PureWest - Spanish Peaks

Big Sky Real Estate Listing Statistics at January 1, 2011

Stan Feagler — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 05:44:00 GMT

Big Sky Real Estate Listing Statistics at January 1, 2011

On January 1, 2011 there were a total of 359 listings in Big Sky and the Gallatin Canyon for a total listing volume of $338.9 million. Average days on market continued to be close to a year at 336 days.

Of the total listings, 222 are condos, 133 are single family residences and the remaining 14 are townhomes. Although single family residences represent 36% of the total listings, they represent 62% of the dollar listing volume.

The average listing price is $919K but the median price is substantially lower at $579K due to the large number of lower price condos making included in total listings. The average single family home is $1.59 million whereas the average condo lists for $533K.

Condo	Townhome	Single Family	All Listings
Number of Listings	222	14	133	369
Percent	60%	4%	36%	100%
Total Listing Volume in Millions	$118.5	$8.8	$211.7	$338.9
Percent	35%	3%	62%	100%
Average Listing Price	$533,685	$625,071	$1,591,866	$918,556
Median Listing Price	$375,000	$648,000	$999,000	$579,000
Average Days on Market	358	231	311	336

The following shows the number of listings by price category for Big Sky condos, townhomes and single family residences. The number of single family homes is evenly distributed around the average price of $1.5 million with 62% of the listings falling between $500k and $2.0 million.

Approximately 40% of condo listings are below $300K and only 12% fall above one million. Almost two thirds of the listed condos are priced at under $500K.

Only 3% of single family homes are priced under $300K while 50% are priced at over one million. The lion share of luxury homes are listings in Moonlight Basin and Spanish Peaks Club.

					Single		All
	Condo	%	Townhome	%	Family	%	Listings	%
0 to $300K	91	*41%*	0	0%	4	3%	95	*26%*
$300K to $500k	48	22%	3	21%	14	11%	65	18%
$500k to $750K	39	18%	9	64%	25	19%	73	20%
$750K to $1.0MM	17	8%	2	14%	24	18%	43	12%
$1.0MM to $1.5MM	12	5%			16	12%	28	8%
$1.5MM to $2.0MM	13	6%			18	14%	31	8%
$2MM to $3MM	2	1%			13	10%	15	4%
$3MM to $5MM					15	11%	15	4%
Over $5MM					4	3%	4	1%
Total	222	*100%*	14	*100%*	133	*100%*	369	*100%*

Spanish Peaks a "Featured Destination" by Houston Lifestyles Magazine reposted by Jason Frey

Jason Frey — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:32:00 GMT

THE CLUB AT SPANISH PEAKS OFFERS BIG FUN IN BIG SKY

Big Sky, Montana: Pure and simple. Natural and unspoiled. The quintessential American wilderness. Roughly four million acres of National Forest, designated wilderness and national parks define Big Sky and in the midst of this gem of unblemished wild country sits The Club at Spanish Peaks. The Club is a 5,700-acre private enclave in a very privileged neighborhood; however, make no mistake, every visitor to this amazing resort will receive a genuine Montana experience, unpretentious and authentic, even down to the architecture and amenities.

Geographically, it is sheer isolation — with easy access. To the west stretches the vast Lee-Metcalf Wilderness. To the south awaits the awe-inspiring grandeur of Yellowstone National Park, to the north the Gallatin National Forest and the Spanish Peaks, and right next door, one private lift away, the largest and tallest ski terrain in the U.S. — Big Sky Resort. Yet, less than an hour from the Bozeman airport, The Club at Spanish Peaks is easy to reach. Guests and homeowners agree: this place is impossible to forget for several reasons.

One of the best is the skiing. Not only do these slopes rival anything you’ve ever experienced at your favorite ski resort, many believe it is better. For one thing, Big Sky skiing is less crowded. A ski pass here gets you more skiable acreage with a lighter population of skiers than anywhere in the United States. To put things in perspective, on a big day, Vail may have 25,000 skiers vying for space on the slopes; Big Sky (on its biggest day) will have perhaps 5,000 skiers on more skiable acreage.

Additionally, the slopes are phenomenal, and there are runs for every level of ability. Unlike many popular resorts, here you’ll find tons of beginner and intermediate slopes — boulevards and long runs that are wide open and packed with great powder. Advanced skiers won’t be disappointed either. Plenty of challenging black slopes with twists and turns and moguls and jumps allow chances to catch plenty of air.

If you love golf as much as skiing, don’t worry. You won’t have to split your passions. The Club at Spanish Peaks offers you opportunities to nurture both. Course designer Tom Weiskopf declares the course at Spanish Peaks “golf in a true alpine environment.” By design and by virtue of the gently rolling alpine meadows, the course has become one of the best in the Rocky Mountains. Travel and Leisure Golf ranked the course No. 7 in its 2009 January/ February issue; Golf Digest ranked the course No. 1 in Montana as voted by the magazine’s course panelists; Golf Digest ranked The Club at Spanish Peaks No. 2 in the country for best new private golf courses for 2009.

The consensus speaks volumes, and when you play the course, you’ll understand the buzz. Fairways transition beautifully to flowering alpine meadows. Most holes are free of home sites, providing pristine, 40-mile views. Once you take your eyes off the view and concentrate on the game, you’ll find a par-72, 7,200-yard course that is both challenging and infinitely enjoyable for players of all abilities.

In addition to offering one of Montana’s very best skiing/golf/sporting club experiences, Big Sky’s Spanish Peaks community is also one of the few private operators licensed to take guests overnight into nearby Yellowstone National Park on horseback. Book a two-, three- or four-night trip into the backcountry of Yellowstone where less than one-tenth of 1 percent of tourists to Yellowstone ever visit. You will venture deep into the national park guided by the trusted, knowledgeable staff of Spanish Peaks.

Developer Dean Genge admits that Spanish Peaks is a unique place due to its popularity with families and its unpretentious approach to resort vacations and resort living. Given the variety of activities that are available, this is no surprise. Genge says, “Authenticity and unpretentiousness have been the bedrock values of this community from its inception, and all of our members reflect these values. Though our members are all accomplished and successful in their own right, each is dedicated to preserving the core experience, which is a focus on family.”

“The Club at Spanish Peaks,” Genge continues, “is luxurious and well-appointed by anyone’s definition, but it’s also calmer than many comparable destinations — less society, yet more social; a good feeling place; not to see and be seen, but to go and have a great family vacation.”

Luxurious and well appointed, it is. The architecture of the community is consistent and reminiscent of old, northern, Rocky Mountain lodges. Genge stresses, “Not faux European or hi-rise stacked condominiums, but very much a log and timber stone expression.” The buildings are meant to be indigenous and grounded, as if they sprung up organically, and the central gathering place of the community is the 32,000- square-foot clubhouse. The ultimate in mountain retreat convenience, booking a suite in the clubhouse lets you play all day to your heart’s content, with the knowledge that when you are done, you are only steps away from a snug and peaceful night’s sleep. Both grand and grounded, the clubhouse sets the tone of the Spanish Peaks lifestyle.

You can simply sink into one of the sumptuous leather chairs overlooking the Spanish Peaks mountain range after a thrilling day outdoors. Or you may choose to stop by for some “19th hole” story-swapping in the handsome lounge. Need some gear? Visit the sports shop for the latest equipment and apparel. It’s all right here, your own private sanctuary just a few steps from the high-speed quad and the 18th green.

If you desire more private lodging opportunities, there are homes on the property and each is privately owned, with many available for rental. Currently, a number of cabins are scattered throughout the private valley, ranging in size from three to six bedrooms. Additionally, there are custom homes available for sale or rental — up to seven bedrooms — for large family gatherings. Each single-family residence is convenient to the clubhouse and ski lifts, and each is beautifully and lavishly appointed.

Of course, if you are staying in a home, you may choose to dine in; however, should you decide to take the family out for dinner, you have equally inviting options. The Clubhouse offers casual fare in the Pub or mouth-watering alpine cuisine in the Main Dining Room. For a distinctive evening, gather your group and dine in the Clubhouse Wine Room, a 1,300-bottle wine cellar and tasting room.

For the more adventurous, Sacajawea Camp, located at the bottom of Big Sky’s ski terrain, is a sanctuary. The yurt-style mountain camp has warm fireplaces, comfy leather couches and first-class, on-mountain dining. While it may seem
surprising that such fine cuisine can be presented in the wilderness, the Sacajawea Camp staff puts together perfection. Also, getting there is half the fun. Four draft horses pull sleighs full of hungry riders to and from the site with bells jingling and the Milky Way zooming overhead down the tree-lined ride. No wonder Sacajawea Camp is a favorite!

Obviously The Club at Spanish Peaks offers a great family vacation experience — one that is truly unique. However, it is above all a private club and visitation is exclusive to members, guests of members or guests of the club. If you are interested in learning more about the lifestyle opportunities of this wonderful wild wilderness retreat, contact The Club directly and obtain an invitation to visit.

For more information, call 406-993-5400 or visit www.spanish-peaks.com.

By Cheryl Alexander

Big Sky and Spanish Peaks Resort in Fight over Lone Peak

Stan Feagler — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:49:00 GMT

Land disputes in the Gallatin Valley, Montana going back the formation of Yellostone Club, Spanish Peaks and Big Sky Resort in the early 1990's. While the 15 acres of Lone Peak are a small percentage of the land swaps that gave rise the Big Sky's biggest resorts, Lone Peak is a land mark for the Big Sky area making it more than just a mountain.

Article from Bozeman Chronicle: A Madison County jury has ruled in favor of Big Sky Resort in a lawsuit that pitted some of the biggest names in Big Sky against each other in a bout over who should own a Lone Mountain at 11,000 feet high.

A jury ruled that Boyne USA, the Michigan company that owns and operates Big Sky Resort, is the rightful owner of the 15-acre parcel of land on Lone Mountain.

As it stands, owners of the upscale Club at Spanish Peaks hold title to the land that skiers would recognize as the upper portion of Liberty Bowl, a popular destination and scenic location for Montana's expert skiers.

During a weeklong trial in Virginia City in November, lawyers for Boyne argued that Spanish Peaks Development was trying to use the small piece of land as a bargaining chip as it negotiated and litigated with Boyne.

"This is a piece of property they have no access to," David Wagner, the lawyer representing Boyne, explained this week. "There's got to be another motive to make this an issue."

Boyne's lawyers argued that the land should have come into Boyne's possession years ago. The jury agreed.

A lawyer for Spanish Peaks Development declined to comment on the case, because there are still some aspects of the case that Madison County District Judge Loren Tucker must rule on.

The dispute dates back to 1998, when Big Sky Resort and Tim Blixseth's Big Sky Lumber negotiated a deal in conjunction with the timber company's large land swap with the Gallatin National Forest.

The land swap gave Blixseth the real estate that would become the Yellowstone Club and developer James Dolan the land where he would build the Club at Spanish Peaks. But the swap also gave Dolan and Blixseth the 15 acres on Lone Mountain.

In the 1998 agreement, Boyne agreed not to object to the deal as long as Big Sky Lumber turned around and sold the 15 acres to the resort company in exchange for land and cash.

But while the land swap occurred and both the Yellowstone Club and the Club and Spanish Peaks sprouted up, Boyne was never given a chance to buy the peak property, the company's lawyers argued in court.

In the meantime, Spanish Peaks Development took full control of the property and argued that Boyne had not held up its end of the agreement, thus releasing Spanish Peaks from the contract.

However, the jury ruled that Spanish Peaks Development was in breach of contract and recommended that it pay Boyne $600,000 in damage

Stan Feagler

PureWest - Christie's Great Estates

Local Montana Area 3rd Highest November in History

PureWest Blogger — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 06:48:00 GMT

BILLINGS - Sunday's heavy snowfall landed this November as one of the snowiest on record for the city of Billings. Total accumulation ranged anywhere from 4 inches in Laurel to 13 inches in some parts of Billings.

Monday, dozens of people fought to save their vehicles from the grasp of heavy snow.

"I think the unusual part is that we've seen it all in the last ten days and so its been a pretty snowy stretch, no doubt about it," explained National Weather Service Meteorologist Joe Lester.

Lester said it is so much snow, this November is now ranked the 3rd snowiest November in Billings' history. "We've had a lot of snowy and cold Octobers lately, but this year it was just the opposite. We had a warm October, a war first part of November and then the cold and snow his so it's a little different then what we've seen in recent years," Lester said.

It's been 32 years since Billings has seen this much snow in November. The snowfall record was set back in 1978 with a total accumulation of 25.2 inches. This November, 21.3 inches of snow has fallen in the Billings area. That's just under the 2nd place record of 21.9 inches reported in 1959.

But Billings isn't the only city seeing an increase in the amount of snow flurries. Lester said Missoula, Great Falls and a large portion of Northeastern Montana have also reported above average snow fall. "The mountains have gotten a lot of snow over the last ten days and so really I think it's fair to say the entire state has been pretty cold and pretty snowy."

But Lester said to look on the bright side. Montana's unpredictable weather could change. "The nature of our weather in southeastern Montana is that we bounce everywhere and I think that's still the case. We've had a real snowy ten days, what its going to be like in December is really hard to say."

El Nino/La Nina Impacts on Ski Resorts and Link to Big Sky

PureWest Blogger — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 06:41:00 GMT

El Nino/La Nina Defined and Ski Areas Favored by El Nino

The El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been studied extensively for its impacts upon climate. The shorthand definition of El Nino is an abnormal warming of the normally cold ocean waters of the Humboldt Current off the coast of Peru. A more formal measure used by many meteorologists is The Multivariate ENSO Index , which tracks both sea and air temperatures along with wind, pressure and cloud cover across the tropical Pacific. The data is combined and normalized to a monthly value where +1 = one standard deviation above normal (El Nino condition) and -1 = one standard deviation below normal (La Nina condition). I'll refer from now on to the MEI index, which is graphed below since 1950:

As most of us have observed, skilled weather forecasting has become very accurate in the short term, very useful for storm-chasing 3-5 days out, but more speculative beyond a week. Beyond 2 weeks I find it more useful to rely on historical records. El Nino/La Nina is the exception to this rule of thumb because the condition tends to persist for several months at a time. I have examined the monthly MEI table, which is used in the graph above and is updated with about a 1.5 month lag. With over 700 monthly values since 1950, each month's MEI index can be correlated with the index 1, 2, 3, etc. months in the future to demonstrate how likely an El Nino or La Nina condition might persist. Results are shown here:

Persistence of El Nino/La Nina
1 month:	96%	13 months:	1%
2 months:	89%	14 months:	-3%
3 months:	81%	15 months:	-6%
4 months:	71%	16 months:	-8%
5 months:	62%	17 months:	-10%
6 months:	52%	18 months:	-11%
7 months:	43%	21 months:	-13%
8 months:	34%	24 months:	-11%
9 months:	26%	27 months:	-9%
10 months:	18%	30 months:	-6%
11 months:	12%	33 months:	-3%
12 months:	6%	36 months:	0%

When I first wrote this article on 11/21/07 the last posted value of MEI was -1.117 for SEP/OCT 2007, and I expressed strong confidence that the observed La Nina condition would be in effect through the end of 2007, and some confidence that it would persist for the entire 2007-08 ski season. Notice that there is a very mild tendency for El Nino/La Nina to reverse itself 15-30 months in the future (think of a bathtub sloshing one side to the other), and only after 3 years do all effects of prior conditions disappear. It turned out that La Nina remained strong (2007-08 was 4th highest La Nina in the past 44 years) through FEB/MAR 2008, then dissipated over the next 3 months to a neutral value of +0.050 as of MAY/JUN 2008. Similarly the El Nino of 2009-10 was strong through FEB/MAR (the 6th highest El Nino in the past 44 years), but has swung radically to a very high La Nina value of -1.99 as of AUG/SEP 2010. The northern spring months are the historically most likely time for an El Nino or La Nina to break up, so there is strong confidence that the current La Nina will persist through the northern winter season of 2010-11.

While we have established that El Nino/La Nina are persistent weather events, their effects upon ski area snowfall are less clear-cut. I have correlated the monthly MEI table with all of the monthly snowfall data I have collected through 2010, and the list of ski areas with statistically significant snowfall sensitivity to El Nino/La Nina is much shorter than most people think.

The monthly correlations are not large enough to have much predictive value. But by combining 6 consecutive months together to form seasonal data, the correlations for some areas get into the 50% range. This fits with observed experience that in big El Nino or La Nina years the expected effects occur from time to time but not consistently. So I considered the seasonal correlations to be the main criteria in classifying areas. Not all areas provide complete November to April data, and I like to have 20+ seasons to draw conclusions.

For areas without enough complete seasons I looked at the monthly correlations, but also at the seasonal ones for nearby areas with many complete seasons. For example Sugar Bowl is likely to be affected similarly to nearby Donner Summit and Alpine Meadows. It is important to realize that season correlations based upon 15-40 data points have much more uncertainty than the El Nino/La Nina persistence correlations based upon over 700 data points.

The list of ski areas favored by El Nino, along with their monthly and season correlations to the MEI index, is shown below:

Area	Monthly	Seasonal	Seasons

Strongly favored by El Nino
Southern California Composite 7,000 - 8,000	22.3%	52.8%	35
Arizona Snowbowl 1, Ariz. 9,500	21.9%	55.4%	19
Brian Head, Utah 9,770	20.5%	49.6%	19
Arizona Snowbowl 2, Ariz. 10,800	19.6%	48.0%	20
Portillo, Chile 9,400		44.9%	38
Las Lenas, Argentina 7,400	19.5%	44.9%	24

Mildly favored by El Nino
June Mtn, Calif. 8,700	19.8%
Taos, N. Mex. 11,200	13.3%	27.2%	38
Thompson Pass (Chugach), Alaska 2,450	12.6%	38.1%	20
Mammoth Mtn, Calif. 9,600 or 8,900	11.9%	28.6%	42

El Nino strongly favors only Southern California, Arizona and far southern Utah, with milder effects extending to the southern Sierra and New Mexico. In El Nino years the only big destination resorts that are favored are Mammoth and Taos, with both of those in the mild category. In La Nina years Mammoth is likely still good for mid and late season, but earlier bookings should wait until snow is on the ground. Taos takes until nearly February to get fully covered in normal years, and skiers should be more wary during La Nina years. The data I acquired for Las Lenas in 2005 and Portillo in 2007 support the prevailing view that the high Andes are strongly favored by El Nino. Advance bookings to these lower latitude South American ski areas (also the Valle Nevado group) should be avoided in La Nina years until snow is on the ground.

I have constructed graphs to illustrate the variability of the snowfall correlations to El Nino/La Nina. The one below is for selected areas favorable to El Nino. Since the 2 strongest La Nina years were 1973-74 and 1970-71, I select areas with data that goes back that far.

The horizontal axis lists the past 44 ski seasons in order of strong El Nino at left to strong La Nina at right. The vertical axis is percent deviation from normal snowfall. The blue line is the sum of MEI indicies from OCT/NOV to APR/MAY, scaled to fit the graph.

The purple line shows the dramatic boost to Southern California snowfall from El Nino, with the 2 biggest snow years correponding to the 2 big El Nino of 1982-83 and 1997-98. 5 of the top 7 El Ninos produced at least 170% of normal snow. There are no guarantees even here, as the #4 season 1986-87 was a real stinker at only 59%. The top 8 La Nina seasons were all below average in Southern California, though only one was lower than 77%.

Moving to Taos (yellow line) the effect is less dramatic. The 2 big El Ninos were 116% and 118% of average, while Taos' record 1972-73 season at 174% was in the 5th highest El Nino year. But only 1991-92 of the top 7 EL Nino years was below average at Taos, and that one was still 94% of average. For the top 8 La Nina years, Taos is missing data for 1970-71, 1974-75 was a good year at 138% and 2007-08 above average. 1999-2000 was bad at 58% and the other 4 were below average in the 85% range.

In the Sierra the picture is mixed. Everyone remembers the record Sierra snow during the record El Nino of 1982-83. But the 3rd and 4th strongest El Ninos (1991-92 and 1986-87) were severe drought years at Tahoe, and 1986-87 was Mammoth's second worst season ever at 42%. Nonetheless 5 of the top 8 El Nino years (1982-83, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1997-98 and 2009-10) were at least 145% at Mammoth (orange line) and those same years were at least 125% at Donner Summit (light blue line) and Lake Tahoe.

At Mammoth the top 6 La Nina seasons were all below average, 3 of them by 30% or more. At Donner Summit it's a different story, as the top 2 La Ninas and 5 of the top 8 are above average. Lake Tahoe La Nina seasons are probably assisted by colder temperatures minimizing low elevation rain. This relatively good La Nina track record is the reason that the MEI correlations are low and statistically insignificant for areas like Kirkwood, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows.

Spanish Peaks from Calgary Herald

PureWest Blogger — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 22:47:00 GMT

The Club at Spanish Peaks is the gateway to the ski slopes of Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin near Big Sky, Mont.

The community also boasts a private, 18-hole Tom Weiskopf Signature golf course and kilometres of private world-class fly fishing, says a news release.

All-season amenities include horseback riding, white-water rafting, hiking, biking and Yellowstone, the world's first national park.

The Club at Spanish Peaks has more than 2,300 hectares, 70 per cent of which are preserved as open space. The development's website.

There are currently 254 members, and 86 homes and cabins are either completed, under construction or in the approvals process.

For more information, visit www.spanish-peaks.com.

Spanish Peaks and Big Sky Battle over Lone Peak

PureWest Blogger — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 22:32:00 GMT

A Madison County jury has ruled in favor of Big Sky Resort in a lawsuit that pitted some of the biggest names in Big Sky against each other in a bout over who should own a piece of land at 11,000 feet high.

A jury ruled that Boyne USA, the Michigan company that owns and operates Big Sky Resort, is the rightful owner of the 15-acre parcel of land on Lone Mountain.

As it stands, owners of the swanky Club at Spanish Peaks hold title to the land that skiers would recognize as the upper portion of Liberty Bowl.

During a weeklong trial in Virginia City in November, Boyne's lawyers argued that Spanish Peaks Development was trying to use the small piece of land as a bargaining chip as it negotiated and litigated with Boyne.

"This is a piece of property they have no access to," David Wagner, the lawyer representing Boyne, explained this week. "There's got to be another motive to make this an issue."

Boyne's lawyers argued that the land should have come into Boyne's possession years ago. The jury agreed.

A lawyer for Spanish Peaks Development declined to comment on the case, because there are still some aspects of the case that Madison County District Judge Loren Tucker must rule on.

The dispute dates back to 1998, when Big Sky Resort and Tim Blixseth's Big Sky Lumber negotiated a deal in conjunction with the timber company's large land swap with the Gallatin National Forest.

In the 1998 agreement, Boyne agreed not to object to the deal as long as Big Sky Lumber turned around and sold the 15 acres to the resort company in exchange for land and cash.

In the meantime, Spanish Peaks Development took full control of the property and argued that Boyne had not held up its end of the agreement, thus releasing Spanish Peaks from the contract.

However, the jury ruled that Spanish Peaks Development was in breach of contract and recommended that it pay Boyne $600,000 in damages.

Daniel Person can be reached at dperson@dailychronicle.com or 582-2665

Montana Resorts Named in "Ten Ski Resorts Perfect for Families"

Jason Frey — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:35:00 GMT

Big Sky, Montana
When skiers discuss really big ski areas in America, the conversation usually turns to Colorado's Vail or Utah's Park City. Rarely does Montana figure into the conversation. Yet the biggest single ski site in the U.S. is a hop, skip and a jump from Yellowstone National Park in the southeastern corner of the state. Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin, two ski areas operating on opposite faces of 11,166-foot-high Lone Mountain teamed up in 2006 to offer a combined lift ticket that covers 5,512 acres, edging out Vail as the largest ski area in the country. But unlike Vail, which reports over 1.5 million skier visits annually, these Montana twins total less than 350,000 a year. Families come to this part of the world to leave the hectic pace of modernity behind and breathe in the crisp, fresh air. Kids will enjoy the quiet runs, dog-rescue demonstrations and on-mountain scavenger hunts. Parents will relish the "ski in, ski out" properties, where you can swoosh right up to your lodging. An added bonus is the one-hour drive to Yellowstone to cross-country ski or snowshoe with the wild bison, elk and moose in winter.

Big Sky Development named in "Pet Friendly" Article

Jason Frey — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:37:00 GMT

Pets, especially dogs, have never been as big a part of the family as they are today.

From sitters to spas, massages and antidepressants, people spare no expense when it comes to their pets — even during tough economic times. Americans will spend $47.7 billion on their pets this year, up from $45.5 billion last year, the American Pet Product Association estimates. Almost two-thirds of U.S. households, 62%, have a pet, according to the most recent National Pet Owners Survey. That's some 71.4 million homes — and about 45% of the pets are dogs, the survey finds.

Any wonder that the search for second homes includes pet accommodations? Developers of second homes and real estate agents are taking that into consideration. Realty firms that specialize in pet-friendly sales can now be found in most major cities.

"Many of our clients refuse to even travel to look at potential properties without bringing their four-legged friends," says Marian Schaffer, owner of Southeast Discovery, a realty and consultancy firm that specializes in retirement and second homes — and spots pet-friendly ones.

"Developers are starting to recognize dog parks as an important amenity," Schaffer says. "We visit over 100 communities annually, and we're seeing more and more parks. At Rarity Bay in (Vonore) Tennessee, the dog park has its own website. I've never seen a community with a dog park website before, and that shows the current level of interest."

People take their pets, especially dogs, with them when they travel. Hotels have become more pet friendly. Cars, like the Honda Element SUV, are advertised as dog-friendly. Second-home communities are embracing pet owners, too, and making pet amenities selling points.

Schaffer describes two main types of second-home amenities: "natural" ones and "purposeful" ones.

The "natural" amenities include lakes and trail networks, which are exploding in popularity. "While golf is still the premier amenity, the No. 1 facility being requested now is hiking and walking trails," she says. "Walking is the most popular form of exercise, and a dog goes hand-in-hand with that."

The Club at Spanish Peaks, a luxury community in Big Sky, Mont., offer six miles of trails, encourages pet use, and in winter grooms a 2.6-mile "canine cross country" ski trail.

The most common of the "purposeful" dog-friendly amenities is a dog park, a fenced area where dogs can run, play and sometimes swim. But some communities offer more. Palmetto Bluff, a community near Hilton Head, S.C., has a dog weekend with games and "American Fido," its version of Fox's American Idol. The Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla., has a veterinary center. Dogs aren't the only animals catered to. Hidden Meadow Ranch in Greer, Ariz., has a BYOH — Bring Your Own Horse — program that includes stalls, feed and pasture time for $30 a night.

A look at three pet-friendly second-home options

• The Southeast. Facilities especially designed for pets in planned communities are most common in the Southeast. Rarity Bay in Vonore, Tenn., has a large dog park, a 960-acre pet-friendly lake, and planned events and activities for pets and owners. South Carolina's Reserve at Lake Keowee has a large dog park, plus 5 miles of pet-friendly trails, 1,400 acres of open space and an extensive shoreline. Hampton Lake in Bluffton, S.C., has a waterfront "Dogpaddle Park" with picnic tables. It recently hosted a pet-party fundraiser to buy a new patrol dog for the local police K-9 team. There are eight Cliffs Communities developments in the Carolinas, and all have extensive trails open to pets. The Cliffs and many other private communities also allow dogs to partake in club activities such as boating.

• The West. Many ranch and ski-resort communities are dog-friendly. Although dedicated facilities haven't caught on as quickly as in the Southeast, the West offers plenty of natural amenities for pets, especially trails like the extensive ones at The Club at Spanish Peaks in Montana. Calistoga Ranch in California's Napa Valley is one of the most friendly second-home communities that offers fractional ownership. It won the 2008 Top Dog award from PAW (Pet-friendly Accommodations Worldwide, a hotel booking site). It stocks units with pet beds and accessories, offers a chef-cooked canine menu and provides owners with a list of dog-friendly wineries they can visit with their best friends. When Men's Health magazine recently rated the top 10 best cities for dogs, it found nine in the West.

• Cities. Public dog parks are increasingly common in cities, and new condos are often built with pet patios. The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons in Phoenix has a private pet park and access to a community trail system. Some cities consistently receive high marks for dog friendliness, including Provincetown, Mass., Carmel, Calif., and Colorado Springs. San Diego was the top-ranked large city by both Forbes.com and DogFriendly.com, largely for its beautiful, dog-friendly beaches. Dogs can even take surfing lessons there. Other cities known for being pet-friendly: Portland, Ore., has more than 30 public dog parks. Austin has an abundance of large dog parks that often include lakes — 122 acres per 1,000 dogs, according to Forbes.com. Austin's new Austonian, the tallest residential building in Texas, has a private dog park on a 10th-floor terrace. The residences at the Four Seasons Seattle, in another highly rated dog-friendly city, are another high-rise with a private pet terrace.

Southeast Discovery

Courtesy of Lynn Donaldson

Club at Spanish Peaks offers Fine Dining

Jason Frey — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:29:00 GMT

After a wonderful, activity-filled day, settle into one of the Club's dining venues and enjoy cuisine as fantastic as the scenery. The Clubhouse, located at the center of the community, reflects a classic mountain lodge and is home multiple dining options from casual fare in the Pub, to mouth watering tasting menus in the Main Dining Room. For a unique evening, gather your group and dine in the Clubhouse Wine Room, a 1,300-bottle wine cellar and tasting room.

For the more adventurous, Sacajawea Camp, located at the bottom of Big Sky's ski terrain, is the members-only sanctuary, welcoming weary skiers and snowboarders. The yurt-style mountain camp has warm fireplaces, comfy leather couches and first-class, on-mountain dining. While it may seem surprising that such fine cuisine can be presented in the wilderness, the Sacajawea Camp staff puts together perfection.

Come nightfall, Sacajawea Camp transforms into a magical setting and a memorable adventure. After enjoying a cup of hot apple cider in the Clubhouse, board a horse-drawn, Montana-crafted sleigh for a ride through the pines to the welcoming mountain camp. Following drinks in the warm living room, family and friends gather for a sumptuous dinner. Cozy under blankets on the sleighs after dinner, the conversation and caroling complete a perfect evening.

For reservations please call (406) 993-5900.