Location: Cromwell Island, Dayton, Montana, United States
Cromwell Island, spanning 348 acres, is a remarkable private sanctuary situated on Flathead Lake, known as the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The property includes an unfinished villa measuring 45,000 square feet, a guest villa nearly 5,000 square feet, and a substantial dock that can accommodate a 70-foot boat. It’s listed for $72 million. The history of Cromwell Island adds to its allure. It overlooks the famous Wild Horse Island, a place where the Salish and Kootenai tribes historically swam their horses to safety from enemy tribes. In the 1930s, a dam was initiated near Polson, Montana, at the outlet of the Flathead River, which transformed Cromwell Island from a peninsula to a full-time island by the time it was completed. It is widely believed that Native Americans drove their horses onto this peninsula before swimming them to Wild Horse Island. Today, Cromwell Island remains a fully self-contained island, now available on the open market.
Photo by Bill McDavid, Hall and Hall
Flathead Lake boasts nearly 200 square miles of surface area and 185 miles of shoreline, making it larger than even Lake Tahoe. Cromwell Island, with its nearly 350 acres and close to three miles of shoreline, is thought to be the largest privately-owned island in freshwater west of the Mississippi. Like Loch Ness, Flathead Lake also has its own legendary creature. The story of a large antlered monster has persisted in the oral histories of the Kootenai Tribe, with documented sightings starting in 1889 when a steamboat captain and passengers observed a “whale-like” figure before it submerged after being fired upon. Locally, this creature has been affectionately named “Flessie,” a nod to its Scottish counterpart.
Photo by Bill McDavid, Hall and Hall
In the late 1980s, Robert M. Lee, a distinguished collector of cars and antique firearms, as well as an explorer, author, and conservationist, bought Cromwell Island. Before he passed in 2016, he and his wife, Anne, had started construction on an impressive structure featuring over 45,000 square feet of living space intended for their main home. Even though it’s unfinished, the building’s grandeur evokes comparisons to Versailles. The enchantment of Cromwell Island endures, now presented for sale, offering a potential new owner the chance to shape its next chapter. The listing price is $72 million, represented by Bill McDavid of Hall & Hall Partners, LLP.
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