Mark C. Hawn

Founder & CEO, Ranches at Belt Creek

Mark C. Hawn is the founder and CEO of The Ranches at Belt Creek, Montana’s premier luxury guest ranch and land ownership community. Since establishing the ranch in 2007, Mark has built Belt Creek into a nationally recognized destination that uniquely combines luxury hospitality, outdoor adventure, and real estate investment opportunities.

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Background & Experience

Mark’s journey to founding Ranches at Belt Creek began with a vision to create something that didn’t exist in Montana’s guest ranch market: a property where guests could experience authentic Western luxury while also having the opportunity to own a piece of the land they fell in love with.

With a background in real estate development and a passion for the Western lifestyle, Mark identified the Little Belt Mountains as the ideal location—just 30 minutes from Great Falls International Airport yet surrounded by 1.8 million acres of Lewis and Clark National Forest wilderness.

Professional Expertise

Mark brings deep expertise across multiple disciplines:

Luxury Hospitality: Over 17 years of hands-on experience operating a luxury guest ranch, personally overseeing thousands of guest experiences, weddings, corporate retreats, and special events.

Ranch Real Estate: Extensive experience in Montana recreational land sales, having guided dozens of buyers through the process of purchasing ranch homesites ranging from 5 to 20+ acres. Expert knowledge of water rights, building regulations, owner financing structures, and the unique considerations of resort community ownership.

Property Development: As CEO of Trophy Property Developers, Mark has developed multiple luxury properties including resort communities and hospitality venues.

Corporate Event Planning: Specialized experience designing and hosting executive retreats, leadership offsites, and team-building programs for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises.

Destination Weddings: Has personally overseen hundreds of weddings at Belt Creek, from intimate elopements to celebrations of 150+ guests across the ranch’s five distinct venues.

Technology & Innovation

Mark is also the founder of NovaLab AI, an AI consulting firm that brings enterprise-level automation and artificial intelligence solutions to mid-market companies. This unique combination of hospitality expertise and technology leadership positions Mark at the intersection of traditional Western values and modern innovation—a philosophy reflected in Belt Creek’s high-speed fiber internet, digital concierge services, and AI-powered guest experience systems.

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On-Site Leadership

Unlike many ranch owners, Mark is an active, on-site operator who lives at and personally manages Ranches at Belt Creek. This hands-on approach means guests and prospective landowners work directly with the person who built the community and understands every aspect of the property—from the best fishing holes on Belt Creek to the optimal building sites with sunrise views over the Little Belt Mountains.

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Areas of Expertise

Mark regularly writes and speaks on topics including:

• Montana luxury ranch real estate and market trends
• Recreational land investment strategies
• Water rights and due diligence for ranch buyers
• All-inclusive guest ranch operations
• Destination wedding planning in Montana
• Corporate retreat design and team-building experiences
• Fly fishing and outdoor recreation in Central Montana
• Multi-generational family legacy planning through land ownership
• The intersection of technology and hospitality

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The Belt Creek Vision

“When I founded Belt Creek in 2007, I wanted to create a place where families could experience authentic Montana—the fishing, the horses, the mountains, the stars—without sacrificing the comfort and service they expect from a luxury destination. But more than that, I wanted to give people the opportunity to own a piece of this land, to build their own legacy here, and to have a place their grandchildren will return to for generations.”

— Mark C. Hawn

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Connect with Mark

For land sales inquiries, partnership opportunities, or media requests:

Email: Mhawn@RanchesAtBeltCreek.com
Phone: 406-750-6135
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/markhawn

For general ranch inquiries and reservations, contact our concierge team at 406-800-0601 or Concierge@RanchesAtBeltCreek.com.

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Mark C. Hawn is the founder and CEO of Ranches at Belt Creek. All content authored by Mark reflects 17+ years of direct experience in luxury ranch hospitality and Montana real estate.