Escalante Golf adds Wilderness Club

Escalante Golf added the 550-acre Wilderness Club in Montana to its property portfolio, marking the company’s first property in Montana and 23rd in the United States.

Established as a joint venture partnership with the Wilderness Club’s owner and developer, Brian Ehlert, Escalante will oversee more than $15 million worth of expansion and improvements, while managing golf operations, hospitality, food and beverage, and real estate development and sales. Escalante’s plans also involve transitioning Wilderness Club from its current semi-private club model back to a fully private club, its founder’s original vision.

Wilderness Club is located in Eureka, Montana, eight miles from the Canadian border and halfway between Glacier National Park and the Kootenai National Forest, and surrounded by mountains and protected forests. The property features an 18-hole, 7,207-yard, par-72 golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo that routes through natural streams, lakes and 200-foot-tall ponderosa pine trees.

Originally opened in 2006, the Wilderness Club is primed for expansion and property upgrades, which will be overseen and executed by Escalante Golf. Planned improvements or additions include:

• The conversion from a semi-private to fully private club model, honoring its founder’s original vision for Wilderness Club to be Montana’s premier private club and mountain resort; the transition is scheduled to be complete on January 1, 2026
• The installation of a $1.5M geomembrane lake liner throughout Wilderness Lake, which will prevent water loss through ground absorption, keep water levels consistent, and improve quality and clarity of water from loose silt and dirt contaminations, with completion slated for Q4 2024
• Complete overhaul of golf course bunkers, elevating both the aesthetic appeal and the strategic challenge of the holes, as well as affirming long-lasting durability and low maintenance costs for many years to come, with completion scheduled for 2025

“What Brian built is a stunning, one-of-a-kind high-country retreat with unlimited potential,” Escalante Golf president David McDonald said. “We’re thrilled to come alongside him in bringing his vision for the property to life. Working closely with Brian and his team, we will safeguard Wilderness Club’s rich legacy and environmental stewardship, improve the member experience, streamline overall operations, and implement thoughtful, sustainable, and best-in-class upgrades for the enjoyment of generations to come."

“Escalante Golf's substantial buying power and proven operational excellence are paramount to the advancement of the Wilderness Club,” Ehlert said. “We share a unified vision to propel the Wilderness Club to new heights, solidify its status as Montana's foremost luxury golf experience, and ensure its long-term success and growth as we embark on this ambitious and exciting new chapter.”

Some of Escalante’s 22 other golf courses and clubs throughout 14 states include The International in Massachusetts, the Golf Club of Houston, Sonoma Golf Club in California, Kingsley Club in Michigan, Kingsmill Resort in Virginia, Pursell Farms in Alabama, and The Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Arizona.