Old world charm meets rustic elegance on the shores of Flathead Lake in Montana.
Bigfork, Montana, is an idyllic year-round resort village of more than 6,000 full-time residents on the northeast shores of Flathead Lake, near Glacier National Park. Despite its modest number of residents, the area is brimming with a vibrant artisan and construction community.
“There are a lot of talented artists and craftsmen here,” says Ron Incoronato, president and owner of Incoronato & Company, a general contracting company. Many of those talented artists and craftsmen were instrumental in the creation of Bear Dance on Bigfork Bay.
Owners Marilyn Olson and the late John Olson purchased the rustic Bear Dance Inn in the mid-1990s. The estate consisted of a lodge that was surrounded by small cabins built in the 1930s and enjoyed for generations. But these structures had fallen into disrepair.
The Olsons wanted to transform the historic lakefront estate into a rustic sanctuary that would be a legacy for the community, as well as a retirement home for themselves. The result is Bear Dance Village, an estate with nine unique custom residences in a waterfront setting. A central courtyard features two 10-foot-tall bronze bear statues that are seemingly caught in mid-waltz. The statues are not stationary; they revolve slowly once an hour, on a steel turntable-like device that’s concealed by stones under their feet, providing an ever-changing tableau for residents through all four seasons.
The estate, completed in the early 2000s, includes a five-plex of condominiums, and two duplexes, each unit ranging in size between 2,500 to 4,000 square feet. Each residence is named after one of Monatana’s major rivers—Swan, Flathead, Yellowstone, Missouri, Boulder, Madison, Big Horn, Gallatin, and Ruby.
The biggest design challenge was the narrowness of the property, and the desire of the Olsons to provide extensive views of the lake for every residence, says Architect Keith Beck.
The idea for a pass-through arched entrance farther into the property and the shoreline came to Keith while he was driving to work one day.
The resulting design, Keith says, was very much a collaboration with contractors, artisans, and interior designers. Retired general contractor Ron Incoronato describes the design of Bear Dance Village as “Old World European Mountain Village Fusion.”
The confluence of natural elements and old-world craftsmanship led to details such as gas lamps on the exteriors throughout the estate, including illuminating the dance of the bear statues at night. Other design features include copper gutters, faux old brick chimneys, a variety of different stone and plaster elements, and use of timber frame beams made to look like reclaimed timber through the application of flame torches and steel brush work. “This concept is a timeless European compound added to over the decades, evolving into a modern village,” Ron says.
With little space to work with on the narrow lot, the team had to get creative by opting for curved arches, curved walls, handmade elegant cabinetry, stone floors, and custom wall and ceiling coverings.
The whole team produced unique designs as they built each residence, wanting to create something entirely different with each home. “This design-as-we-go approach drove the bankers in their penny loafers crazy,” Ron recalls with a chuckle. “We spent a $100k on doors alone, each handcrafted by local artisans for a unique design for each home.”
The interior of the Missouri condominium is designed by Jane Starr of Jane Starr Interior Design. Because the unit is named the ‘Missouri,’ they dyed vintage territorial maps of Montana in tea, which were applied to an entry stairwell wall, then hand plastered, and oil glazed to reveal weathered treasure maps of the Missouri river. This was a theme used throughout the 3,423-square-foot residence, with three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.
Starr also designed the textured poplar bark recessed ceiling over the dining table. And she conceived of the metallic-stenciled quaking Aspens on one wall of the master bedroom. These unique designs are complemented by clean lines of white oak cabinetry throughout the home by Glacier Woodworking, and outfitted with slender, silver cabinetry hardware. This medley of sleek, old, and new, created a crisp style that the owners fell in love with.
Even though Bear Dance Village was completed 20 years ago, Ron, the general contractor, says many of the contractors and artisans that worked on it still return to show off their work and designs on the estate to family, friends, and potential clients. “Working on that project was some of the most fun I have ever had in my career.”