One naturally might expect a place voted the nation’s #1 ski hotel in consecutive years to be on the pretentious side. Not Hidden Moose Lodge.
This surprising travel find earned that honor from USA Today, but it takes a while to learn that fact. The owners here are far more interested in expressing a desire to do whatever is necessary to make your stay in Whitefish, Montana enjoyable.
Need evidence that approach is solid? About 40 percent of the clientele here qualify as repeat customers.
When Tracey called out my name at the Amtrak station, she was ready to stow luggage in a waiting truck and take me to the lodge, which is about two miles north of the Whitefish business district. For the next few days, someone was at the ready to run me into town on short notice and pick me up later. One worker, a recent arrival from Romania, even offered to wait downtown for an hour or two if that would work better for me. As with many B&B properties, I found people here willing to speak candidly about which attractions and restaurants are worth investments of time and money.
You also see this caring attitude at breakfast, served from 8-10 a.m. daily in the nicely appointed kitchen, which sits just off the main lodge room, complete with the large fireplace and pine-beamed high ceiling one would expect in a ski lodge setting. 
My favorite breakfast was the bacon and mushroom frittata with English muffin, juice and coffee. This is the kind of place where the chef openly shares her cooking secrets with anyone interested. Leaving prior to 8 a.m.? With one-day’s notice, a breakfast-to-go called “Moose on the Loose” is furnished. It includes muffin, fruit, granola bar and apple juice.
If you’re around early evening, guests are offered a complimentary drink that can be enjoyed on an outdoor deck if the weather cooperates.
It should be mentioned that Hidden Moose Lodge is not immediately adjacent to Whitefish Mountain Resort, which is about six miles north (12 minutes by car). During season, a free shuttle bus, S.N.O.W, makes a stop right in front of the lodge as it moves to and from the slopes.
When you return from a long day navigating that Montana powder, or hiking in nearby Glacier National Park, you’ll find a large hot tub in the common area and spacious, comfortable lodge rooms and suites. Furnishings are Western in theme, with each of the 15 rooms bearing a specific theme.
My room #24, for example, was called the “Old Goat Room.” I never did get a straight answer as to why I was assigned that spot, and perhaps it’s for the best.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many depictions of goats in one place. But the room was comfortably furnished and included a full walk-in closet and refrigerator, telephone, large-screen TV and DVD player. Every room has a back porch or balcony. Room #24 looked out on a wooded slope where, I was told, wild turkeys are sometimes visible — but for me, not that elusive namesake, the Hidden Moose.
Reservations well in advance are highly recommended, especially at the peak of ski season, and in the summer months. Holiday weekends can be tricky, too. For example, Canadian Victoria Day (the Monday between the 18th to the 24th of May), brings in a lot of loyal repeat guests from north of the border.
Also recommended: gratuities for the folks here who contribute to your stay. Owners keep a tip pool going for everyone’s benefit, a nice feature in that you won’t spend time deciding an amount for each employee who helped you.
There are less expensive places to stay in Whitefish, but the value here is excellent. In off-season, it’s possible to snag a lodge room for about $100/night, and a deluxe, 700-square-foot suite is $189/night. Expect to pay quite a bit more during ski and summer seasons.
In this day of packaged, impersonal experiences, it’s refreshing to find a place offering both quality and personal service. It’s not all that common in resort areas. That makes Hidden Moose Lodge a surprising travel find.
If You Go