Islands seem to be everywhere! And I have to confess since writing Unique Homes feature on buying an island for the May issue I’ve been secretly indulging in some virtual island shopping of my own. I’d always thought of islands as mainly related to coastal or exotic regions but some of the nicest can be found in land locked locales. Still, I was surprised to learn that Sotheby’s is offering a private island in Montana of all places. Not only isn’t Montana the first place that pops into one’s mind at the mention of islands but assimilating the notion of a private island and a lodge style home together takes a moment or two. Then, the vision of such an unlikely pair captivates. Ten acres on Whitefish Lake with incredible views and over 2,600 feet of waterfront combined with a log home with a dramatic two-story great room, river rock fireplace, and two guest suites has great appeal. Check it out here. Thanks to Cheyenne Morrison, former owner of Coldwell Banker Morrison’s Private islands, for bringing it to my attention. Cheyenne’s blog keeps me up to date on island trivia.

post by Camilla McLaughlin

MELROSE, MT— Producers for the DIY (Do It Yourself) Network have chosen Locati Architects (Bozeman, MT) to design The Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge at Meriwether Ranch.  Locati Architects is one of the West’s premier architectural firms and is known throughout the United States for its numerous showpiece homes and lodges.  Among many other awards, the firm has been honored with “The Best in American Living Awards” for two years (2006 and 2007) as well as The Home of the Year by Mountain Living Magazine (2006).

The building process will be featured in DIY’s new series called the “Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge.”  Each room in the 5,200 sq. ft. one-of-a-kind Lodge will focus on a “Sportsman’s Fantasy.”  Locati has included a Liar’s bar, a top-of-the-food-chain trophy and gun room, “Eat-Like-a-Wild-Man Kitchen, Labrador Lounge and Angler’s Landing Covered Deck and Fire Pit.

“Everything about our series celebrates Montana,” said Chris Dorsey, president of Denver-based Orion Multimedia, the production company behind the show.  “We have the perfect combination: a pristine location in the middle of the Wise-River- to-Glen section of the Big Hole River, considered the stream’s prime reach for fly-fishing and Jerry Locati, a native Montanan who knows how to design the experience, as well as the ‘sticks and bricks.’”  Jerry Locati, A.I.A. says “Meriwether Ranch is an idyllic setting for The Lodge.  The tone of our design is inspired by the privacy, solitude, and magnificent outdoor lifestyle embodied by Meriwether Ranch.”

According to Dave Ellingson, outdoor enthusiast and conservationist who, with his wife Emilie, has made the dream project become reality, “less than ten per cent of the Ranch’s 724 deeded acres will be impacted by the development of new home sites and other building. The remaining acres will be protected from further development by the establishment of a conservation easement.”

Groundbreaking for the Lodge is slated to commence in August with a ten month build out schedule. DIY’s ‘Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge’ will begin airing in July of 2009 and will continue airing throughout 2010. DIY Network is part of the Scripps family of networks that includes HGTV, Food, Fine Living, and Great American Country, and is one of America’s fastest growing networks.

For more information visit www.meriwetherranch.com, www.locatiarchitects.com.