RV door that is 11'-10" wide x 11' high, and one man door.
Garden shed by the home is 6' x 10' with double doors.

The property has abundant water rights, both gravity fed for the orchard and well water for domestic use. A short walk across the road brings you to the gorgeous Yellow Bay State Park with beaches, a boat launch ramp, and a wonderful spot to begin your lake adventures of boating, fishing, kayaking or paddle boarding in the astonishingly clear water of Flathead Lake.

The orchard operation has been handled by a neighbor in recent years and it is believed that this relationship could continue with new owners if desired. There is an agricultural tax reduction on this property in this area of multi-million dollar properties.

A multitude of wildlife frequent the area, and while the property is fully enclosed with game fence, deer, moose, fox, turkeys, and bears have also been seen on the property.

The charming village of Bigfork (pop. 5000+) is 20 minutes away, and is home to world class art galleries, fabulous dining possibilities, quaint shops, and the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, which has been celebrated as one of the Northwest's finest repertory theaters for 50 years. All this is delightfully accompanied by the warmth and hospitality for which Montanans are known.

Among other accolades, Bigfork has been voted as "One of the 50 Great Towns of the West" and designated as "One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns of the Nation" which is no surprise given its thirteen world class art galleries.

Bigfork has most recently been named as One of the 100 Best Getaways for a Vacation or a Lifetime and is one of nine towns featured on the Great Towns of America website along with Sedona, Estes Park, Ashland and 5 other special towns.

Most recently, Bigfork was named in "The 10 Most Beautiful Places To Go For A Run" by Nike. "Quiet, isolated, and peaceful, the trails at Bigfork are among the best in Montana, which itself offers hundreds of opportunities for stunning running paths."

An hour north of Bigfork you can revel in the glory and the majesty of Glacier National Park, known as the Crown of the Continent, and even closer you'll find the Glacier Park International Airport and all of the shopping and medical facilities of Kalispell. Two excellent ski resorts are within an hour's drive, and all of the incredible abundance of other outdoor recreation is also nearby.

This property offers a rare and exciting chance to live in and enjoy the banana belt of Montana. This area is known for its mild winters that are especially conducive to growing cherries and other fruit.

Is it time for you to follow your dreams?

Information deemed reliable but not warranted by listing office or the listing agent. Buyers & agents are advised to conduct their own due diligence.