A few miles south of Polebridge, past pavement, past cell service, sits a bar, restaurant and music venue running almost entirely on solar power - and serving some of the best food in the Flathead. In this episode of Side Tracks, Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman visits Home Ranch Bottoms to talk with owners Flannery and Dan what it takes to run a business at the end of the North Fork Road.

Inside the kitchen, chef Gabby walks Taylor through the Montana Bowl, a vegan farro and lentil dish built from herbs, produce and even stevia sourced from neighbors up the North Fork Road - a reflection of how much the restaurant leans on what the North Fork itself can provide.

Flannery and Dan bought Home Ranch Bottoms on a New Year's Day tip in 2021, betting that music and baking - the two things they already knew - could turn a stalled pandemic year into something worth building. Six years later, that bet has grown into a gathering spot for a community Flannery describes as bound together by remoteness and self-sufficiency: neighbors who trade rhubarb and herbs for meals, touring musicians who stop for multiple nights just to disconnect, and locals who show up because the team knows their names.

Along the way, Flannery shares the property's most infamous chapter - a grizzly bear named Stahr who tore through the building's walls in the 1990s and left claw marks still visible today - and what it means to run a kitchen 90 percent off the grid, where every menu depends on what the North Fork can provide that day.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Heritage Knife Shop. A speakeasy-inspired knife boutique located in downtown Whitefish, built for people who appreciate true craftsmanship. From culinary knives to hunting and everyday carry blades, every piece is thoughtfully selected with purpose and style. They also teamed up with Whitefish's James Beard nominated Chef Earl Reynolds and bladesmith Corey Dunlap to create “The Earl,” a limited-edition knife crafted with the same intention and artistry Earl brings to the kitchen. Learn more at https://www.heritageknifeshop.com/

Northwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Under the Big Sky Festival 2026 brought music fans to Whitefish, Montana from as far as Denver and Billings - and Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman caught up with them on the festival grounds Friday afternoon. In this Side Tracks episode, festival-goers share what brought them to Montana, who they're most excited to see, and the packing lists they swear by for surviving a full day on the lawn.

Northwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Heading to Under the Big Sky Festival 2026 in Whitefish, Montana? Whether it's your first trip to the festival or you're a returning fan, this episode of Side Tracks has everything you need to know before the gates open.

Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman is joined by Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins and Whitefish Pilot Editor Kelsey Evans to break down this year's lineup, including headliners Chris Stapleton, Zach Top and Cody Jinks, plus the can't-miss undercard featuring Old Crow Medicine Show, Marcus King Band, Of Monsters and Men, Stephen Wilson Jr., Leftover Salmon, Jamestown Revival and standout Montana artists.

The trio also shares their favorite festival traditions, insider tips on parking, shuttles, food vendors, VIP perks, aftershows, what to pack, where to sit, how to beat the crowds, and why Under the Big Sky has become one of Montana's premier summer music festivals.

Learn more about Under the Big Sky at underthebigskyfest.com

Watch interviews Taylor had with festivalgoers in 2025: https://youtu.be/luklTL34bnw
Read Derrick's article from last year's festival: https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/jul/20/music-western-wear-take-center-stage-at-under-the-big-sky/
Read Kelsey's story about the light production for Under the Big Sky: https://whitefishpilot.com/news/2026/jul/15/the-glow-behind-the-big-mountain-stage/

Northwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!