Spotlight is a new column written by Susan Kime, an experienced luxury lifestyle journalist. As a guest contributer to Helium Report, Susan will periodically share her insights into various resorts and fractional real estate options. An avid world traveler, Ms. Kime has written over 100 stories for leading luxury publications. Visit her website at http://susankime.com.

Overview

As the name implies, the Hideout Club, takes some effort to get to. But as luxury fractionals go, its remote location is a welcome treat; the club is located on the outskirts of Shell, Wyoming, about 45 minutes east of Cody. Many guests fly their own planes into either the Greybull or Cody airports, and a Hideout Club wrangler drives the guests to the main lodge.

The Hideout Club was conceived by Dave and Paula Flitner, the husband-and-wife owners of the lodge. Surrounding the area are about 300,000 more Flitner family ranching acres. Mr. Flitner carries fourth-generation ranching DNA in his genes – his great-grandfather settled the area. So his idea of creating a private residence club, using the facilities of the Hideout Club, was a natural, experiential progression.

The Residence Club’s members receive a diverse experience, as the members can access of other Hideout facilities – the Upper Hideout and the Trapper Lodges – with personalized adventures and individual wrangler attention. When I was there, two large families were using each lodge for Western-style family reunions. All the activities afforded to the Hideout Club guests are also provided to the Hideout Residence Club members. Members, however, get the added benefits of:

• longer stays
• a personal concierge
• a dedicated chef and wrangler
• personalized ranch/wrangling experiences
• an air shuttle from Billings or Cody
• additional time, space available

Details

The Hideout was created with the sensitive ecosystems of Shell Valley in mind. A portion of the club’s membership dues goes to the Shell Valley Preservation Initiative, a group that leads conservation efforts in the area. The Hideout currently has two residences, with plans for nine more. The membership dues are, at present, $175,000, allowing four weeks per year. There will only be eight members per residence.

How It Looks

The 3,500 square foot destination club residences are freestanding wood and stone textures. An open kitchen, dining and living room area are complimented by two master suites and one large bedroom that could be used for children or other guests. There is an outdoor barbecue pit, with a large stone patio – the members have an unimpeded view of the Shell Valley and the Big Horn mountains. In addition, there are two large flat screen TVs with satellite reception, so the members can still see what is going on in the world, in their hometown, or locally.

On Site Report

I took this trip mainly because I’d heard this club is very popular with Europeans, as its popularity has much to do with living the romantic dream of the American West. The Hideout Club is indeed a working cattle ranch and horseback riding Nirvana. Members and guests often take horseback rides into the Big Horn Mountains, and spend a night or two at the Upper Hideout Lodge, 8,400 ft. above sea level. This lodge is a large, log edifice with separate kitchen quarters, and an outdoor barbecue and dining area.

From most rooms – all with wrap around terraces – you can see the clear blue spring-fed cold swimming pond in front. From the Hideout Club, the journey to the Upper Hideout is a day-long trail ride. In addition, guests can join in a cattle drive, shoot skeet, go down the Big Horn River and/or Shell Creek in a canoe, or survey the fossil beds and archeological digs nearby. When I was there about half the guests were European, with one well-known Austrian princess who was there with her three children and Nanny – all avid equestrians. It wasn’t their first time there either. According to Peter de Cabooter, the Hideout Club Manager, about 40% of the guests are European.

Other Site Visits from Susan Kime

• The Weybridge Collection
• The Aventuras Club at Puerto Aventuras