An NFL Legend’s Custom Vacation Retreat in Montana Is Heading to Auction This Month
Last year, Drew Brees partnered up with Animal Planet’s reality TV series Treehouse Masters to create a deluxe mountain getaway in northwest Montana, about 13 miles north of the small resort town of Whitefish. The former NFL quarterback had originally planned to build another home on the site before he decided otherwise and hoisted an already completed guesthouse up for sale at the start of the year with a nearly $8 million price tag.
Since then, the price dipped to $7.5 million, and now, with the place remaining unsold, listing agent Sean Averill of PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate has opted to put the entire 20-acre spread in the exclusive gated Homestead community under the gavel via Concierge Auctions, with bids expected to start between $2 million and $4 million. Per the listing, “the offering includes multiple building sites, allowing the new owner to build and create their own dream estate.”
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Originally conceived as a guesthouse to accompany a main residence that never came to fruition, the double A-frame, wood-sided structure is known as the On the Rocks Ranch Treehouse and elevated 15 feet above ground. Once inside, four bedrooms and two baths can be found in 1,700 square feet of living space boasting a mix of Douglas fir and whitewashed oak floors, natural hemlock paneling, high wood-beam ceilings, and walls of glass throughout.
Highlights of the house, which comes fully furnished, include an entry door crafted from salvaged redwood culled from California water tanks, plus a double-height living room sporting a ceiling supported by cables and French doors opening to deck with a large propane fire pit and picturesque views of the Whitefish Mountains and Glacier National Park beyond. The dining area comes with a live-edge wood table and an eat-in kitchen is outfitted with concrete countertops, a decorative tile backsplash, a farmhouse sink, stainless appliances, and a wine fridge.
A trio of windowed sleeping lofts includes one that’s currently set up as a yoga space, while a primary main-floor bedroom hosting a Juliet balcony and a bespoke closet sits across the hall from a bath that has dual vanities, a freestanding soaking tub, and a glass-encased shower. Rounding it all out is a lengthy roster of community amenities and activities, which include hiking and biking trails, equestrian facilities, a shooting and archery range, and access to two lakes where residents can fish, kayak, and paddle board. In the winter, there’s skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort about 20 miles away.
“This treehouse is a personal sanctuary where our family could escape to nature and enjoy the peace and freedom of the Montana wilderness while having access to all the amenities of the Homestead community at our fingertips when needed,” Brees said in a press statement. “We worked meticulously on every detail with Pete Nelson and Treehouse Masters to create a truly one-of-a-kind treehouse experience. This fulfilled a childhood dream. It’s a special place. ”
Brees retired in 2021 after a 20-year career in the NFL, the last 15 spent with the New Orleans Saints, where he led the team to nine playoff appearances, seven division titles, and the Super Bowl XLIV championship, where he was named MVP. As first reported by the New York Post, the future Hall of Famer doesn’t plan to leave Montana completely, as he reportedly owns a ranch there.
Private previews of the property are available upon request, with bidding for the no-reserve auction set to run online from Sept. 12-26 and then end live Sept. 27 in Hong Kong as part of Concierge Auctions’ global sales series. A $100,000 bidder deposit is required.
Click here for more photos of Drew Brees’s Montana Getaway.
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