Chico Hot Springs was a highlight of our nine-day, four-state road trip through Idaho, Utah,…read moreWyoming, and Montana...and there were a LOT of highlights. Originally booked as a single night, post-Yellowstone reprieve (I mean, looking at hot springs all day long makes you want to soak in one, right?!), we ended up extending our stay another day, because of how much we all (my wife and I, plus our two toddler tons) loved this place!
The hot springs alone is worth the price of admission: two pools, one smaller and warmer, the other larger and cooler (but still warm enough that there is no temperature shock when shifting between them), with a poolside bar window where you can order cocktails from the attached saloon...that's pretty hard to beat! There's also an attached restaurant, but we didn't get a chance to check it out, as it was closed by the time we returned to the hotel both nights.
There's also the aforementioned saloon, which is open until 11-ish every night (basically, until everyone staggers out), with a wonderful, conversational bartender, Kelby, who was warm, welcoming and engaging: a true gem in an already glittering establishment. He also pointed out their absolutely ABSURD wine selection, indicating the presence of a fabulously stocked wine vault somewhere on site, for those with expensive tastes (not me; I'll stick to my whiskey!).
Rooms are rustic, but comfortable, including the beds. We stayed our first night in a private cabin up on the hill, with two small bedrooms (queen beds in each) and a bathroom. Our second night, all the cabins were filled, so we ended up in a room in the main lodge, on the second floor, which had its own aesthetic perks, as the whole building feels like an inn from a previous century (which, technically, I guess it is...but it feels even older than that, in all the good ways). It's probably also haunted. We hope it is, anyway!
Beyond all these incredible features I've mentioned, there's actually many, many more: an on-site gift shop / café, open from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM every day; there's a day spa up on the hill; you can book horseback rides from the stable near the gift shop; there's a playground for the littles behind the private garden, which appears to be tended by the James Beard award-winning chefs that make the fantastic dining hall an excellent choice for either breakfast/brunch (a buffet at $22/person, and absolutely worth it), or a truly incredible fine dining service in the evening. All those things, and I'm sure I'm probably forgetting or overlooked something.
In short, Chico Hot Springs has something for everyone, young or old, rustic or extravagant: our little sons LOVED the hot springs (as did we, of course), but there's so much more to love here, that it has made a lasting impression on us all. Montana has never had much of a draw for city-slickers like my wife and I, but after our stay here, our ignorance has been thoroughly rectified. VERY recommended.