A Legacy of Wilderness Elegance
The Playground of Copper Kings
In the heart of Montana’s Swan Lake Valley, tucked between whispering pines and the mirror-still waters of Swan Lake, lies Six Mile Estate—once the private playground of Montana’s elite and now a rare, lovingly preserved piece of Western heritage. This story begins in the roaring 1930s, when the region had already become a secluded wilderness haven for the Copper Kings—specifically John Denis Ryan, the powerful president of Anaconda Copper Mining Company and co-founder of the Montana Power Company.
Ryan, remembered as “Montana’s most valuable citizen,” purchased 6,000 acres of pristine wilderness and laid the foundation for what would become a lavish summer escape. Though he died before construction began, his legacy lived on through his son, John Carlos Ryan, and Carlos’s wife, Marjorie, who oversaw the creation of the Estate. Marjorie, an artist from Cape Cod, designed much of the estate herself, imbuing it with elegance, imagination, and a rustic charm that endures to this day.
A Socialite’s Summer Dream
Construction began in 1936 under the supervision of master builder Ward Whitney of Bigfork, MT, and architect Walter Arnold from Butte. Incredibly, all 13 buildings—lodges, cabins, dormitories, and cottages—rose simultaneously, completed in less than two years by a workforce of over 70 craftsmen. Electricity was extended to the property from nearby Kelley-Evans Estate, and stone for patios and fireplaces was hauled from the north banks of the Swan River. With no modern tools, almost everything was handcrafted—including fireplace screens, ceiling moldings, and interior details in the elegant Art Deco style.
The result was a stunning compound that balanced wilderness beauty with high society luxury: every cabin with its own tiled bathroom and fireplace, every child given their own lakeview retreat, and every evening requiring formal dress for dinner in the wood-paneled lodge.
Living Large in the Last Best Place
During its heyday, Six Mile Estate was nothing short of opulent. The Ryans maintained a staff worthy of a European chateau: seven carpenters, 10 to 15 gardeners, two maids, two cooks with assistants, a butler, and multiple chauffeurs. Guests arrived in Bentleys and Jaguars, dined under the glow of chandeliers, danced to live bands, and explored the lake on the family’s classic Chris-Craft boat, the Sea Biscuit—which still graces Swan Lake today.
Lavish parties were the norm, with wild ferns, fresh-cut flowers, and the Ryan’s loyal Scottish terriers fed on steak. The Whitney children, living in the caretaker’s cabin, were folded into this wonderland. Wayne Whitney recalls Mrs. Ryan bringing him gifts and seating him at the head table beside her during formal dinners—a memory etched into the estate’s storied past.
From Wartime Silence to Bankruptcy Blues
World War II brought an end to the revelry. From 1945 to 1965, Six Mile Estate sat largely unused, maintained only by a caretaker named “Chubb” Brown. In the 1960s, H. Duane Harvey purchased the property with dreams of turning it into a resort, complete with live performances from legendary vocal group The Ink Spots. But lacking a liquor license, Harvey’s vision faltered. He went bankrupt in the early 1970s, leaving the property to a Kalispell bank and halting plans to develop the surrounding acres.
Rediscovery and Revival
In 1975, Bunts Watkins discovered Six Mile Estate while scouting property in the Swan Range. Captivated by its natural beauty and historical significance, he assembled a partnership of family members and longtime friends—many from Havre, Montana—to acquire the property. The founding partners of Six Mile Estate held their first official meeting on March 13, 1976, at Bob’s House of Ribs in Havre, with 33 people in attendance. Today, only four of the original partners remain, while the descendants of that original group continue to steward the estate with deep reverence. Under their care, Six Mile has not been redeveloped or reimagined—it has been faithfully preserved. For nearly 50 years, the property has remained as it was: majestic, secluded, and remarkably unchanged since 1938.
Every stone porch, every custom fireplace, every chambered ceiling tells the story of a forgotten Montana aristocracy—of a time when people dressed for dinner, built with intention, and embraced the wilderness with elegance.
A Living Museum of Montana History
Today, the next generation of partners is stronger than ever—bound by the vision of their predecessors and a deep, shared love for Six Mile Estate and the place it holds in their hearts. Many have celebrated their own weddings on the property, continuing a cherished tradition that now spans decades. And each Memorial Day Weekend, since the partnership first came together under Bunts’ leadership, they return—rain, snow, or shine—for a hands-on weekend of care, restoration, and community to prepare for the busy summer season. It’s not just maintenance—it’s a labor of love.
Six Mile Estate remains a testament to enduring craftsmanship and timeless design. The buildings have changed little in nearly a century, and the surrounding land is still free from the reach of modern development. Here, the past is not forgotten—it’s lived in. It’s felt in the stonework, the pine-scented air, and the laughter of children playing along the same shores their grandparents once did.
This is more than a piece of Montana history—it’s a legacy of connection, beauty, and belonging. And there is, quite simply, nothing else like it.