Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort
A Place Worth Preserving
Some properties are built.
Others are discovered.
The story of Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs began more than a century ago on Montana's northern prairie when an oil drilling crew searching for one resource unexpectedly found another. Instead of oil, naturally heated mineral water surged from deep beneath the earth. What could have been dismissed as a failed drilling project became something far more meaningful when local residents recognized the water's potential. According to local history, one family turned to the mineral waters in hopes of helping their child who was suffering from polio. What began as an act of love and hope eventually grew into a gathering place that would touch the lives of generations to come.
Long before wellness retreats and destination resorts became part of the modern vocabulary, people were coming to Sleeping Buffalo seeking rest, restoration, recreation, and connection. Families returned year after year. Children learned to swim in its waters. Hunters, fishermen, travelers, and neighbors gathered here. Over the last century, Sleeping Buffalo has become woven into the fabric of life across Montana's Hi-Line and beyond.
Today, Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort stands as the only hot springs resort in northeastern Montana and one of the region's most recognized destinations. Located just off Highway 2 between Malta and Saco, the property occupies a unique position within Montana's vast northern plains, offering visitors an experience that feels both deeply rooted in history and remarkably removed from the demands of modern life.
At the center of Sleeping Buffalo's past, present, and future are the mineral waters that made its existence possible.
Fed by a 3,200-foot artesian well drilled in 2021, naturally heated mineral water emerges from deep beneath the prairie at a consistent temperature of 106 to 108 degrees. Rich in silica, calcium, magnesium, sulfates, and other naturally occurring minerals, the water has drawn visitors for generations. Unlike many commercial facilities, Sleeping Buffalo operates entirely with a non-chlorinated, flow-through mineral water system. Fresh water continuously enters the pools, providing a clean and natural experience that reflects the property's longstanding commitment to wellness and stewardship.
The hot springs complex has undergone extensive renovation and modernization while preserving the spirit of the original destination. Guests enjoy a 60-foot by 80-foot indoor mineral pool, a hot soaking pool, cold plunge pool, sauna, and conference space designed to accommodate retreats, gatherings, and special events. In 2025, the outdoor pool was completely reimagined, resulting in a 128-foot by 60-foot swimming pool and outdoor hot tub surrounded by expansive lounging areas. On cool Montana evenings, steam rises from the water beneath a sky filled with stars, creating the kind of experience guests remember long after they return home.
Over the past decade, the property has been thoughtfully revitalized with the goal of creating a destination worthy of the generations who have loved it.
Accommodations include five beautifully restored guest cabins, three hotel-style guest rooms, and a 31-site RV park with full-service hookups. The cabins combine rustic Montana character with modern comfort, featuring log and stone construction, full kitchens, comfortable living spaces, and generous outdoor areas designed for gathering with family and friends. Guests can spend their days soaking in the mineral pools, exploring nearby recreational opportunities, or simply enjoying the quiet solitude that has become increasingly difficult to find anywhere else.
For generations, Sleeping Buffalo has served as a gathering place for families, neighbors, travelers, hunters, and fishermen. Today, that tradition continues at 54 Prime Steakhouse and the Buffalo Saloon, where the simple pleasures of good food, conversation, and community remain an important part of the Sleeping Buffalo experience.
Completed in 2023, 54 Prime Steakhouse offers a full-service dining experience featuring a commercial-grade kitchen, spacious dining areas, and outdoor patio seating. Adjacent to the restaurant, the Buffalo Saloon provides a welcoming atmosphere where guests can unwind after a day at the pools, reconnect with friends, or simply enjoy the hospitality that has long been part of the property's character.
The property's 30-foot by 96-foot greenhouse reflects a philosophy that has guided Sleeping Buffalo's revitalization over the past decade: investing in the future while honoring what makes the property special. Fresh produce grown on-site contributes to the dining experience, while infrastructure improvements throughout the resort support its long-term operation and continued enjoyment by future generations.
The offering also includes a substantial owner's residence measuring approximately 5,388 square feet. Thoughtfully constructed and exceptionally maintained, the residence features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, radiant floor heating, detailed custom woodwork, a heated garage, and a concrete-encased walk-in gun safe. A separate 1,200-square-foot manager's residence provides additional housing flexibility for staff or management. Supporting improvements include a 100-foot by 50-foot shop along with the mechanical systems, utilities, and infrastructure necessary to support a resort of this
scale.
Beyond the property itself, Sleeping Buffalo benefits from one of the most desirable recreational locations in the region. Directly across the road lies Nelson Reservoir, a 4,100-acre body of water renowned for walleye, northern pike, perch fishing, boating, and year-round recreation. The surrounding area offers exceptional opportunities for waterfowl hunting, upland bird hunting, big game hunting, wildlife photography, and birdwatching. Nearby Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge attracts visitors from around the world who come to experience one of the Northern Great Plains' most important wildlife habitats.
Yet for all of the improvements, amenities, and opportunities found here, the true value of Sleeping Buffalo cannot be measured solely in buildings, acreage, or infrastructure.
It lives in the memories people carry with them.
It lives in the stories of families who returned year after year.
It lives in the guests who learned to swim in these waters as children and later returned with children and grandchildren of their own.
It lives in community gatherings, celebrations, reunions, fishing trips, hunting camps, weddings, retreats, and countless ordinary days that became unforgettable simply because they happened here.
For nearly one hundred years, Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs has been cared for by people who recognized that it was more than a business. Each generation has added its own chapter while preserving what made the place special in the first place.
The opportunity now exists for someone new to continue that story.
For some, Sleeping Buffalo represents a hospitality investment unlike any other in the region. For others, it represents an opportunity to become the steward of a destination that has touched countless lives and will continue serving guests, families, and communities for generations to come. For many, it will simply be recognized for what it has always been: a place where people gather, reconnect, and leave better than they arrived.
Opportunities to steward places of this significance rarely become available. Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs & Resort offers not only a fully operational destination property with exceptional infrastructure and amenities, but also the rare opportunity to become the next steward of a Montana landmark whose story continues to unfold.
