Where does the host of “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” go to kick back? Into his own private wilderness, of course.
Wildlife expert, retired zookeeper and reality TV personality Jack Hanna and his wife Suzi have put their hideaway in Bigfork, Montana, on the market at US $3.988 million.
Jack Hanna, known to TV viewers as “Jungle Jack,” envisioned the property as a summertime farm and, since the late 1990s, has had extra cabins built for the use of family members.
A gated drive opens to the 41-acre Elk Glen Retreat, which contains six custom-built guest cabins featuring log construction, stonework and reclaimed wood. Footpaths connect the cabins, which have a total of seven bedrooms and six bathrooms.
Made of local timber, the log cabins and bunkhouses have names such as Bearly Asleep, Eagle’s Nest, Moose Meadows and Elk Cabin.
A hand-laid stone fireplace with a knobby burled wood mantelpiece, an old-fashioned clawfoot tub and a front sitting porch for passing the time of day are among the details in Elk Cabin. The 700-square-foot house has a main living area, an eat-in kitchen, one bedroom, one bathroom and a loft.
Chinked wood walls, wood floors and vaulted beamed ceilings add a warm, timeless ambiance to the simple, rustic interiors. Reclaimed wood from a barn once owned by famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was used as flooring in the cabins.
Two covered wagons, a tack room, a hay shed, a greenhouse, a chicken coop, an organic garden and a fenced enclosure for equestrian or animal use are among other amenities. There’s garage space for four vehicles.
Mature pines, cherry orchards, expanses of lawn, split-rail fences and wooden bear statues complete the grounds.
The property takes in views of the Swan mountain range’s 8,000- to 9,000-foot-high peaks and the blue waters of Flathead Lake. The local wildlife includes elk, moose, mountain lions and black bears.
Denise Lang of National Parks Realty is the listing agent for 13518 Sylvan Drive, Bigfork, Montana.
Nearby recreational activities include hiking, biking and fishing on the more than 200-square-mile Flathead Lake. Winter pursuits include cross-country and downhill skiing and snowboarding.
The property is about four miles from downtown Bigfork and a mile from the county seat of Kalispell, considered the gateway to Glacier National Park. Glacier International Airport is about 29 miles away.
The resort-oriented village of Bigfork offers restaurants, art galleries and live theater.
National Parks Realty a founding member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.
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