High Country Resort Properties

What High Country Resort Properties does

Natural Retreats (High Country Resort Properties) is a privately held, Virginia-domiciled luxury vacation rental management company operating under a 'Collection of Brands' model. The portfolio comprises the flagship Natural Retreats brand (premium mountain and ski destinations), Alaya Collection (ultra-luxe), 360 Blue (Florida Gulf Coast), Callista Vacations (affordable luxury), plus adjacent services Yellowstone Luxury Tours and Shuttle to Big Sky. The company manages over 1,500 luxury properties — including ski-in/ski-out chalets, lakefront retreats, modern condos, and large estates — across 11 destinations in 6 U.S. states (Montana, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, California, Florida). It is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a regional office in Ketchum, Idaho, and operates local on-site management teams in each destination.

The company serves two customer segments: high-end leisure travelers (families, groups, destination wedding parties, corporate retreat organizers, multi-generational family reunions) seeking premium accommodations in iconic U.S. destinations, and vacation homeowners seeking professional property management with revenue optimization, marketing, and guest services. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via brand websites (naturalretreats.com, 360blue.com, callistavacations.com, yellowstoneluxurytours.com), supported by content marketing, Instagram, email, and earned media placements. Pricing is variable by property, season, and length of stay, with destination-specific deposits of 25–50% and damage protection fees of $25–$165; cancellation policies and minimum stays vary by market.

The business model is transaction-fee based: Natural Retreats earns a percentage of booking revenue as a management fee from homeowners and generates additional ancillary revenue from per-booking damage protection, pet fees, and excess utility charges. The technology stack is not publicly disclosed; the only notable technical features are a ski-access classification system (Ski-in, Ski-out, Walk to Gondola, etc.) and the use of smart-home noise monitoring devices for property safety. The company is owner/management-controlled with no disclosed PE/VC backing, no parent company, and no public listing. Recognition includes the 2025 Best of Big Sky Award for Best Property Management and four 2026 MUSE Creative Award Silver honors.

Name

High Country Resort Properties

Legal name

Natural Retreats

Website

https://highcountry-rentals.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Natural Retreats is a privately held U.S. luxury vacation rental management company operating a multi-brand portfolio of 1,500+ properties across 11 destinations in 6 states, serving affluent leisure travelers and vacation homeowners with ski, mountain, coastal, and desert accommodations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Vacation Rental Management

NAICS

Traveler Accommodation (7211), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Resort & Branded Residence Vacation Rental Management (BPAJAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Beachfront & Waterfront Villas (THAMAEAE), Beachfront & Lakefront Homes (THAMAAAF), Resort-Area Full-Service Hotels (Non–All-Inclusive) (THAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Luxury vacation rentals
• Vacation property management
• Ski-in ski-out rentals
• Mountain resort accommodations
• Coastal vacation homes

Headquarters

HQ city

Ketchum

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Vacation Rental Bookings: Natural Retreats generates revenue by managing and renting luxury vacation properties on behalf of homeowners. The company takes a percentage of booking revenue as management fees while providing property management, guest services, and marketing support to property owners.
2. Damage Protection Program: A damage protection fee of $25, $50, $100, or $165 depending on the home is included in bookings. This provides unintentional damage coverage up to $500 (for $25 fee), $1,500 (for $50 fee), $3,000 (for $100 fee), and $5,000 (for $165 fee).
3. Pet Fees: Non-refundable pet fees are charged for dogs at dog-friendly properties, with size and weight restrictions applying to some accommodations.
4. Excess Utility Charges: If utility usage exceeds normal amounts by 20%, guests are responsible for the overage amount which is charged to their credit card on file.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

High Country Resort Properties, operating primarily through its Natural Retreats brand, manages and rents a curated portfolio of luxury vacation homes across 11 iconic U.S. destinations in 6 states including Big Sky, Park City, Sun Valley, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Summit County, Whitefish, and Palm Springs. The company provides full-service property management for vacation homeowners, handling marketing, reservations, guest services, and on-site operations, while travelers book directly through the company's branded websites. Revenue is generated from booking transaction fees, management commissions, and ancillary charges such as damage protection, pet fees, and excess utility usage.

Product overview

Natural Retreats operates a multi-brand luxury vacation rental platform spanning 11 iconic destinations across 6 U.S. states (Montana, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, California, Florida), managing over 1,500 properties. The portfolio is organized around four core brands: the flagship Natural Retreats brand (premium mountain and ski vacation rentals), the ultra-luxe Alaya Collection (high-end design and exclusive services), 360 Blue (Gulf Coast luxury rentals on the Emerald and Forgotten Coasts), and Callista (affordable midscale luxury on Florida's Emerald Coast). Supporting services include the Luxury Ski Collection (ski-specific curated homes), Yellowstone Luxury Tours, Shuttle to Big Sky transportation, and comprehensive vacation rental property management for homeowners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Natural Retreats Luxury Vacation Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• Natural Retreats significantly outperformed the broader Whitefish market throughout 2025 in ADR, Occupancy, and RevPAR metrics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ski ButlerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSki Butlers provides ski equipment rental delivery services in Natural Retreats Western destinations including Big Sky, Sun Valley, and Park City. The partnership delivers and picks up ski equipment directly from vacation homes, providing convenience for guests without requiring them to transport gear.
• Shuttle to Big SkycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransportation partner providing airport shuttles, luxury vehicles, and stress-free arrivals for Big Sky destination travelers. Vehicle wrap designs created by Natural Retreats won a MUSE Award.
• GearominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline outdoor gear rental platform with vast network of local retailers and thousands of products. Referenced as resource for ski equipment rentals in blog content.
• REIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor outdoor retailer with ski gear rental services in select locations including Montana, Utah, and Colorado. Referenced as partner for ski equipment rentals in blog content.
• Christy SportsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor retailer known for wide selection of ski gear rentals in select locations like Montana, Utah, and Colorado. Referenced as partner for ski equipment rentals in blog content.
• Yellowstone Luxury TourscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner brand offering guided luxury tours of Yellowstone National Park with wildlife viewing, geysers, and iconic views tailored to individual preferences. Integrated into Natural Retreats Big Sky destination marketing.
• Destination ChannelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTV network streaming on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, and available on Prime Video. Featured Natural Retreats' Hidden Estate property on Staycation TV show (Emmy-winning series in its sixth year).
• 360 BluecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural Retreats brand focused on Florida Gulf Coast luxury rentals covering Destin, Miramar Beach, Cape San Blas, and communities along 30A. Part of Natural Retreats collection of brands.
• Callista VacationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural Retreats brand offering affordable luxury midsize vacation homes and condos on Florida's Emerald Coast, targeting families and small groups.
• Alaya CollectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUltra-luxe property collection with elevated finishings and unbeatable locations. Available through both Natural Retreats and 360 Blue brands, offering exclusive services from booking to departure.
• AmtrakminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmtrak's Empire Builder line provides scenic rail service to Whitefish, Montana (the busiest train stop between Seattle and Minneapolis). Allows travelers to reach Glacier National Park via train, with connections to park shuttles.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sonder: Apartment-style short-term rental operator with a tech-enabled booking and stay experience. Broader incumbent in alternative accommodations, with comparable direct-to-consumer booking motion, though Sonder's portfolio is more urban-apartment weighted.
• Marriott Homes & Villas: Marriott Bonvoy's short-term rental offering for premium and luxury homes. A broad incumbent alternative for luxury travelers, leveraging Marriott's brand, loyalty program, and distribution — competing with Natural Retreats for high-end guest demand.
• Airbnb Luxe: Airbnb's luxury tier offering vetted high-end homes with dedicated trip designers. A massive-scale incumbent that competes with Natural Retreats for both guest demand and luxury homeowner supply via Airbnb's broader marketplace.

Direct peers

• Inspirato: Members-only luxury vacation club offering curated high-end homes and experiences. Comparable to Natural Retreats on the luxury traveler side and on destination curation, though Inspirato uses a subscription/membership model rather than per-night booking.
• AvantStay: Luxury-focused short-term rental manager operating in premier U.S. destinations (including mountain and coastal markets) with professionally managed, design-forward homes. Closely comparable to Natural Retreats' high-end positioning and tech-enabled guest experience.
• Plum Guide: Curated luxury vacation rental platform with rigorous home vetting standards, focused on premium urban and leisure destinations. Comparable to Natural Retreats on the curated-luxury proposition and quality-controlled homeowner supply, though primarily U.S./U.K./Europe urban-weighted.
• Vacasa: Largest U.S. vacation rental management company with a national portfolio of professionally managed homes. Direct competitor to Natural Retreats in the property management business model, with similar destination mix (mountain, beach, ski) and owner-facing value proposition.
• Evolve: National vacation rental management company with a large portfolio of professionally managed homes across U.S. leisure destinations. Directly comparable light-asset, fee-based model serving both homeowners and travelers.
• Wander: Tech-forward luxury vacation rental company building a portfolio of design-led homes in nature destinations. Comparable to Natural Retreats on premium positioning, destination selection, and tech-enabled guest experience, though smaller in unit count.

Emerging players

• Blueground: Tech-enabled furnished and serviced apartment operator with a multi-city portfolio. Comparable to Natural Retreats on professionally managed short-term stays and tech-enabled guest experience, though focused on longer stays and urban markets rather than vacation destinations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/naturalretreats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/high-country-resort-properties

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High Country Resort Properties