Luxury treehouses and fabulous food in the wilds of Montana: My stay at The Green-O

What is The Green-O?

The Green-O is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort in Greenough that sits alongside its aforementioned sister property, The Resort at Paws Up, which is family-friendly and also all-inclusive. Located on land once solely inhabited by members of the Blackfeet Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, the acreage was originally purchased around 1915 by a rancher named Paul Greenough, who stocked herds of sheep that he branded with (fittingly) large green O’s, hence the resort’s emblem and name. The land was most recently purchased in the 1990s by the current owners, who expanded it to 37,000 acres of deeded and leased Montana land.

With 12 “hauses” of varying styles — designed mostly in-house (in-haus, if you will) by Dave Lipson, Laurence Lipson and Pieter De Liagre Bohl — The Green-O is certainly geared toward couples. Each haus was created specifically to accommodate two people in the coziest of atmospheres.

Nightly rates include all meals as well as a daily selection of wine, beer and cocktails, round-trip airport transfers, the use of luxury Lexus SUVs during the duration of your stay and a $500 credit per accommodation applied to any on-site activities and excursions.

Guests at The Green-O have full access to The Resort at Paws Up (the restaurants, facilities and activities center); however, guests staying at Paws Up cannot enter The Green-O side of the property.

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How to book The Green-O

The location

As mentioned above, the location is perhaps one of the biggest draws of a trip to The Green-O. It’s not every day that one finds oneself deep in the pastoral countryside of the American West, and to have the ability to roam across thousands of uninterrupted acres of Big Sky Country is pretty special.

The Green-O is certainly the type of resort you go to with the intention of staying on the property; guests don’t often leave midtrip to go back to Missoula, for example. With plenty of activities to choose from (horseback riding and hiking, clay pigeon shooting and all-terrain-vehicle excursions, to name a few), cozy accommodations, delicious food and so many acres of wilderness to explore, there’s not much reason to leave.

The accommodations feel one-of-a-kind

There are 12 Scandinavian-style hauses at The Green-O, with four categories: Tree Haus, Round Haus, Green Haus and Light Haus. Each has a slightly different — but equally striking — design that reflects the natural woodland surroundings, bringing the outside in through light-filled spaces, clean lines, interesting curves and stunning wood-paneled floors. All accommodations feature deep soaking tubs inside and hot tubs outside, ideal for nightly stargazing.

I was lucky enough to stay in one of the Tree Haus suites, which rise 23 feet into the air, suspended among the trees, and offer 1,030 square feet of space. From the gravel parking area (where I parked my personal Lexus, of course), I wound my way up a set of wooden and pebbled steps to the haus. Even though I was able to see some of the other hauses, they were far enough away from my own that it felt quite private.

Inside, at the glass-encased ground level, there was a small area to leave one’s shoes, as well as walking sticks and snowshoes.

I ascended a beautiful iron-and-wood spiral staircase that wound up through the center of the two-story structure — a piece of art in its own right.

The first floor was the living area with floor-to-ceiling windows nearly all the way around the room, yielding striking views of the surrounding forest. Overlooking the porch and the trees beyond, there was a desk area with everything one might need to get a bit of work done.

In the center of the room was a pair of sumptuous, overstuffed chaise-style chairs facing the view (with a Samsung Frame TV, for those who want to cozy up with a movie after stargazing).

A sleek remote-controlled, glass-encased fireplace sat to one side of double doors, which revealed an outdoor living area, complete with more seating, a beautiful hand-hewn wooden table and a swing-style chair.

Back inside, on the other side of the spiral staircase, there was a small kitchen space featuring a counter-style seating area, a sink, a built-in drawer-style fridge with San Pelligrino seltzers and the same drawer-style freezer, a countertop Nespresso machine with pods, complimentary red wine and an assortment of delicious local snacks, plus two reusable water bottles for guests to keep.

Beyond the kitchen was what I considered the crown jewel of the first floor: a bathroom that I would gladly pay rent to live out the rest of my life in.

It featured a deep soaking tub surrounded by sleek black tiling, a hardwood floor with cozy faux-lambskin rugs, dual vanities with ample drawer space, Le Labo products, a full shower, a separate toilet area, and a washer and a dryer for easy laundry access. Of course, the sweeping view out into the trees was the cherry on top.

You get to sleep among the trees

I found the bedroom at the top of the second spiral staircase. With floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides of the room, it felt like being completely suspended within the towering pines.

Hygge vibes were really the name of the game in this space. The room featured a cozy four-poster king bed with softer-than-soft gray linen sheets and incredibly fluffy pillows, including a weighted blanket-pillow hybrid that I found very comforting.

A second woodstove sat against the far window, and there was a small wash closet with a toilet and a sink in addition to a large storage closet with clothing hangers, a safe and shelving. Two large glass doors opened onto a small patio overlooking the surrounding forest (complete with modern, woven chairs and a coffee table — ideal for enjoying morning coffee and pastries).

Sinking into those linen sheets at night, with the woodstove burning and a cool breeze coming in through the double doors, was bliss. And speaking of sleeping — before bedtime, I recommend popping outside to see the tree haus all lit up.

Personal hot tubs are ideal for stargazing

My favorite way to end the evening was by climbing into my personal hot tub, located just outside the tree haus, with a glass of wine in hand and my head tilted up to the stars.

I appreciated the added touch of a little post where one could hang a bathrobe and a towel. And Montana certainly lived up to its nickname as the Big Sky Country — each night was like catching a celestial show.

Dining at The Green-O is an experience unto itself

To say that the food alone is worth booking a trip to The Green-O really isn’t an understatement. James Beard-nominated chef Brandon Cunningham is known for his eight-course dinners featuring locally sourced ingredients but also ingredients from further afield (think: in-season morels shipped from Washington state or shell fish flown in from the Pacific Northwest). Each dish is prepared with passion and intentionality; you’ll find classic comfort dishes elevated in a haut cuisine fashion.

Cunningham helms the Social Haus, another striking, Scandinavian-style architectural feature of the property. This is the main space where guests gather to dine, drink and unwind around a glass-encased roaring fireplace. The space itself reflects the same nature-forward characteristic that the hauses have; three sides of the building are full floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the pines and hauses beyond, with wood-centric decor and furniture reflective of the surrounding forest.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are, of course, included in the nightly rate at The Green-O. Dinner is a fancy affair in that the presentation and the course-style meal are as elegant as can be; however, guests can certainly show up in denim and cowboy boots, if they please (dressing up is fine, too!) — it’s really about whatever guests are most comfortable with.

During my stay, the weather was quite warm for spring, so several times I ate outside on the deck, fireside. Sitting near the indoor fireplace is ideal for cooler nights, and sitting right at the bar, watching chefs prepare meals in the open-air kitchen, is an exciting experience, too.

The dinner menu changes nightly — and for each course, a server (or even one of the chefs) will arrive tableside to explain the inspiration behind the dish. Cocktails, select wines, beers and spirits are also part of the all-inclusive programming.

On my first evening, I enjoyed halibut with in-season ramps, hamachi and wild onion; a delectable combination of celeriac and morel; sumptuous salmon; duck prepared over pureed parsnip; yuzu with berries; and a delicious pineapple and ginger dessert. My favorite wine on the menu was the 2022 Rombauer chardonnay, fitting for a seafood-forward menu.

For lunch, my favorite dish was the rich tenderloin prepared with beans and squash — which paired very nicely with a blood orange mocktail.

Breakfast included menu items like potatoes with a spicy romesco sauce, a fancy play on cereal that involves pate a choux and white chocolate ganache, and buttermilk steak with eggs.

Activities

While it would be entirely acceptable to spend the duration of one’s stay at The Green-O tucked fireside into fresh linen sheets and taking leisurely meals at the Social Haus, there are so many opportunities to get outside and have a true Montana ranch experience. From cattle driving to shooting sport, fly-fishing to horseback trail rides through the stunning scenery, the 37,000-acre property that makes up The Green-O and The Resort at Paws Up offers a plethora of Western-inspired activities.

The Green-O’s nightly rate includes a $500 credit for these various activities, and I highly recommend taking advantage of at least one or two.

Head down the road to the Wilderness Outpost at Paws Up, and a team of staff will get you squared away with whichever activity strikes your fancy. Don’t forget to peruse the goodies at the Outpost (think: cowboy hats, locally crafted jewelry, clothing and Western-inspired souvenirs).

Take a guided ATV tour through winding trails past the rushing river and fields of grazing bison, jump into a full-on cattle drive experience or get to know the local horses through a calming trail ride around the property.

Reasons The Green-O might not be for you

There are several reasons why this special property might not be every traveler’s cup of tea:

• The location is quite rural, so once you make it to the property, you’ll likely be staying there for the duration of your stay (though there is more than enough to keep one occupied for quite some time). Those in search of vibrant nightlife might find The Green-O too quiet and remote compared with the busier scene in nearby Missoula.
• The Green-O comes with a very hefty price tag that makes it inaccessible to many, so if you’re sticking to a tight vacation budget, you may want to stay elsewhere.
• Those traveling with families will want to check into The Resort at Paws Up instead of The Green-O, as the latter is geared toward adults and honeymooners.

Accessibility

Unfortunately, one area where The Green-O does not shine is in the accessibility department. There is only one haus touted as wheelchair accessible, and there are no features on the property specifically for those with visual or audio impairments. The resort’s website does not have an accessibility section, and upon contacting The Green-O, we learned that it’s simply not a very accessible property.

Just down the road at The Resort at Paws Up, guests with accessibility needs can find more options, including two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant accommodations and wheelchair accessibility throughout most facilities.

Checking out

Because I’m the type of person who loves to be in a remote, outdoor-focused atmosphere — while knowing I can tuck into a sumptuous fireside bed at the end of the night — The Green-O felt like a tonic in resort form. Those who appreciate spending time wandering and adventuring outside and have an affinity for both luxury, design-forward accommodations and the allure of the Western U.S. will appreciate a stay here.

Though it comes with a very steep price tag, between the cozy, intimate accommodations and the inspiring cuisine, The Green-O feels worth it for those looking to spend a pretty penny on an all-inclusive, adults-only getaway in this price range.

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