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$72,000,000 | 45,000 Sq. Ft. | 348 Acres
Cromwell Island, Dayton, Montana, United States
Spanning 348 acres, Cromwell Island is a stunning and private haven located on Flathead Lake, which is the largest natural freshwater lake situated west of the Mississippi. The island comes with a partially constructed 45,000 square foot villa, a guest villa measuring nearly 5,000 square feet, and a spacious dock suitable for a 70-foot boat. This exclusive property is currently listed for $72 million.
Listing details reveal that like the pristine waters of Flathead Lake, Cromwell Island is shrouded in mystery. It offers views of the famed Wild Horse Island, historically significant as the spot where Salish and Kootenai tribes swam their horses to evade adversaries. In the 1930s, work commenced on a dam near Polson, Montana, which altered the island’s composition, occasionally connecting it to the shore during low water periods. Indigenous tribes likely gathered their horses on this land before swimming them over to Wild Horse Island. Currently, Cromwell Island is a true island and is fully on the market.
Flathead Lake, with almost 200 square miles of surface area and 185 miles of shoreline, is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River — even larger than Lake Tahoe! Cromwell Island, encompassing close to 350 acres and nearly three miles of shoreline, is believed to be the largest privately-owned freshwater island in this region. Interestingly, similar to Loch Ness, this lake also has its own legendary monster. The Kootenai Tribe’s oral histories tell of a giant creature in the lake, with sightings dating back to 1889 when a steamboat captain and passengers witnessed a “whale-like” figure diving into the water after being shot at. This creature has been nicknamed “Flessie,” a nod to the monster from Scotland.
In the late 1980s, Cromwell Island was acquired by Robert M. Lee, a noted car and antique arms collector, explorer, writer, and environmentalist. Following his passing in 2016, Lee and his wife, Anne, had partially completed an impressive structure with over 45,000 square feet of living space, intended to be their permanent residence. Even in its incomplete state, it presents a striking resemblance to the grandeur of Versailles. The story continues as Cromwell Island is now up for sale, offering a prospective buyer the chance to shape its future. Cromwell Island is listed at $72 million with Bill McDavid from Hall & Hall Partners, LLP.
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