A luxurious mountain retreat was built by Drew Brees and Animal Planet’s reality TV series Treehouse Masters last year in northwest Montana, around 13 miles north of the little resort town of Whitefish. Before he changed his mind and put an almost finished guesthouse up for sale at the beginning of the year with a price tag of about $8 million, the former NFL quarterback had intended to build another home on the property.
The asking price has since dropped to $7.5 million, and since the property is still unsold, listing agent Sean Averill of PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate has decided to hold a Concierge Auction to sell the entire 20-acre spread in the gated Homestead community. Bids are anticipated to start at $2 million to $4 million. “The offering includes multiple building sites, allowing the new owner to create and build their own dream estate,” the listing states.
Originally intended to serve as a guesthouse to complement an abandoned main property, the double A-frame, wood-sided building is 15 feet above the ground and is called the On the Rocks Ranch Treehouse. Once inside, 1,700 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and two bathrooms are highlighted by high wood-beam ceilings, walls of glass, a combination of Douglas fir and bleached oak floors, and natural hemlock paneling.
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.
Three sleeping lofts with windows, one of which is being used as a yoga area, and a main-floor bedroom with a Juliet balcony and custom closet across the hall from a bathroom with double vanities, a standalone soaking tub, and a glass-enclosed shower are all included. The extensive list of community facilities and activities, which includes riding and hiking trails, equestrian centers, a shooting and archery range, and access to two lakes where locals may kayak, paddle board, and fish, rounds everything out. About 20 miles distant is Whitefish Mountain Resort, where skiing is available in the winter.
“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. ”
After 20 years in the NFL, of which the latter 15 were spent with the New Orleans Saints, where he led the team to nine postseason appearances, seven division titles, and the Super Bowl XLIV championship (when he was awarded MVP), Brees announced his retirement in 2021. The future Hall of Famer apparently owns a property in Montana, but he doesn’t want to go there entirely, as first reported by the New York Post.
As part of Concierge Auctions’ worldwide sales series, the no-reserve auction will take place online from September 12–26 and live in Hong Kong on September 27. Private previews of the property are available upon request. A bidder deposit of $100,000 is necessary.