WELCOME TO BIG SKY
Big Sky, Montana, is a unique mountain resort community as envisioned in the late 1960s by its founder, pioneering newscaster, and Montana native Chet Huntley.
Born a seasonal destination ski resort, today Big Sky is home to Big Sky Resort’s Biggest Skiing in America in winter and acts as a Gateway Community to Yellowstone National Park in summer. Far removed from any urban center, Big Sky’s location at the junction of U.S. Hwy 191 and MT Hwy 64 (Lone Mountain Trail) in south-central Montana is equidistant 45 miles south of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) through the scenic Gallatin Canyon and north of the west entrance to Yellowstone, America’s First National Park. Big Sky itself is situated at the base of iconic Lone Peak, elevation 11,166 feet, and encompasses the “Canyon,” “Meadow,” and “Mountain” areas, each with its own distinct culture and personality.
BUSINESS IN BIG SKY
Big Sky, however, is not a place where it’s business as usual. Being an unincorporated, census-designated place (CDP) straddling two counties – Gallatin and Madison – with seven special districts, 100s of Homeowners Associations (HOAs), a myriad of nonprofits, and engaged citizens all contributing to its local governance, creates a complex local governance operating framework. In addition, business owners define success differently here (usually in the number of days spent on the mountain), and their employees' mountain time mindset and motivations, more than not, mirror that.
Rooted in Outdoor Recreation, tourism is the #1 industry driving Big Sky’s growth and contributing substantially to the $3B statewide Tourism economy. Not only is outdoor recreation the reason why people visit here, but it is why they eventually choose to move here. Consequently, Construction/Development and Real Estate are additional stronghold industries driving the Big Sky economy. Home to approximately 3,000 full-time residents, along with a significant part-time resident population and thriving visitation, Big Sky plays host to upwards of 15,000 people during peak periods throughout the year. This translates to roughly 4,200 jobs held by 3,000 employees due to the significant seasonality of the job market.
Economic Report
Here you can find our 2022 Economic Profile, an in-depth report highlighting emerging opportunities, the current state of business-supporting infrastructure, and the industries driving growth, along with forecasts of what Big Sky is poised to become.