Montana's Big Sky Resort is an underrated ski destination, but it likely won't be for long.
The overlooked ski resort, which aims to become the American version of the Alps, is currently in the midst of a significant development boom.
According to the New York Times, an estimated $1 billion will be spent on building up the Big Sky region over the course of the next decade, with Big Sky Resort alone planning to spend as much as $150 million on upgrades between now and 2025.
In the meantime, the expansive but lesser-discovered destination offers a tremendous alternative for ski enthusiasts in search of world-class terrain and less in terms of crowds. Perhaps more importantly, there's plenty of snowfall to be enjoyed right now.
Beyond skiing, the area offers trails, peaks, parks, sightseeing tours and more. Ousel Falls Trail boasts unrivaled scenery no matter the time of year and is must-visit regardless of whether you're passing through or taking an extended winter vacation.
CrossHarbor Capital Partners principal Matthew E. Kidd told the Times that Big Sky has "this enormous ski area with only 500,000 skier visits a year versus Vail [Colorado] at more than two million."
Currently, Big Sky is adding skier visits at a rate of about 100,000 per decade, per the Times.
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Looking ahead, the resort says plans are underway to install one of the most modern lift networks, provide trendy food and beverage options and develop intimate villages for visitors. Growth of the Big Sky Town Center and expansion at nearby Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport are also promising for the destination's future as a premier North American ski resort.
Visitors can also look forward to more craft burgers and beer as well as zip tours in the coming years.
The challenge Big Sky faces moving forward, though, is the need for affordable housing as well as hotels and restaurants.
"You can't have more people coming to a place unless there are more hotels and restaurants, and in order for that to happen, you have to have a community," Boyne Resorts (Big Sky Resort owner) president and chief executive Stephen Kircher told the Times.
Although Big Sky Resort has ways to go before establishing itself among the likes of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Whistler, British Columbia and Aspen, Colorado, among other heavyweights, it's already a worthy destination for skiers.
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