Good Medicine owners thrive on adventure

Ryan and Sara Grenier had an adventure-filled summer in the Flathead Valley preparing them to take over ownership of the Good Medicine Lodge.

The couple, along with their two sons Dylan, 7, and Caleb, 2, and two Siberian huskies lived in a tent while exploring trails and lakes — and their new home of Whitefish — while waiting to purchase the inn.

They took over ownership of the Good Medicine Lodge at the end of October from Woody and Betsy Cox, who sold the Wisconsin Avenue bed and breakfast after 17 years of ownership.

“It’s been my longtime dream to own a bed and breakfast,” Sara said.

“I’m always up for an adventure,” Ryan adds. “It’s been great meeting many new people who have been so nice and getting to know guests who are here on vacation.”

Sara is originally from Michigan and Ryan from Maine. They both met in the San Fransisco area, got married and had a family.

Ryan had a career in personal training, and Sara has a hospitality and project management background. But when the opportunity came to purchase an inn, they quit their jobs, sold their house and packed up their family.

“We really wanted to go back to our roots and be near a skiing area,” she said. “We were looking for a bed and breakfast and we found this one. It has plenty of room for our family, we feel like we really hit the jackpot.”

The family continues to get to know Whitefish through hiking, biking, kayaking, or skiing and ice skating, and spending time downtown exploring art galleries.

Ryan says they’re proud to be able to share in their guest’s vacation experiences.

“We really want to help our guests make new memories,” he said. “They come to stay at the lodge and we want to help them make those memories.”

The house, originally owned by Kay Lund, was converted into a bed and breakfast in 1993 and is constructed of square cedar logs. It has high-pitched ceilings with panoramic windows and cozy rooms with fireplaces.

“It has a rustic, vacation lodge feel with the benefits of a bed and breakfast,” Sara says.

The couple has been updating some rooms with a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting, and they plan for some upgrades in the future. They’ve updated the menu with vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free choices, while keeping favorites like the lodge’s well-known cookies.

Mostly, they want to keep the same feel to the Good Medicine that returning guests expect.

“The Good Medicine is a special place for them,” Sara said. “There are things they love about it and I don’t want to change that.”

The new owners will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony serving hors d’oeuvres and drinks on Friday, Jan. 10 from 5-7 p.m.

For more information, call 862-5488 or visit www.goodmedicinelodge.com.