Teneagles Lodge

August 11-14, 1998

This is an unusual operation.  Have you ever heard of Clyde Park, Montana?   No you say?  Guess what, you probably will never - unless this newly born resort finds its way to completion.  There's really nothing at all around the lodge.   It's isolation personified.

The place was built and is run by Will Todd, an "A" type ex-Wall-Streeter if ever there was one.  The neat thing is that he is an absolutely great guy, loves what he's doing, has extraordinary long range plans for the place, and can cook up a storm.   He has more energy than god - and he's what makes this place work.

Teneagles has ten (surprise!)exceptionally large, perfectly, rustically furnished rooms, large sitting and relaxation areas, two nice dining rooms, and a kitchen that probably makes the Waldorf's look puny.  There is no hot tub and no television.   Staff is wonderful, helpful, and talented.  Basically if there were more to do here, the place would be a great first choice for your Montana vacation.

OK, so what's lacking?  The lodge grounds are basically unfinished.  The Shields River, of which I believe Will and his family own roughly a mile and a half, is a knockoff of the Smith.  So it's not bad fishing and not really good - at least this time of year.  And the other problem is that the river is difficult to access from the lodge.  It's probably a good half mile of bushwhacking to the water through long grass and sage.  Happily there were no snakes in evidence, although it looks like ground I'd love if I were a snake.

Livingston may be 30 minutes away and Bozeman correspondingly further.  The Yellowstone River can be reached in 20 minutes, but it's so large at that point that, while we did bank fish it without a drift boat access to good water is pretty limited.

The Boulder River is roughly 40 minutes away to public access, and while it's a great looking stream, the public access is also quite limited.

What else can we say?  This American Plan experience is not inexpensive.  If you want isolation and don't mind driving or hiking to get somewhere, then it works.   It's almost worth the price of admission just to get to know Will better.   With plans for a golf course adjoining the lodge and other amenities to be added this resort is probably going to be better known than Clyde Park sometime.  So give it a try if the above descriptions appeal to you.