Opened in late 1973, Big Sky has grown over the last 35 years. Big Sky Resort also offers meeting space for conferences, weddings and corporate retreats. Other offerings include golf, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and tennis. In addition, the resort is only 16 miles (26 km) from the world-renowned Yellowstone National Park.
The resort was the vision of NBC News anchorman Chet Huntley, a Montana native. Big Sky opened in December 1973 with a main base area at an elevation of 7510 feet (2290 m) on the eastern face of Lone Mountain, the sixty-seventh highest mountain in Montana, and the seventh-highest mountain in the state outside of the Beartooth Range (11,166 feet, 3403 m). After its third season, Boyne Resorts purchased the resort in 1976, following Huntley's death from cancer in March 1974 and the decision of owner Chrysler Corporation to divest its real estate development assets.
The growth off of the slopes was highlighted in 1990 with the addition of the Shoshone Condominium Hotel and the Yellowstone Conference Center, which increased summer business to the resort. In April 2000, Boyne Resorts announced that an estimated $400 million in improvements would take place over the next ten years to Mountain Village and the ski area. Later in 2000, the $54 million Summit Hotel was completed, providing four-star, ski-in ski-out accommodations. In late 2007, the $25 million Village Center Complex was opened, expanding the shopping, dining, and ski-in ski-out accommodation options.
Big Sky is primarily known for its winter activities, which include ski and snowboard terrain, a terrain park, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, but it has become an increasingly popular summer attraction as well. Horseback riding and hiking the trails are available on the mountain, with golf and tennis available further down by the Meadow Village. Fly fishing and whitewater rafting are popular on the Gallatin River. Lake kayaking is available at Hebgen Lake 50 miles (80 km) south. Big Sky is a convenient and comfortable base camp for excursions into the nearby Yellowstone National Park, only 16 miles (26 km) away.
