Montana
Couple build unauthorized house in Glacier National Park
California couple John and Stacy Ambler are in the midst of a legal fight to keep their home after building it without permission in Glacier National Park in Montana.
Newsweek contacted the Amblers’ legal team, the Flathead Conservation District’s legal team, and the Friends of Montana’s Streams and Rivers for comment via email.
Why It Matters
National parks in the United States are under constant pressure from environmental damages. While the Ambler house is small, allowing it to remain could have major ramifications for how construction in national parks is handled in the future.
The case could also set a precedent for how these kinds of disputes are handled.
What To Know
The Amblers built their home on the McDonald Creek, in Flathead County, Montana, but they quickly faced opposition over environmental issues.
“Glacier National Park did not ‘allow’ the construction on this private property,” the Flathead Conservation District said in a January 2024 court filing. “Glacier National Park has no regulations related to construction on private property. There are rigorous rules related to construction within Glacier National Park (and all federal lands), none of which were complied with by the plaintiffs…The plaintiffs obtained no valid permit, contract or agreement with the United States.”
The Amblers are now facing a federal lawsuit after suing the Flathead Conservation District, arguing that private inholding properties inside the national park are immune from state law as they are a federal jurisdiction.
According to Cowboy State Daily, the Amblers’ home is located in an area where there are no floodplain designations from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) because it wasn’t mapped. Due to this, the county is limited to regulate floodplain development.
The Amblers’ new neighbors, who were annoyed at the loophole that they used to try and continue building the home, organized the Friends of Montana’s Streams and Rivers (FMSR), which campaigns to protect the integrity of the park’s streams.
The Cowboy State Daily reported that the house can be seen from a nearby bridge, where neighbors keep tabs on the property as they continue to organize against it.
Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Rob Farris-Olsen, an attorney representing Friends of Montana’s Streams and Rivers, said in a statement to the Cowboy State Daily: “It’s frustrating. There’s no continuity of regulation between downstream and upstream. For Wyoming, there’s not a lot of inholdings within Yellowstone. And the ceding of the Grand Tetons to the feds, that was very different than Glacier. I’m not really sure how much of an effect this will have on future Wyoming cases. However, it creates this regulatory void for a lot of inholdings because there’s no building permits necessarily.”
What Happens Next
The case remains ongoing in federal court. If the Amblers are successful, the court could grant them immunity from state law, allowing them to keep the house.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 26, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 26 drawing
05-13-30-33-52, Mega Ball: 06
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 26 drawing
07-08-20-22, Bonus: 12
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
EXCLUSIVE: 2 ‘Exceptionally Rare’ Ski-In, Ski-Out Montana Mansions Head to Auction in Big Sky—and Could Sell for a Serious Steal
A pair of stunning Montana ski homes are going under the hammer in the exclusive resort of Big Sky—where they could sell for well below their market value, having been offered up with no reserve.
Currently listed for a combined total of $13 million, the “exceptionally rare” dwellings are both located within the exclusive Spanish Peaks Mountain Club community—and come complete with full access to all of the incredible amenities that the private club has to offer, including “a Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole Championship Golf Course, a 10-hole Par 3 course, preferred access to Montage Big Sky, and a private clubhouse featuring dining, a bar, fitness center, pro shop, pool, and hot tub.”
Now, the properties will be sold off to the highest bidder when they are auctioned off with Trayor Lesnock, founder and president of Platinum Luxury Auctions, in cooperation with listing agents Greg Smith and Amelia Turbyfill of Engel & Völkers.
The larger of the two residences, which are both currently owned by Mark and Jennifer Kozubal, was placed on the market for $7.25 million in 2025, having been completed in 2023. It was more recently listed for the reduced price of $6.68 million.
Spanning more than 4,200 square feet, it features five bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as a beautiful chef’s kitchen, ideal for hosting large groups. There are also “multiple living areas designed for entertaining and hosting family and friends,” according to the listing.
Combining classic Alpine style with “sleek, modern finishes,” the property offers both comfort and elegance, as well as incredible privacy, thanks to its plum location at the end of a quiet street.
Boasting incredible proximity to both the club’s golf courses and the Big Sky slopes, the property features an array of amenities designed to create a relaxing sanctuary where owners and their guests can retreat after a busy day of sporting activity.
“After a day on the ski slopes or a round of golf, relax in your private hot tub, cozy up by the fireplace, or cook a meal in the chef-inspired kitchen,” the description states.
The second property offers just under 3,000 square feet of living space, including four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms—as well as “direct ski-in, ski-out access with groomed connectivity to Big Sky Resort terrain,” according to its listing.
Much like the other residence, the second dwelling—which was brought to the market in January with an asking price of $6.25 million—has been designed specifically for those with a passion for outdoor living, providing the ideal setting in which to unwind after a long day of skiing or golfing.
“The residence includes open-concept living spaces designed for gathering after skiing, hiking, or riding, complemented by warm mountain finishes throughout,” the listing notes.
For those seeking to enjoy year-round life on the mountain, the property has been outfitted with a number of unique features that ensure a comfortable, luxurious experience no matter the weather, including “whole-home humidification and water purification systems.”
Beyond the impressive infrastructure, other alluring amenities include a “full-home audio and visual system,” as well as a dedicated eight-locker ski boot room that opens directly onto the nearest ski trail.
“Outdoor amenities include beautiful landscaping and a stone fireplace seating area positioned along the ski trail, with expansive views to the surrounding mountains,” the listing description continues.
However, perhaps the most tempting aspect of both properties is the fact that they could be sold for well below market value—presenting a truly rare opportunity for buyers to secure property in an area where luxury home sales are booming and price tags are regularly set in the seven-figure range.
“Opportunities like these are exceptionally rare in Big Sky,” seller Mark Kozubal explains. “These two Spanish Peaks Highlands homes offer true ski-in/ski-out access to a lightly used lift that connects directly into Big Sky Resort, creating an almost private ski experience with little to no wait.
“Combined with the privacy, beauty, and prestige of Spanish Peaks, these properties stand apart as truly unique mountain residences.”
Both properties are conveniently located within one of the most exclusive enclaves in Big Sky, offering proximity to both the area’s stunning ski resorts and the Yellowstone Club, which has long been one of the most star-studded neighborhoods in the area.
Among those celebrities who are rumored to have purchased properties at the Yellowstone club are NFL star Tom Brady, musician Justin Timberlake and his actress wife Jessica Biel, and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates.
“Spanish Peaks is one of the premier private residential clubs in the West,” the club’s website notes. “Here, you can experience world-class skiing and golf, fine food and drink, spectacular natural beauty and so much more. This is mountain living at its best.”
Auctioneer Lesnock emphasizes that the opportunity to secure homes in such a luxury-leaning market for what could be a truly bargain price is not something that happens very often.
“Single-family homes within Spanish Peaks have solidly maintained an entry point of at least $5 million, so the ability for buyers to ‘name their price’ in these without reserve auctions represents a substantial purchase opportunity compared to this status quo,” he explains.
“In addition to the high caliber of each property, the community’s world-class golf, ski and wellness amenities are integral parts of the overall formula that continues to attract affluent, second-home buyers to Spanish Peaks from around the world.”
As for why the owners have chosen to pursue an auction, rather than waiting for the homes to sell in a more traditional manner, Lesnock says this process will help them to secure a sale in a timely manner, without having to hang around for months on end in the hopes that a buyer will come forward.
“Under the luxury auction process, we’re giving buyers not only that economic purchase opportunity, but also the guarantee of a seamless, non-contingent sale, free of the haggling and aggravations that can plague traditional, luxury property transactions,” he shares.
“The sellers also benefit in accord, knowing they have a date-certain sale and a clear path to their ‘Next Step.’”
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