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Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals the start of summer, and Paws Up kicked it off with our annual Montana Master Grillers event and two concerts from Crystal Bowersox.

The Master Grillers event featured some of the finest chefs, smokologists, winemakers, brewers, and distillers in America.  Our guests enjoyed butchering and grilling demonstrations, and dined on a variety of grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables including Tomahawk Ribeye Steaks, Flame-roasted Chicken, and Montana Pork Ribs.  We’re eager to hold the event again May 22-25 next year.

Crystal Bowersox played two awe-inspiring shows at Paws Up. BSox’s private show at Moonlight Camp featured unplugged acoustic stylings that were touching, personal, and downright raucous. She sipped champagne and growled out riveting renditions of “Hallelujah”, “For What It’s Worth” and “Me And Bobby McGee” and stoked the cozy fireplace behind her to such a toasty level that she finally exclaimed “I think my faux leather jacket is melting!” The following night Crystal and bandmates, Capital Guitar and Dan Reckard, raised the roof on Cook Shack. The backdrop of snow capped mountains, Montana’s big sky and s’mores the size of a Whoppers inspired the now famous quote of the weekend: “Paws Up is the S%#T!”.

We’re looking forward to our next summer event, the Montana Long Table food artisan event, which will pay homage to our neighbors who provide the freshest produce and meat for The Resort at Paws Up. The special culinary adventure, exclusive to Paws Up, is arranged in our gorgeous grazing pasture just north of the iconic Cook Shack. It’s held on three separate dates during the summer (Saturday, June 21, Saturday, July 12 and Saturday August 23, 2014) and is tantalizing every time.

Right now Montana is calling. The summer season is coming to it’s peak and Montana’s serene natural beauty feels as timeless as ever. If you enjoy the leisure of natural beauty then you should be here on our 37,000 acres of land. The morning sun spills daily across the Paws Up ranch and casts a golden halo around the peaks of pines. Every part of the day is experienced in it’s own priceless way. Whether the moment finds you relaxing in your private vacation home or by the campfire while glamping®, your stay at Paws Up guarantees to be an accumulation of life-lasting memories. Become engaged in sport or activity (like archery, horseback riding, fly fishing and so much more) to be occasionally caught off guard by the same vistas that made Lewis and Clark catch their breaths.

Summer can’t be described without the outdoors. Picnics, strolls, anything to get outside and enjoy the once-a-year weather. When planning a vacation, then, why separate yourself from the beauty of nature? Embrace summer this year by visiting the ‘Last Best Place’ state of Montana. Montana is filled with unspoiled nature and at Paws Up you’re offered 37,000 acres to explore and enjoy. When putting together your summer bucket list try adding fly fishing, horseback riding, hot air ballooning, and how about an all-american Cattle Drive?

It’s the truly unique experiences that will be remembered through the years. Summer is a time to actively bond with family and friends so it’s understandable that you’re selective with where you choose to visit during precious time off. Flying into Montana from anywhere in the US means little to no jet lag, and the seclusion of our towering mountains and pines is sought by travelers all over the world. Excellent cuisine paired with luxury accommodations amplifies the experience. Expect nothing less that the freshest ingredients in your meals and the finest wines to sip by the campfire. This is big sky country so whether you’re staying in a luxury private rental or glamping® like royalty be prepared to be dazzled by nature’s night-time display. For an extra special visit come during a meteor shower. Roasting marshmallows for s’mores with endless wish-making gives points for romance and is equally family friendly as well.

The blackfoot river, made famous by the novel ‘A River Runs Through It’, snakes through Paws Up for 10 miles of water adventure. Expert guides know the best spots for fly fishing and take you beyond Paws Up borders to taste all that Montana rivers have to offer. For hikers there’s the Clearwater canoe trail that follows the river, the same area mapped by Lewis and Clark. And it’s not summer without getting wet – ride rapids of all levels in either a raft or inflatable canoe! Swimming holes are also readily available and hot tubs wait on the deck of every vacation home. Cruise on watercrafts or powerboats. There’s also tubing, wakeboarding, a water trampoline, paddle boats and kayaks. Paws Up has all the water gear.

And if you haven’t experienced ‘glamping’ then this summer is the perfect time to find out what all the buzz is about. Even Prince William and Kate Middleton have been in recent glamping news. Imagine camping – minus all the sleep deprivation and lack of hygiene. In glamping camping sites, Paws Up style, expect luxury level accommodations with a camp butler and chef to compliment your outdoor stay. It’s the dude ranch feel with your best tastes in mind. Visit Spa Town to unwind and be soothed by nature’s own soundtrack of babbling creek and gentle rustling wind.

This is summer versatility with 37,000 acres to capture an entire range of summertime activities. Whether your group is the size of two or twenty plus, The Resort at Paws Up has private accommodations for you. One luxury vacation home, one tent, an entire camp or any combination thereof can be arranged for you to experience the unfiltered nature of Montana through a medium of pure luxury. Bliss.

There are few things more iconic in America then the cowboy. The Ranch defines the west where open land was settled and cattle roamed and were gathered at roundup time. In the modern era the cowboy is thought to be a thing of the past – but the culture is alive and well. At The Resort At Paws Up there may be a few more amenities (and a leisurely time schedule) but the active outdoors defines this stretch of Wyoming.

A ‘dude ranch’ vacation is a step away from the tech age and into a place where time goes at it’s own pace. If you haven’t experience a dude ranch vacation it’s a must-do for any bucket list. And for a wild west luxury experience that can’t be beat – visit Paws Up. Here there’s the option of staying indoors in your own private vacation home or camping like royalty in ‘glaming’ campgrounds. The ‘big sky’ greets you on sunny mornings and starry nights. Babbling brooks, towering pines, the same cliffs explored by Lewis & Clark, and 37,000 acres of nature made available for you and your fellow bucket-list seeking friends. Add to that a cattle drive where you learn an art that’s stayed more-or-less identical for the past hundred plus years and you’ll leave with a lifetime of memories.

Ever seen the City Slickers film? It’s a movie that the youngest generations might not know, with a release date in 1991, and the old type of special effects – none – but this film does a great job of explaining why a visit to the wilder parts of the west can do us city slickers some good. The Resort At Paws Up makes a point of being much tamer than the Dude Ranch from the film, don’t worry about having to face a stampede or handle the birth of a calf. What you can expect is a range where you can take in the nearly tangible peace or engage in mind-sharpening and verizon-widening activities like the cattle drive, archery, horse riding and more.

The Cattle Drive is led by Mike and his dog sis, who’s so swift at following commands that she seems nearly human herself. And we can’t forget Max, Mike’s faithful steer, who joins every outing like one of the family. The horses you ride are highly trained and respond to neck commands, leaving you one hand free to cast your ropes or high five your fellow cowboy trainees. Once your horse is saddled-up and you’re in place it’s an afternoon of gathering the cattle and trailing them to the working corrals, sorting them, then trailing them back to the home pasture. The Ranch at Paws Up is a working ranch with a couple of hundred head of black angus cattle and over three hundred head of elk, so when you’re out with Mike you’ll be experiencing the real thing.

Whether we recognize the impact of city life or not, taking a breather into the simpler (well…less digitalized) life is a must do upon occasion. While wifi is available and cell service is present, try putting it all away for a weekend and joining the expert guides at Paws Up. And there’s no shame in a little victory dance as you check off one more thing from the bucket list!

 

Savor the art of gourmet grilling during the Montana Master Grillers event being hosted by The Resort at Paws Up. Dates are May 23 – 26, 2014 (Memorial Day weekend). This weekend of fine grilling is promised to be a seamless blend of fine wines, spirits, beers, exquisite grilled cuisine, stunning outdoor-dining settings and unforgettable wilderness adventure! World-class chefs will be producing their specialty dishes with a flare that BBQ lovers can’t resist.

The Resort at Paws Up features thousands of acres of ranch land, providing the ideal setting for passionate culinary artisans to eat, drink, and toast in celebration together. It’s an intimate experience to afford one-on-one interaction with some of the finest chefs, smokologists, winemakers, brewers, and distillers in America. Featured Wineries include Cakebread Cellars from Napa Valley, California (find more information on our Fly-Fishing with Dennis Cakebread HERE) and Kenefick Ranch Vineyards from Calistoga, California. Montana’s famous Montgomery Distillery, whose Montana roots reach back five generations, will also be joining us with their spirits.

In addition to the over three hundred head of resident elk, you’re very likely to see a couple hundred head of stunning Black Angus cows roaming the rolling pastures of the Ranch. Immerse yourself in the “Big Sky” country that inspires chefs from around the world. In addition to your culinary experience there’s adventure that waits as well – including fishing, riding, shooting, and more – The Resort at Paws Up provides it all. Visit our list of activities.

And, to make the Montana Master Grillers event complete Paws Up has arranged a special treat for guests. Crystal Bowersox will be performing a VIP campfire concert May 25th! Crystal was launched into music stardom when she finished as a runner up on American Idol, season nine.

Chef Brian Howard

“I’ve been trying to find a balance between nature and total sensory stimulation by merging recognizable dishes with worldly ingredients and modern techniques,” says Howard. “The results are incredible; a fusion of flavors that are beyond comparison.”

Howard is a bold example of the culinary field being a profession of passion, having believed  since he was 10 years old that cooking is in his blood. Starting his career in Detroit’s finest kitchens and further gaining his stripes in sin city, Las Vegas, Howard’s dishes have received widespread acclaim from USA Today, Los Angeles Times and New York Post, as well as glowing reviews from Las Vegas’ top critics.

Chef Danny Fischer

“I’ve been cooking my whole life and learned it from my mother and sisters,” Danny says. “It was never about just putting sustenance on the table, it was about having fun with the meal and it showed in what we cooked. I strive to emulate that.”

On explaining the start of the wildly successful Baby Blues BBQ in southern California, Fischer says they did what any American would do – scratched their heads, drink some bourbon, and put their best family recipes on the table. Striving for a perfection fueled by passion, Fischer works only with the freshest locally grown produce and teams with people who truly care about what they do. The result is culinary art in it’s finest form.

Chef Ben Jones

Host chef at The Resort at Paws Up, Ben Jones treats the taste buds of every guest with a Montana culinary prowess. Having experience with Montana’s best local game and produce, Chef Jones assures that only the best ingredients available are served at Paws Up tables.

Meet more of our world-class guest chefs

Greenough, Montana – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine

Barbeque is going luxe at The Resort at Paws Up, Montana’s choice luxury resort for country-loving jet setters. The 37,000-acre property will be introducing Top Chef contestants, master grillers and local artisans to guests of its luxury homes and glamping tents all summer long.

Gourmand travelers can start licking their chops this Memorial Day weekend, at the debut of the resort’s Montana Master Grillers all-inclusive culinary experience. For four days and three nights, indulge in daily meals paired with fine wines, spirits and beers again lush wilderness backdrops. Your personal flamer-chefs include 610 Magnolia’s Ed Lee and Sweet Cheeks’ Tiffani Faison, both of whom grilled with gusto on Bravo TV’s beloved cooking show. After enjoying intimate one-on-ones with famed smokologists and distillers, retire to canvas tents with ensuite bathrooms and spacious decks. In the morning, wake up to a gourmet breakfast personally prepared by your very own camping butler.

This event acts as a complement to the annual Montana Master Chefs culinary event in September, a four-day gastronomic spectacle of five-course dinners and top libations from beloved vintners. Star chefs include Top Chef winner Hosea Rosenberg and the resort’s own Adam Cooke, who’s nabbed accolades from the likes of the James Beard Foundation. Champagne welcome reception and “quick fire” demos aside, the weekend also features a host of adventure offerings like fly fishing, mushroom foraging and cattle driving. For a special treat, opt for the hot air balloon add-on before a muscle-melting spa treatment in the woods.

Finally, between these two exclusive weekend experiences, the Montana Long Table program is a complimentary one-night adventure for guests staying at the resort on July 21. Take a long table seat in a lush grazing pasture for a taste of the ultimate nature getaway—and of the region’s rich flavors. Catered by local ranchers and farmers, who will be on-site to mingle with the guests, this evening is a true farm-to-table, once-in-a-lifetime foodie must.

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