The Wilderness Club Montana
Fort Worth-based Escalante Golf, one of the nation’s premier owners and operators of golf courses and private clubs, added the 550-acre Wilderness Club in Montana to its property portfolio, marking the company’s first property in The Treasure State and 23rd in the U.S.
Established as a joint venture partnership with the Wilderness Club’s owner and developer Brian Ehlert, Escalante will oversee more than $15 million worth of expansion and improvements, while managing golf operations, hospitality, food & beverage, and real estate development and sales, according to a press release. Escalante’s plans also involve transitioning Wilderness Club back to a fully private club, its founder’s original vision.
Currently, Wilderness Club is a semi-private club located eight miles from the Canadian border in the northern Montana town of Eureka (2022 pop., 1,504), halfway between Glacier National Park and the Kootenai National Forest, and surrounded by lakes, mountains, and protected forests.
The property features an 18-hole, 7,207-yard, par-72 golf course designed by Nick Faldo that features natural streams, lakes, and 200-foot-tall ponderosa pine trees. It consistently ranks as Golfweek’s No. 1 public course in Montana, and ranked No. 44 on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses in 2023-24.
“What Brian built is a stunning, one-of-a-kind high-country retreat with unlimited potential,” said David McDonald, president at Escalante Golf, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to come alongside him in bringing his vision for the property to life. Working closely with Brian and his team, we will safeguard Wilderness Club’s rich legacy and environmental stewardship, improve the member experience, streamline overall operations, and implement thoughtful, sustainable, and best-in-class upgrades for the enjoyment of generations to come."
Founded in 1991, Escalante Golf is one of the nation’s premier owners and operators of luxury U.S. golf courses and private clubs. Its property portfolio encompasses 23 golf courses and clubs throughout 14 states, including The International in Massachusetts, the Golf Club of Houston, Sonoma Golf Club in California, Kingsley Club in Michigan, Kingsmill Resort in Virginia, Pursell Farms in Alabama, The Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Arizona, and more.
The Wilderness Club opened in 2006. Planned improvements or additions include:
- The development of multiple new residential phases, which will be home to more than 300 new custom-built homes offering unparalleled mountain and lake views. Homesites will range from $800K-$4M, and the project scope includes the addition of new roads, landscaping, utilities, and services.
- The installation of a $1.5M geomembrane lake liner throughout Wilderness Lake, which will prevent water loss through ground absorption, keep water levels consistent, and improve quality and clarity of water from loose silt & dirt contaminations (completion slated for Q4 2024).
- Complete overhaul of golf course bunkers, elevating both the aesthetic appeal and the strategic challenge of the holes, as well as affirming long-lasting durability and low maintenance costs for many years to come (completion slated for 2025).
- The development of a new state-of-the-art clubhouse, which will serve as the club centerpiece and a hub for member engagement. Included will be a full-service bar & restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, a grab-and-go market, men’s & women’s locker rooms with lounges, private event & meetings spaces, and more (completion slated for 2025).
- Conversion of the existing clubhouse into a new Lifestyle/Wellness Center, complete with a full-service spa, massage and treatment rooms, fitness studio, yoga facilities, and more (completion slated for 2026).
Other recreational opportunities, such as fishing, are available on the property.
“Escalante Golf's substantial buying power and proven operational excellence are paramount to the advancement of the Wilderness Club," said Ehlert. “We share a unified vision to propel the Wilderness Club to new heights, solidify its status as Montana's foremost luxury golf experience, and ensure its long-term success and growth as we embark on this ambitious and exciting new chapter.”