Summertime Mountain Sanctuaries: Big Sky Montana

BIG SKY MONTANA

From the beginning, Big Sky has always seemed destined for the big time. In 1973, famous CBS newscaster Chet Huntley teamed up with a group of investors to turn the little-known Montana town into a resort community, complete with a ski area, golf course and housing developments-a retreat from the ordinary world and different than the glamorous resort towns of the day.

Unfortunately, Huntley never got to see his dream become reality-he died from cancer in 1974-but more than 30 years later Big Sky is one of the fastest-growing second-home locations in the country, and has more than surpassed Huntley's idyllic vision of a Montana paradise.

Most people know Big Sky from its stature as one of the premier skiing destinations in the United States-offering a whopping 5,300 acres of skiing when combined with neighboring Moonlight Basin Resort-but it hasn't always been that way, according to Tim Cyr, broker/owner of Big Sky Sotheby's International Realty. "Those who bought here in the early days were summer people who came here for the low humidity, 85-degree weather and no bugs," says Cyr, who moved to Big Sky in 1982. "Our summer is still great, but the ski area has really come alive."

Like much of the country, Big Sky has seen a slight downturn in the overall real estate economy over the past year, but the market for high-end vacation homes remains vibrant. Luxury destination clubs like The Yellowstone Club, the Club at Spanish Peaks and Moonlight Basin are drawing a kind of clientele not seen before, affluent baby boomers with money to spend on a second or third home for their family. "These people are nearing retirement and the majority of the them are still looking for their dream place in the mountains," Cyr says. "They are fueling our market."

For Chicago resident Brendan O'Brien, purchasing a second residence in Big Sky was an easy choice. Having gone to college at the University of Montana, O'Brien always knew he wanted a ski getaway in Montana, and when the time was right two years ago O'Brien bought a ski-in, ski-out condo near Big Sky Resort's Mountain Village. While he planned on using it during the winter, he was surprised at how much he enjoyed coming to Big Sky in the summer. "The summers are so peaceful here," says O'Brien, an avid golfer and hiker. "There is even more to do than during the winter, and often I feel like I have the place to myself."

One visit to Big Sky and it isn't hard to see the appeal. Located 45 miles south of the hip college town of Bozeman, the beautiful drive winds its way along the Gallatin River, a blue ribbon trout stream famous for its footage in A River Runs Through It, with panoramic views of the Gallatin and Madison Mountains on either side. Big Sky itself is dwarfed by its monarch, 11,166-foot Lone Peak, where skiers and snowboarders can descend more than 4,000 feet from the top to either Big Sky or Moonlight. The town is flanked by the Gallatin National Forest and the 254,000-acre Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, and is only 18 miles from the northwestern border of Yellowstone National Park. With all of these amenities, it's hard to believe there are only 2,000 full-time residents.

"It's beautiful, it's quiet, the skiing is great and the fly-fishing is amazing," adds Cathy Gorman, Cyr's wife and business partner. "The summers are very special here."

Ironically, as Gorman pointed out, Big Sky's relative isolation was formerly considered by many as a downfall, but these days is thought of as a plus. Especially with the popularity of private jets, Big Sky is really no more out of the way than Aspen or Sun Valley. In addition, commercial flights connect directly to Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Denver, Chicago and Seattle. But the perception of being in the middle of nowhere is one of the town's biggest strengths. "People that are coming here today like it better because of the difficulty in getting here," says Gorman. "Montana has the feeling of an out-of-the-way safe haven."

Those looking for a residence in Big Sky have several options. Right now, The Yellowstone Club, The Club at Spanish Peaks and Moonlight Basin are leading the charge for high-end property, offering private golf courses, ski-in, ski-out access and over-the-top amenities. Big Sky Resort is enhancing its Mountain Village area with several condominium and housing developments, while 10 miles down from the mountain the Meadow Village area is bursting with new construction, including single-family homes and condominiums. In addition, well-priced homes can still be found with Gallatin River frontage.

As Cyr describes, Big Sky is entering what he calls the third phase of its real estate market. During the first 20 years it was mostly second-home owners coming for the summer, while the next 10 years became more speculative as the ski resort business boomed, driving prices up at an astonishing rate. These days, Big Sky is back to where it should be, says Cyr, a destination for families to gather rather than a place just to make a buck.

"The market has come full circle," he says, adding that once-high prices are now leveling out. "It's a great time to be a buyer, there are some really great deals here."

It may have been slow going at first, but the big time for Big Sky has clearly arrived.


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