Ranger Joe’s Pizza in Kalispell, Montana, was born out of an unforgettable hiking trip in Glacier National Park. Back in 2017, my sons, son-in-law, nephews and friend set out for an adventure at Kintla Lake, completely over prepared with way too much gear. The 6.5-mile trek to camp felt more like a survival challenge than a scenic hike, especially with the heat and overgrown trails making things tougher than expected.
We weren’t exactly seasoned hikers, so every rustling bush had us nervously yelling, “Hey bear!” just in case a grizzly was lurking nearby. As if the heat and overgrown trails weren’t enough, we stumbled upon a fresh deer kill along the path—a not-so-subtle reminder that we were deep in grizzly country. That definitely put us on high alert, and let’s just say the “Hey bear!” calls got a little louder after that.
At one point, my nephew turned his ankle pretty badly, and for a moment, we thought our adventure was about to turn into a rescue mission. Luckily, he toughed it out and kept going. Meanwhile, my friend developed a nasty backpack strap rub on his side, and water for our filtration systems was scarcer than we’d hoped. By the time we reached camp, we were completely wiped out—too exhausted to care about much besides sleep.
Some of us tried to fish, but the lake wasn’t giving up a single bite. That night, we all dozed off with one eye open, half-expecting a bear to crash our campsite. The next morning, after a quick breakfast of MREs, we packed up and hit the trail again, pushing through the heat to make it back in time for a well-earned family dinner.
By the time we made it back home, my family decided I had earned a new title—Ranger Joe—upgrading me from “Scout Master Joe” in honor of my leadership (and probably my stubbornness in getting us through the ordeal).
Once we returned home from Montana, the trip sparked something bigger than just a funny nickname. I had grown up around pizza—my parents owned six pizza shops in the ‘80s—so I started making pizzas again, just for fun. My New York-style and Detroit deep-dish creations quickly became a hit with friends, family, and coworkers.
After a couple of months of nonstop pizza nights, my wife suggested we make it official and named our little home kitchen “Ranger Joe’s Pizza.” We even hung up a banner, turning our house into a full-blown pizza kitchen, complete with ovens and prep tables. What started as a fun passion project soon had a growing fan base, with people raving about my pizza and asking for more.
I spent the next two years perfecting my recipes and saving up, all while dreaming of opening a real pizza shop and not missing my true calling. Eventually, I decided to leave my career six years early and make the leap—we were moving to Montana. My wife was a little nervous, but she backed the plan, and we packed up for Kalispell to turn my long-time pizza dream into reality. Ranger Joe’s Pizza officially opened with a focus on adventure, great food, and an outdoor vibe, featuring Detroit deep-dish, New York-style, and Sicilian pizza, plus calzones, cheese bread, and a killer pizza slice bar.
From a tough hike in Glacier National Park to a thriving pizza shop, the journey has been wild—but one thing’s for sure: “Adventure Is Not Complete Without PIZZA!”
Ranger Joe
At Ranger Joe’s Pizza, we believe great pizza is worth the time and effort it takes to do it right. That’s why we never cut corners. Our dough is mixed in-house and slow-fermented for up to four days, creating the perfect balance of flavor and texture. Our sauce is made from scratch, our sausage is cooked in-house, and every ingredient is carefully selected for quality and taste.
This isn’t fast food—it’s real, handcrafted pizza, made with passion and precision. Whether you’re grabbing a quick slice or feeding a crowd, expect bold flavors, a crispy-yet-chewy crust, and unforgettable quality in every bite.
Don’t settle. Go for the best.
