“ A small town with a big personality .”
Early in the crisp winter morning , as ski patrollers ready the mountain for eager skiers and snowboarders , as shop owners shovel their front steps , as children zip up their backpacks for another day of school , and as the sun sheds its first light atop Lone Peak , Big Sky , Montana awakens to another gorgeous day .
The Big Sky community spreads itself out across mountainous ski areas , beautiful open meadows , and the Gallatin River Canyon . Some prefer to reside next to ski trails , others prefer overlooking a golf course , or along the scenic Gallatin River , with a variety of shops and restaurants scattered in between . All live with an awareness and a love of the great outdoors . What started as a quiet ranching and sheepherding region has now blossomed into a top tourist destination and a thriving year-round community . Martha Johnson , co-founding Broker and Vice President of Sales for The Big Sky Real Estate Co . describes Big Sky as , “ a small town with a big personality ,” whose natural assets , such as the mountains , rivers , and trails , are why people visit the area and why many people decide to stay full-time .
Without a mining or industrial history , Big Sky ’ s settlement is uniquely modern . Just forty-five years ago , Chet Huntley , a national newscaster , moved to Montana where he conceptualized and helped build Big Sky Resort , which opened in 1973 . Aside from additions in amenities and lodging at the resort , very little development in Big Sky happened until the 1990s . In 2001 , Simkins Holding LLC broke ground for the first infrastructure of what is now known as Town Center , a vibrant meeting place for locals and visitors alike . Ryan Hamilton , Project Manager for Town Center , says , “ The community has really embraced the projects , events , and the parks and gathering spaces that have now evolved over the years . It ’ s very rewarding to see the community come together as it has .”
The last fifteen years in Big Sky has seen a boom in development , as more people choose to start businesses , purchase homes , and raise their families in Big Sky . Ania Bulis , co-founding Broker and Vice President of Sales for The Big Sky Real Estate Co . has lived in Big Sky for more than twenty years . She says the new groundswell of families and business owners has brought with it a demand for quality education , culture , and a healthy , outdoor-focused lifestyle . “ It has created a beautiful social dynamic , as well as social consciousness ,” says Bulis .
BUILDING COMMUNITY The development of Town Center in the last fifteen years by Simkins Holdings , LLC and more recently , Lone Mountain Land Company , has created an epicenter for businesses , families and organizations to thrive . While the world-class Big Sky Resort may have been the springboard for the development of the town of Big Sky , it is truly the lifestyle and people that have created a sustainable year-round community . Visitors and residents can come together to enjoy the movie theater , the great restaurants and breweries , the farmers ’ market , outdoor concerts and sophisticated retailers . “ The Town Center development has brought a new level of cooperation and collaboration amongst people in the community ,” says Bayard Dominick , Vice President of Planning and Development for Lone Mountain Land Company . Having lived in other resort towns , Dominick has seen what works and what doesn ’ t when it comes to planning . He believes the residents of Big Sky are coming together to develop only that which will benefit the entire community long into the future . This includes several mixed-use buildings for restaurants , retail , and year-round rentals right in Town Center . The Big Sky Real Estate Co . and Lone Mountain Land Company are also building their future headquarters and marketing center in Town Center , creating a Montana and outdoor-themed space that celebrates why people love Big Sky . “ It will be a space where a lift attendant can
75