Paws Up is not a place where Santa slips in unnoticed. Exceptionally dark skies make his sleigh more visible, the snowpack amplifies even the softest of footsteps, and the winter hush and wide open spaces across this Montana ranch leave little room for secrets. And yet, he still manages to surprise guests who have escaped to this remote stretch of wilderness for the holidays.
This year, that surprise came when guests awoke on Christmas morning to find a Fender Acoustasonic Standard Telecaster next to their Christmas tree, its matte-black finish reflecting the glow of Christmas twinkle lights. Topped with a bow and resting upright on a guitar stand, the guitar, along with a Fender Rincon Tenor Ukulele for each child, was gifted to guests staying at the resort on Christmas as part of Paws Up’s 10-day gifting program.
A two-Michelin-key resort spread across 37,000 acres of working cattle land in Montana’s Blackfoot Valley, Paws Up has drawn families and sophisticated travelers to the ranch since it opened its doors to guests two decades ago. You can choose from 28 private homes or 12 more modern adults-only homes that range from one to three bedrooms. Glamping tents are also available during warmer seasons.
Each December, the resort marks the holidays with a 10-day Christmas gifting program, surprising guests with thoughtfully chosen, high-end gifts, often through collaborations with premium brands, that are delivered on Christmas morning as part of their stay. The 2025 program represents its most ambitious gifting program yet, with an investment of about $24,000 in the instruments and other surprises.
The gift of Fenders also comes with a year of online lessons.
“Our approach to gifting has evolved thoughtfully over time as we continue to look for meaningful ways to share what we genuinely love with our guests,” says Steve Hurst, managing director at Paws Up. “What began as a simple expression of gratitude has grown into a tradition that reflects both craftsmanship and emotional connection.”
Last year, Paws Up partnered with Made In Cookware to give guests custom copper heirloom pans. This year’s collaboration with Fender reinforces their passion for music by gifting guests the Acoustasonic Telecaster and ukuleles, paired with a year of online lessons. “It’s our way of celebrating creativity, connection, and the spirit of the holidays,” Hurst says.
When guests opt for the resort’s Christmas package, which is updated annually, they may have an inkling something special is about to go down, whether they’re booking a five-night stay in one of its rustic ranch houses or, for those over age 21, in one of its Green O “hauses” (so named for its modern, Scandinavian design), which are set in the shadows of towering pines. Each accommodation includes a trimmed Christmas tree, fireplace, and outdoor hot tub—ensuring comfort for couples or families settling in for a long winter’s night.
The adults-only Green O haus is extra secluded—though Santa will still find you there.
Other surprise gifts this year included personalized welcome mats with guests’ names, fortune cookies with personalized messages for each family, and animal-shaped (bison and sheep, of course) cookie-decorating kits from chef Krystle Swenson, the ranch’s two-time James Beard–nominated pastry chef.
“Guests choose us for our experiences,” says Will Smith, general manager of the Wilderness Outpost at Paws Up. “But the magic of Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a surprise beneath the tree.”
Paws Up is not the only property that went above and beyond to create holiday magic this year. London’s Milestone Hotel & Residences partnered with Beyond Curated to offer its guests the opportunity to sip champagne during carriage rides past London landmarks, take a Dickensian Christmas tour with an expert guide, and meet a royal author to receive a signed copy of A Tudor Christmas. New York’s The Mark Hotel rolled out “The Night Before Christmas at The Mark Penthouse” package, a two-night experience in its 10,000-square-foot penthouse complete with stockings hung by the fireplace, handpicked decorations from Bergdorf Goodman for trimming the tree, ice skating under the stars on a private rooftop rink, and a private performance of The Nutcracker.
Silent night in the Montana wilderness
Wondering what it’s like to stay at Paws Up during the Christmas holiday? For most visitors, it’s about trading crowded, packed ski towns and loud dining rooms for open land, adventure, and quiet time with family and friends—and with the deer and bison that are often seen wandering the property without ceremony.
Deer and bison roam freely around the 37,000-acre property.
Christmas morning brings a delivery of warm cinnamon buns, followed by meals at your choice of the property’s dining spots. These are aptly named Trough (for casual meals), Tank (for cocktails, mocktails, and other drinks), and Pomp, where a gourmet Christmas feast showcasing Montana’s seasonal bounty, like slow-braised meats, soups, and freshly-baked breads, awaits. For those staying at Green O, the common area, Social Haus, serves meals throughout the day, culminating in an eight-course tasting menu crafted by their executive chef.
By day, children visit Santa’s Workshop to write letters to old Saint Nick, test their cookie decorating skills, or participate in gingerbread house-building contests, while adrenaline seekers opt for snowshoeing, dog sledding, MoonBikes, or horseback riding. By night, fires dot the serene landscape and smoke billows from chimneys as guests sip cocktails and cocoa or take a sleigh ride over powdery, sparkling snow.
No detail is forgotten at Paws Up. The ranch experience strikes a balance between wild and warm, structure and spontaneity, rugged and refined. The experience feels cinematic, like an elevated Hallmark Christmas movie, with a narrative that unfolds one quiet surprise at a time.
Paws Up’s annual holiday package includes daily meals, nonalcoholic beverages, a selection of beer, wine, and spirits, round-trip airport transportation, and use of a luxury Lexus SUV while on the property. It also provides a $500 resort credit per person for some of the ranch’s more adventurous activities, such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, curling, and snowshoeing, or for downtime, including spa treatments and shopping.