We did their open air mineral hot springs pools, Â very nice and refreshing. Â Kids all had a good time. Â However, the changing room / bathroom need to get clean regularly, frequently, and really clean up the smell. Â Really smell like a one big pee room. Â
We had dinner at Poolside Grille, like almost of Yellowstone restaurants around, when it got busy, it got really slow. Â We had burger and BBQ source pizza. Â Pizza was great, crusts were just right. Â We really enjoy it.
We ate dinner and breakfast at Chico. We were totally taken by the place. We didn't stay overnight at the resort becuase it was full. we stayed in a cabin about a half mile up the valley. Beautiful place. Chico is great. We ate dinner in the restaurant. Upscale, great menu, attentive staff. We hit the hot springs after dinner. After our night in the cabin, back to the hot springs for a quick soak, then breakfast back at teh restaurant. A buffet. Again, great food, great wait staff. Chci is the real thing. Don't miss it.
Review Source:yuuuuuuuuck!!! what a waste of gas/time/money. I came here on my way back from Yellowstone and thought it would be nice to soak in some hot springs for a bit. Â what a mistake!
The old, musty, and crowded lobby should've been my first sign to turn and leave, but stupidly I thought the hot springs itself would be better. Â So my friend and I forked over $15 and bought two day passes.
To get to the hot springs you have to walk through a bar and the bartender presses a buzzer to let you into the hot springs/pool area. Â The bar was dark and again old and musty - the second sign we should've just left!
The hot springs itself was a big disappointment. Â It was just a pool (not even a really big one at that) with murky blue water in it and a ton of kids running around and jumping in and splashing other patrons. Â The tiles around the pool are old and the grout in between them is dirty and looks like it could use a good scrubbing with some bleach.
Since I wasn't a guest of the hotel, I had to go into their restroom/locker room to change into my swim suit. Â That restroom was really gross. Â I'll just leave it at that. Â I had a icky/displeased expression on my face which I tried (unsuccessfully) to hide because I didn't want my friend to think I was annoyed, but I really wanted to just leave right then and there without even getting in the pool.
Getting into the water it felt just like bath water, not as hot as I would've wanted it to be. Â From living in Phoenix I've been in some regular pools that were hotter than this! Â Needless to say, we didn't stay long. Â We swam around for a while to try and get our money's worth, but eventually just gave it up as a lost cause and went home.
never again!
We were very happy with our stay. The management was excellent. The room was clean. The saloon was lively on the weekend- live county music each night. We experienced Montana Rose.
Good food! Friendly staff. The hot springs were hot and soothing after a long day of hiking in Y-stone.
The views around Chico were awesome. We would go back in a heart beat.
Disgusting... After spending 2 hours in untreated pee water, we returned to our overpriced room with paper-thin walls. My skin itched and felt sticky. After a few minutes of scratching, I discovered that I also stunk like BO. Other people's BO. All my body hair was flattened and sticking to my skin, which caused some of the itching. My boyfriend was also sticky, itchy, and smelly.
In all my years of frequenting public pools and hot springs, I have never left a pool covered in a film, had that kind of reaction, or smelled like other people's funk. We checked with the front desk, and the water is not treated with chemicals and the flow through is very low - especially considering how big and how many users are in the pool. It was Friday night and crowded with kids and adults drinking tall boys. No one was leaving to use the restroom. That water is the filthiest kind of repugnant.
The historic accommodations are pretty cool, however, do not expect a good night's sleep unless you're dead. Drunks come stumbling in at all hours of the night, slamming doors and shouting. Our door rattled each time anybody walked by. A restful nights sleep we did not get, and the next morning I felt tired and completely unrested. The opposite of what I should feel after spending a chunk of money at a "hot spring resort".
The lobby with the stone fireplace is the best thing about the building. Great place to hang out, read, and look at old pictures of the property.
The restaurant with it's rave reviews did not live up to the hype. The food was over-priced, although good, the service was good, the dessert was amazing, but the ambiance was cheap and awkward.
The bar was great: $3 rum and cokes, loads of bar-sports (shuffleboard, Foosball, pool) and a live band. It was a mix of locals and guests and everyone was having a good time.
The mentality in Montana when it comes to hot springs is that it is party time. The majority of hot springs are not revered for medicinal properties or relaxation: it's "Hot Tub Time Machine" time. However, everyone in Montana has a love affair with Chico, and it is described as a "romantic" get-a-away or a great place to go for a relaxing weekend. It is neither.
Pack earplugs and a very heavy duty soap. Be sure to wash thoroughly after soaking in the pool.
My family makes regular trips to soak in the hot springs here since we live nearby in Bozeman. The water is great, and I love the fact that there's a very shallow end of the large pool so that small children can enjoy the experience in 2ft of water. They did recently build new changing rooms for the pool, however, they are so small! They should've made them larger to accomodate the masses that come here (what were they thinking??).
The poolside bar is fun, however they only have one bartender working usually and the wait can be a bit tasking if they are busy. Also the poolside grill is good for lunch or dinner if you don't mind the typical bar food menu (burgers, pizza, etc).
Fun for the family, good times to be had.
Things that could make it better:
- a poolside waitress for the bar
- bigger dressing rooms
We were gifted a night here for our anniversary, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd never been to a hot springs before, and when I hear "resort and day spa" I immediately think of a certain level of facility. That being said, this place was not at that level, but I wasn't aware exactly of what the facility grounds/building/etc. looked like, so even though I looked online, I still felt once I showed up that I was a little shocked by the venue. Had I been prepared for it, I would have been fine with it. But I was expecting something newer, more spa-like.I mean, it's called a resort and spa. I still have no idea where the spa is. But, I love old historical stuff, so once we checked in and got settled, I was totally fine with it.
The check-in desk/building is very old - quite possibly the original building (I don't know offhand). It has a lot of historical charm. There are things everywhere that give you bits of information on the building's long-standing place in the community. It's quite interesting.
When you check in, you get a green wristband for access to the pool. I imagine this is because they have events at this venue, and they only want paying hotel guests to be in the water. Makes sense but I felt like I was at a frat party (one that actually cared enough to card and wristband people).
We had originally been booked one of the North 40 cabins, but when we found out we had to bring our dog, we called to see what was available. Turns out, we got one of the largest rooms (sleeps 8!) all to ourselves. It had two bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a kitchen area, a living room, and a dining area. Pretty sweet. Not recently updated, but great for a cabin-like room. They were great with being able to switch accommodations last minute, and it was only about $45 more! What a deal.
We had dinner reservations at the restaurant that evening, and while the food was good, the service lacked a little professionalism. Our server got one or two things mixed up, and in general I wasn't super impressed with the service. Everyone was nice though. It is also a very thin restaurant (skinny aisles) and tables are set up in the middle of the room (where we were sat) so it can be a little awkward until you get used to it.
We sat in the hot springs for about 3 hours total, Friday night (until 11PM) and Saturday morning. The history of the "pool" is very cool. We made friends with the maintenance man and he explained how he drains the pool every night, cleans it, and then starts the flow back in again around 2AM so it's ready and full by 7AM. They add cool water to the main pool during the warmer months so it's not too hot (but there's a "hot tub" area which is the full temperature of the water), but during the winter they leave it the normal temperature. Also, the pool area used to be covered until the roof collapsed (many decades ago) and they never rebuilt it because the patrons liked it open. Take a read on their website if you're interested in learning more. I think the most up to date place on the grounds is the pool locker room. Well done.
The main building (check in, restaurant, etc.) has rooms in it which do not have their own bathrooms (historical building!). That was one of the reasons we didn't stay in that building. You also have to walk through that hallway (by all the rooms) to get to the springs, so it was kind of annoying to have to go up a flight of stairs, walk through someone's hallway, and then walk down some stairs to get there. The other option is to go in through the bar on the other side of the main building, but that wasn't easy either.
The bar itself is also old and full of history (and bras hanging from the ceiling). This was another part of the location that threw me. An old, kind of trashy bar attached to a "resort and spa?" They serve you at the pool which is cool, but it brought it down a level for me.
Also, another big thing, we brought our dog because we had to but also because you're allowed to. Our dog isn't totally cool with every other dog yet. They require you keep your dog on a leash. However, not everyone follows this rule which made it difficult for us trying to maneuver with our dog. Also, there are some farm dogs that run around leashless, which I get it - it's their home, but if you're going to require guest dogs on leashes, at least 1) enforce it, and 2), don't have other dogs running around.
Lastly, the gift shop. It was nice to have one on the premises, but I feel like they sold a lot of items you could get elsewhere. I still think of gift shops as places you get location-specific items, but now that I think about it, they might have other things for people who are staying longer and didn't bring everything they needed (children's toys, books, clothes, home goods, etc.).
All in all, I liked it, we had a good time, but I was confused by the name and the actual grounds. But hopefully if you go, and you read this, you'll get there with a better understanding of what it is.
This place has it all. Â Would you like to go hiking to a pristine mountain stream? Â Would you care to go horseback riding and see coyotes? Â Would you enjoy a nice soak in natural (unchlorinated) hot springs mineral water? Â Would you care to book a wedding here and host it in our lovely stone conference center? Â Would you like a massage? Â How about a TOP SHELF Sunday brunch buffet that will leave you stuffed with shamazing bread pudding, custom omelets, fruit, frittata, juice, croissants, etc etc etc? Â Not to mention the gorgeous grounds, gardens, and Yellowstone National Park is a quick drive down the road.
I also heard that the lodge at Chico Hot Springs is haunted, since long ago it was sort of a hospital for local miners. Â According to the book in the gift shop, the ghost(s) may be the first owners who opened the place for business as a health sanitarium back in the day when these places were called sanitariums and not spas or resorts or rehabs or health retreats. Â I did not encounter any spirits but some of the furniture is old (my bed frame looked like an old 1930s metal hospital frame) and looks haunted. Â The lodge is old and creaky and feels very authentic 1900s and the beds were comfortable.
Riding a horse around the grounds was a great experience. Â My horse was named Drafty, and my friend Sara's was named Whisky. Â Drafty almost threw me but that may have been my fault. Â I am not an accomplished rider so who knows what I may have been doing wrong, but I got the feeling Drafty didn't enjoy the bridle in the mouth. Â Who would? Â And it was fun running into the pack of coyotes, and my only regret in terms of wildlife is that I didn't see a bear on my trip.
The bar by the pool area is a really fun little place with pool and table shuffleboard and lots of local beers on draft, as well as a great selection of domestic microbrew bottles. Â It seems to be a hotspot for locals on weekends especially (seeing how its the only bar for many miles around). Â They had a cover band playing Beatles songs and it was hilarious to watch people dancing and having a good time while sitting in the hot pools.
The pools are really nice; however it is not the most "relaxing" hot springs I've ever been to, as it was packed with kids playing and water toys and some loud adults celebrating by taking loud shots of tequila. Â But it was kind of a fun atmosphere, and I have been to plenty of relaxing hot springs to enjoy a hot springs of another style.
The wedding service was outside in a gorgeous field and gazebo, and the reception in the on-site hall was really fun. Â They even made me a special vegetarian meal which was the envy of my table.
I think I would give it five stars if there was slightly less drinking and noise in the pools, but really I would like to give this place four and a half stars.
I cannot believe the experience my two friends and I had at Chico Hot Springs. The staff were incredible, very accommodating, and bent over backwards to make sure we had the best visit possible. The accommodations are lovely, the pools are so relaxing, and the landscape...unrivaled. Definitely visit Chico Hot Springs.
Review Source:I LOVED Chico Hot Springs! We spent a long and tiring day in Yellowstone and were convinced we were going to end up in some random motel on the side of an empty road. Well, what a nice surprise to discover Chico!! The place is huge, with two restaurants, a warm outdoor pool and even a bar with live music!!
What I especially appreciated about this place is that they are really a fit for every budget. They have beautiful suites and a fine dining restaurant if you feel fancy. But they also have a grill (with delicious bison burgers) and some simple rooms with a shared bathroom. I am always a little afraid of shared bathrooms and was happily surprised by how clean it was. The room itself was small but very clean and with a nice view of the mountains. Â The room was 55$ and that gave us free access to the pool.
The breakfast wasn't included. It was about 10$ per person and was an all you can eat buffet. Delicious, as expected.
If you visit Yellowstone, that's where you want to stay! Count two hours drive from Old Faithful.
[Ed. note: if you don't have a couple hours to sing under your breath doing jazz hands, you might not want to click on the following link. For the rest of us, it's Chico time!]
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DO_-isKzt4O4&s=b2387794c8f3dc2583de518f4fc280d687d82aefe5341129296abcf9381c3a0d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a>
(+1) The grounds at Chico Hot Springs are gorgeous. Seriously, check out the hothouses and wild garden. Speaking of...
(+1) I met a puppy just outside the garden during my visit. His name was Moose, he was a chocolate lab, eight weeks old, silver-eyed and very handsome. Which has nothing to do with Chico Hot Springs; I just wanted to tell you my puppy story. Anyway...
(+1)...the insane Sunday breakfast buffet utilizes mostly freshly harvested ingredients from the garden, resulting in some breathtaking fresh breakfast dishes--check out the frittata or the build-an-omelet station; you shan't be disappointed...
(-1)...except when the waitress never comes around with the champagne for your mimosas. Lame.
(+1) A resort day pass is $7.50. Additional services (massages, many things touting  geothermality, skin services) are extra, but there's plenty else to do--Pilates classes, a sauna--for less than the cost of a matinee movie ticket.
Three stars, rounded to three and a half, rounded to four because I am nice.
This place seems to cater to a wide range of people-you can spend a lot or a little. I can only spend a little.
I usually stop here for a night after a hiking/camping trip to Yellowstone. The rooms in the old lodge are furnished with antiques and have a bathroom down the hall and are very affordable, clean and comfortable-don't expect luxury or complete silence but I always sleep well after a dip in the pool. The pool looks like a standard outdoor swimming pool divided into a hot end and a regular pool. It is fed by a natural hot spring and the hot end is very relaxing while the other side is usually filled with children. There is a poolside bar and grill and a shower changing room and the pool is open pretty late.
If you want to spend more, you can get a fancier room, eat in the delicious but expensive restaurant, get a massage at the day spa, etc. If you want to spend less, you can just pay for day use of the pool (and shower!) and sleep in your tent in a nearby forest service campground.
I visited Chico twice during my family's trip to Yellowstone. Â We were staying down the road and had heard good things from friends about the hot springs and restaurants. Â Our first night in town we visited the Poolside Grill, the more casual eatery. Â When I walked in I thought we were going to have more snack bar style food, but the menu actually was pretty diverse and our food was tasty. Â I unfortunately didn't make it to the actual hot springs, but my parents and son spent the day there and had a great time. The five stars though goes to the main restaurant. Â The food was delicious, but what really stood out was the service. Â Our server delivered a plate full of toddler friendly veggies and croutons to my toddler within minutes of sitting down. Â He recommended great wine that was far below the cost we had expressed as our limit (didn't try to up-sell us). When later in the meal, our toddler started being a bit squirmy he delivered a bowl of fresh fruit. Â The service was above and beyond what I would expect. Â Make reservations in advance, because they were pretty booked up.
Review Source:Disappointing.
My wife and I Â ate at Chico's years ago and remember it being one of the best meals we had ever had. Â I don't know what has happened in their kitchen but the food we were served last week was average, if that. Â We were so disappointed. Â The elk was tough and rubbery, the halibut was over-cooked, and the crab cake was dry. Â
A few nights later we returned and ate at the Poolside Grille. Â We just ordered the Pizza, and it just lacked flavor. Â The waiter was less than attentive and quite frankly we wished we had at eaten at Taco Johns.
I really hope Chico can fix their kitchen issues and bring their food quality back to where it once was.
Just spent two very relaxing days at Chico. Stayed in the new lodge (and will never use the old lodge again). The room (406) was huge, clean, quiet and comfortable. The weather was unseasonably cool, which made the soak twice as nice. On Thursday morning around 8:00, we had the entire pool to ourselves...sweet. Had two great dinners at the restaurant, again I stuck with the tried and true Bison Ravs for apps, then right on to the best thing on the menu - Filet Mignon. Overall it was awesome.
Review Source:Four of us stayed there for one night.
The room is ok but not great. We ate at the restaurant and we all loved the food and the service.
The pool, however, was disappointing. One of my friends got a terrible rash on her skin afterwards. The pool has a very hard cement floor that scraped a piece of skin off my leg. Â Also, there are a lot of kids and water toys in the pool.
Overall I want to give it a 3 star.
My parents have lived in Montana for 7 years. Â I'm kind of holding it against my Mom that she didn't introduce me to Chico sooner. ;-)
This place is wonderful!
We were booked for a 'Winter Package' special, which included accommodation for 2 for 1 night, Dinner, and breakfast in the morning. Â As well as usage of the Hot Springs Pool. Â All for less than $200. Â Amazing!
Our room was in the 'new' wing (built in 2003) and therefore was quite roomy, and included an en suite bathroom. Â It came equipped with two full beds, a round table with two chairs, and a sort of sideboard which could function as a dresser, but also served as the table for a small in-room coffee maker.
I think 4 adults would have no problem sharing this room, but it would also be perfect for a family with kids.
I LOVED that there were no TVs and no phones. Â yay! Â This caused an AMAZING thing to happen. Â In the evening, after dinner, the hotel guests populated the main room in the lodge and socialized. Â I saw people chatting, and playing board games. Â It was really fun! Â There's also a 'library' with plenty of interesting books to borrow during your stay (no formal checkout procedure- just the honor system) and comfy seats to read in.
Oh, the dinner! Â I had the beef Wellington, which was scrumptious. Â The wine pairing was delicious. Â All of the food was excellently prepared, and expertly served. Â Breakfast was done buffet style, and was also impressively delicious. Â Chico managed to serve my cosmopolitan 'food snobbery' and my picky eater of a nine-year-old Sister.
The Hot Springs is also nice. Â 98 Degree pool and attached 103 degree hot tub. Â Relaxing, and fun.
Highly recommended!
A M A Z I N G ! !
Seriously, perhaps one of the best relaxing vacation spots I have ever experienced. Â
The Hot Springs [main attraction] were therapeutic and extremely accommodating. Â The view from poolside was sublime. Â Â
Aside from that, the rooms were very nice, loved that there was no TV in the room I stayed in. Â
The Dining was simply put - a fine fare. Â Locally caught Smoked Rainbow Trout as an appetizer was one of the very best dishes I have ever had. Â Aside from that, the Wine selection was very large and all the other menu items I tasted were excellent. Â
This is a very nice vacation spot and it bears some time to fully engage and enjoy this facility.
Chico...keepin' it humble.
If you love dive bars, gourmet fine dining, hot tubs and good company in a gorgeous setting, this is the place for you. Â I loved my stay at Chico. Â I spent the night here over Thanksgiving weekend in a room in the main lodge - this would be the major "keepin' it humble" part of the experience. Â The room accommodations are pretty shabby. Â We stayed in a room with shared bathrooms, insulation was not so great and you could hear kids running up and down the halls. Â I could see that the main lodge must've been THE place to stay in 1900 when it opened up - but you can tell that not much of the decor has changed since then. Â Can't complain too much though, because the rates were more than affordable.
Aside from the room accommodations, the rest of the place is awesome. Â Chico is set in a tiny town with not much else around but farmland, rolling hills and beautiful mountain views. Â The pool and hot tub filled with water from the hot springs were super relaxing. Â Major points go to the walk-up window that connects the pool area to the dive bar where you can order your drinks. Â YES, I said dive bar. Â The bar has a good selection of local beer, domestic and imported beer, wine, nicely poured cocktails, friendly bartenders and a slew of games (pool, foosball, etc.). Â We ate at the restaurant in the main lodge. Â Food was spectacular. Â I had the duck and my BF had the bison. YUMMMO! Â What else more can I say but I will be back.
I love Chico, in fact I grew up with it. Â This really is a gem in the mountains. Â The view, the pool, the hotel, the restaurant, the bar, the hotel, everything is top notch. Â Great place to take a date, get a soak, spy a celebrity and to enjoy the company of others. Â I was recommended the lamb chops during my last visit, which were superb, as were the clams, and mussells. Â To top it off the wine and desserts were amazing. Â Not to mention the Chico breadsticks (which I have been eating since I was 7) are mana from Heaven. Â Chico never fails to dissappoint and will always have a special place in my heart.
Review Source:Very satisfied experience here. Â The restaurant does not disappoint (except when you come towards the end of the evening and they're sold out of a lot of their signature dishes). Â The hot spring open-air pool almost makes the hour drive from Yellowstone worth it. Â The shared-bathroom lodgings are a little run down, but if you're not expecting luxury, well worth the price.
Review Source:Absolutely beautiful! The hot springs are amazing. They offer horseback riding in the mountains and the rooms are cute and rustic.I was here for a wedding and the scenery at The Field of Dreams is breathtaking and the reception area was exceptional as well! About 40miles from Yellowstone and helicopter rides in Paradise Valley (also recommended). Â Chico loses 1 star for the priciness and lack of inclusion of anything during your stay (no continental breakfast, their restaurant is very good but also expensive, and they charge you $1 for a towel at the springs....)
However I wish to return and would recommend it to anyone!
Nice place to stay, friendly people, but food wasn't great.
Food Things that CAN be fixed:
serve the food hot when it comes off the pan. The timing of the two appetizers must have been off because one was hot and one was lukewarm. Â This is just a skill that the chef(s) need to develop to coordinate with the wait staff.
Additionally, the plate for the ravioli should be put under the broiler or heat lamp, because a cold plate + hot ravioli = lukewarm food. Â
Veal Osso Bucco: not tender. not sure how you can make osso bucco and have a recipe that calls for so much sugar, but osso bucco is a salty dish. The dish was overpowered by the sugar and needed to be cooked with vegetable stock and tomato paste. Veal stock would have been necessary as well but looked like this place just rushed the food preparation and didn't take the time to make Veg stock + more time on the veal.
Prime Rib: the rib was well cooked but lacked salt, jus, and didn't taste like "Prime" but rather choice or even worse.
Desserts are something to be found at say, fuddruckers. Disappointed in the food, but with a population base of 1MM people in Montana only, I guess there's not much competition.
If this review were based on the restaurant alone, I would give it five stars, but I'm factoring in the hot springs as well.
We loved the restaurant. Â We went twice while on our honeymoon (we enjoyed it that much). Â We got the smoked trout appetizer, and it was absolutely delicious. Â The process of smoking the fish removes a lot of the "fishy" taste, and it just turned out beautifully. Â We ordered the beef wellington, and it was cooked beautifully both times (yes, we ordered it both times!). Â It was also served with wonderful potatoes and the best mushrooms I've ever had.
The hot springs are enjoyable, though less enjoyable when there are a lot of families around and you are there just to relax (we were on our honeymoon, after all; I think there were a lot of local families that would come by in the afternoons once school let out). Â It should also be noted that these springs are a very nice temperature and have little to no smell of sulphur; some others in the area do (we don't mind this, but I know other people might).
I can't speak to the quality of the lodgings, as we stayed at a small, quiet B&B in the area (Paradise Gateway), but all of the buildings appeared to be in nice condition, and the staff at the front desk were alway polite when we came through.
We spent about 5 days here in april 2009. We went for the opening day in Yellowstone National Park. there was still alot of snow in the park, and most of the trails were still closed, but it was beautiful, and we almost had the whole place to our selfs.
Now on to our stay. We rented the large cabin on the top of the hill. It was the best one for us that would allow out dog. My husbands mother had the bedroom and we slept in the loft. This is in no way a luxury resort so don't expect it to be. It is a cute, rustic type place. The fire place was great and no tv was fine with us as we were able to really appreciate the surroundings. the cabin has an old kitchen and old furniture but hay its a place to sleep and it was cozy! The view was great !! The sunsets were AMAZING.
The pool: The pool area was large, a lot of kids, but at about 8pm or so the pool is for adults only which was great for us asfer dinner or a day out hiking around Yellowstone.
Dining: We ate at the main reaustrant a few nights and that was really good. I even baught there cookbook. Â ( sorry I don't remember what we ate)Suprizingley the best however was the buffalo/elk burger in the little pool cafe. We ordered that to go one night for dinner and it was the best burger I have ever eaten in my life. No joke! Â The other nights we cooked at the cabin.
Spa: We all enjoyed a day at the spa. If you can I recemond everyone do some kind of treatment. Â My husband and I did the whole day package. they do not have couples rooms but they timed it right so we enjoyed a break with fresh fruit and water by the fire place together. It included a body wrap, body scrub, tea wrap, facial and massage. It was heavenly!! we both had really good massage therapists as well. For such a small place out in...the middle of no where. Ic was impressed.
All in all this placce was nice, don't expect luxury. It is a nice relaxing and quite place to stay for a visit to Yellowstone. We will definately stay there again, though I bet summer would be nice oh adn reserve as far in advance as you can. This place sells out quickley.
Chico hot springs is one of the best places to stay in Montana! The Shooting Star Cabin($200 per night)Is rustic and cozy. You can see dear eating grass outside your window. This place is out in the middle of nowhere and so secluded... And yet close enough to yellowstone to take a drive there the next afternoon! The restaurant is amazing!! This is my favorite place to get away.... Ahhh 5 stars!!
Review Source:Almost hate to review it, but this is so far off the beaten path the risk of Chico's being Yelped to death is pretty remote. Despite my glowing review, this is not an "upscale resort" -- it's on a dirt road 30 miles from the nearest town, and the core infrastructure is at least 100 years old.
Started out with a 70-minute massage in the day spa. We're pretty particular about massage, most "strangers" aren't forceful enough (understandably) and obviously aren't familiar with the unique trouble spots on your individual body. That said, to my amazement, my masseuse was able to work out the worst lower-back knot of pain that otherwise never ever goes away. The hot stones are more than a gimmick, they really feel great either as a localized heat source or a moving pressure point. Large tips were earned!
If you're not staying the night, you're supposed to pay additionally for pool access, but since we were dropping upwards of 3 benjamins on massages, poolside drinks/snacks, and dinner, they waived the charge (not a big financial thing, but they make you feel welcome.) You go through the saloon to get to the pool area, there's a walk-up window where you can order drinks once you're outside. For obvious reasons, everything's served in plastic cups or aluminum cans. The bartenders are great, and the drinks are reasonably priced. There's also a snack bar in the pool area where you can get burgers, snacks, sodas, beer etc.
The pool wasn't very busy (a weekday) and there was quite a diverse bunch -- from blind cowboys to tattooed yoga addicts. This ain't no Hollywood, no one cares if you have a perfect body, and they don't. The spring-fed pool is very clean (apparently it's drained every night) as are all the facilities at Chico. Old, but highly functional.
Dinner in the dining room was just awesome. One of the best experiences I've had anywhere, let alone the rural Mountain West. The dining room is in the oldest part of the property -- it's charming without being kitschy. The serving staff is like a pro ballet troupe, perfectly choreographed as they quietly glide around the room, whisking away things and freshening other things before you even know they're there.
The food is 5-star, without question. They apparently grow some of the ingredients onsite, other things like the lamb and broccotini are locally raised. Everything was perfectly prepared, timed, and presented. The menu is creative and nuanced -- even the condiment for the lamb was a house-made mint-basil jelly (amazing!) Standouts were the bison short rib ravioli in a corn bisque with chili oil drizzle (holy buffalo that was good!) and what were probably the best mashed potatoes I've ever tasted.
You can always judge a kitchen by its creme brulee and, unsurprisingly, this place did not disappoint. Perfectly caramelized crust and a smooth, not-too-sweet custard beneath. Magnifique!
Since we'd been drinking by the pool all afternoon, we didn't order wine with dinner. For all that, the bill was around $80 for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, and 1 (more) Moose Drool.
One of the nicest days I've ever had, for any price, anywhere in the world.
I have stayed here twice while on road trips (from CT to WA, and back again from WA to NYC) and both times have been wonderful.
Being a grad student on a conservative budget (a theme which will appear frequently in my road trip reviews), this is one of the best lodging deals I encountered all across this nation. [The other one being Double JJ Resort in New Era, Michigan, which is similar - except substitute an indoor water park for an onsite hot spring. I wish there were more places like this so I could make an entire road trip and only stay at beautiful and fun ranches instead of paying the same to stay in craptastic motels.] Â
On both stays, I booked a room in the main lodge, which was $55/night and in which the bathroom is shared with other guests and located down the hall. I didn't mind the shared bathroom situation at all. There are multiple bathrooms on each floor - one with a bathtub/toilet/sink, one with a shower/toilet/sink, and several with just toilet/sink. So I never had any problems with lines. Everything in the lodge is very well-maintained and clean, and I didn't find it at all inconvenient to share. If I were staying with someone (as a couple) I'd definitely want one of the rooms with private bath, but as a singleton it didn't really make a difference at all. Â I love that Chico has such a wide range of accommodations, from the $55 rooms to luxury cabins that are very private and around $400/night.
The hot springs are WONDERFUL. They're piped into pools, which are cleaned and drained each night. It's so warm and relaxing. Not much more to say about this, but it's wonderful to be in water that is clean and refreshing, with no chemicals.
The dining onsite is great in all circumstances. There's a casual restaurant with affordable, quick sandwiches/burgers/etc. Nothing special, but the option is nice. The main dining room serves good breakfasts, $9 for all-you-can-eat eggs, potatoes, pancakes, yogurt, fruit, etc. I haven't had the full dinner at the lodge restaurant yet, but I think I'll just go ahead and do it the next time I come through. This place has done everything else right, so I assume the food would be good.
On this visit, I went on a ride through the mountains with the on-site horseback riding outfitter. She was friendly, interesting to talk to, knew a lot about the area, and tailored the quality and location of the ride and choice of horse to my riding ability (experienced). The scenery in the mountains was breathtaking and I got a great workout. Definitely recommend doing this.
I liked Chico so much that I'd plan my next vacation here, instead of just making it a stop on my way across the country! It's worth the trip as a destination in itself!
What a beautiful setting! The area truly humbles you. It's so rugged and scenic.
This hotel is very historic and I love the restaurant. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere. And, you don't expect great food. But, it definitely doesn't disappoint. Great service, phenomenal dessert prepared on site and a great menu with lot's of variation through specials.
I would recommend a reservation for the restaurant. And, unless you like it rustic, the rooms outside of the main building are more modern.
Oh, and the hot water pool fed from a natural spring...rejuvinating. The water is hot and feels great on a tired body. Always a wonderful experience for me here!
There aren't too many places that I look forward to visiting again as much as Chico Hot Springs! Â The food was fantastic (it helped that my father-in-law paid for dinner), the pools were delightful, the rooms were cozy and the scenary was fantastic. Â The highlight of our trip to Montana!
Review Source:This place is Awesome. Â I really love everything about the resort. Â Great food, friendly service, in the beautiful Montana countryside. Â I really cannot wait to get back.
We stayed in the main lodge one night  w/ shared bathroom and stayed the second night in the luxury cabins.  Both were outstanding.
Food from the grill, breakfast buffet, dining room were all first class. Â The bar in the evening was a blast!
Go in early October, it is a great time of year!
Checked in. Soaked for a while. Wandered to grounds.
We were lucky that we were staying just up to stairs from the dining room or we would have been late for our reservation!
As an appetizer, we tried the escargot (it was a first for me and it was incredible). Also had the house salad. It took a second to realize why the cucumbers were so tasty and it was because I don't remember the last time I had truly fresh cucumber. Â
Main courses at our table were the gorgonzola filet mignon and a giant halibut filet special. Au gratin potatoes were by far the best I've ever had.
For dessert, we had the orange flambé! A hollowed out orange, filled with chocolate, dowsed in rum, topped with merringue, and then LIT ON FIRE!
We also had a bottle of Tilia Malbec wine that was the best I've had in years.
Go to unwind and soak, eat mostly in the grill, but definitely eat dinner in the dining room when you have the chance.
I can't believe there are not more review's for this place. Â First off the restaurant is AMAZING.....Good wine choices and a delicious selection of all types of dishes from meat, fish, pasta and more regional treats as well. Many of the vegetables and other food items are grown right on the property.
The grounds are well maintained and there are plenty of activities. After dinner you can soak in the hot springs or check out the bar. Â Even just a walk around the property proved pleasant. Â Lots of open green space. rolling hills and wildlife.
A variety of room choices are available. My parents stayed in the main lodge which while small didn't seem confining. Â My Nephew and I stayed in one of the outer buildings with a nice porch looking into the foothills below.
The next day he and I took a trail ride before settling into a game of horseshoes.
Once you're here....your here. It's not walking distance from anything. But once you've landed on the planet fun where do you want to go?
The hot spring fed pools are fantastically relaxing. You'll wade next to a retired gentleman named Rudy or Maury and talk about how women be shoppin' over $1 olympia cans.
The dining room is straightforward and delicious. There's beef a plenty, seafood and some wild game dishes that will not disappoint. The service is fair, but I think that there's a lack of gourmet expertise there.
Still, worth a day trip out.
I went to Chico several times as a kid and can't remember a bad thing about it. They have two pools, a fabulous restaurant, lots of places to stay (old lodge, new lodge, private cottages and chalets, cabins), horseback riding, dog sledding, a spa, and board games at the front desk (because, as far as I know, they don't get HBO). Staying in the old lodge is fun and rustic, but if you have a large group or family the cottages are a good bet.
If you're not from Montana and you like steak, order it at the restaurant. You will never be able to eat steak anywhere else again. Seriously, it's ruined for me in every state. For dessert we always got the orange en flambe, which is a hollowed out orange filled with chocolate on which your server will pour alcohol and light on fire at your table. How exciting!
I don't think you can go wrong here, unless the weather is unusually terrible. Paradise Valley is positively beautiful and even if it is cold, raining, snowing, or all three, you still have two big pools of hot mineral water to jump into.
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