Stylish Silos: A Unique Airbnb experience!
I've stayed in Airbnbs on six continents, and this was one of the most unique experiences I've had!
The lodges at Glacier National Park book up many months in advance. They're completely closed for most of the year. For a visit in March, I was searching through options in the Kalispell area, and stumbled across the silos!
The five Clark Farm silos appear in the distance down a rural Montana farm road, surrounded by fields in Creston, Montana.
The Clark family refers to them as "big soup cans," which is a pretty accurate description from a distance. People driving by might just assume they're old grain bins!
Walking around the outside to the main door, we were impressed by the conversion to a two-story, contemporary living space!
This is the view you get walking in through the front door:
The silos cozy in the best way, with a mix of modern and rustic design elements.
The floors are modern, stamped concrete.
Each has a full kitchen, with a normal sink, French press coffee maker, counterspace, barstools, etc.
The bathroom, as you'd expect, is curved.
The shower is roomy with good ventilation.
They really maximized the space. It doesn’t feel too closed-in, and there was plenty of room to move around and clean up after a long day outside.
The loft bedroom upstairs is at the top of a semi-spiral staircase, which nicely follows the natural curvature of the silo.
It’s spacious (for a silo) and features a picture window with views of the mountains in the distance.
In addition to the king bed upstairs, the couch downstairs is a convertible sofa, so there's plenty of sleeping room for friends, a couple, or a couple and a child (or two).
The ceiling fan at the top of the silo’s round roof is a great touch!
Outside, you'll find your own fire pit, complete with kindling and wood split for a camp fire.
It was great to wind down, fireside, after a long day. If you're an early-bird, you can get up to watch the sun rise over the mountains with a cup of coffee.
We drove down to the silos through a snowstorm from Whitefish, so I couldn't help but wonder how cold and drafty our silo would be. The metal outside is sealed perfectly, and the heaters built into the walls quickly warmed the space up.
The silos are on remote farmland, butting up against the picturesque Flatheat National Forest. It's just south of Glacier National Park, so you’ll see the flat farmland transition to the east into the iconic mountain range.
We ran out to shoot photos of the mountains as the snowstorm passed (lingering only at the higher elevations in the peaks) and the sun’s rays came out to shine for just a few minutes before sunset.
As for prices, the silos range greatly, based on the time of year, and can be booked easily on Airbnb. They go down to about $130 a night in the winter months, and go up to $450+ per night in the summer months. The silos have become a strong draw, and often book many weeks in advance.
The silos can be used as a base to explore:
Glacier National Park (30 miles to West Glacier)
Whitefish (24 miles to downtown)
Skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort (32 miles)
Flatheat Lake (11 miles to Bigfork)
Seely Lake (84 miles)
Hungry Horse Reservoir (22 miles to Hungry Horse Dam)
Getting There:
Flying:
Glacier Park International (FCA) is the closest airport. It's undergoing an expansion project due to rising tourism demand. It's a 15 mile drive from the silos.
We had a 6am flight out, and the quick commute made the early alarm a bit easier.
Missoula is another option, if you don't mind a much longer (but pretty) drive.
Rental cars:
Rent far in advance if you're flying in. Winter, spring, and fall rates are reasonable. We found plenty of options in March. Summer is a different story.
Rent your vehicle *months in advance* and be prepared to pay a premium. As I write this, I'm checking cars available for July, and the few that are left will cost about $300 - $350 per day.
Most Airbnb’s for me are just places to stay while I experience the surrounding areas. The Clark Farm Silos are so unique, that they’re really a destination on their own!