Big Sky's Decade of Investment: Done and Next

Ten years ago, Big Sky Resort set out to become one of the best mountain destinations in North America. This year, readers of Condé Nast Traveler named it the number one ski resort in the country. That didn't happen by accident. It happened by building, and the building has reshaped what it means to own property in Big Sky.

The plan: Big Sky 2025

Big Sky's owner, Boyne Resorts, launched a ten-year plan called Big Sky 2025 back in 2016, announced at $150 million. Boyne no longer discloses what it spends, but the resort says the plan is now complete. Over that decade it added 13 new lifts.

What they built

A few of the biggest projects:

• Ramcharger 8 (2018): the first eight-seat chairlift in North America
• Swift Current 6 (2021): up to 50% more uphill capacity out of the Mountain Village base
• Lone Peak Tram (2023): carries up to 75 people to the 11,166-foot summit, up from 15 on the old tram
• Madison 8: billed as the world's longest eight-seat chairlift
• Explorer Gondola (2025): a 10-person gondola that replaced a 1973 double chair and links Mountain Village to the tram

With the Explorer Gondola, you can now ride from the base to the top of Lone Peak, and even non-skiers can reach the summit in winter. Up top, a glass-floored observatory called Kircliff looks out over three states and two national parks. The resort now spans 5,850 skiable acres served by 40 lifts, one of the largest ski areas in the country.

Hospitality followed the lifts. One&Only opened its first ski destination at Moonlight Basin for the 2025-26 season, and Michelin-starred chef Grant Achatz's M by The Alinea Group returns this winter for a second season. SKI Magazine named Big Sky the top resort in the West, and Expedia named it its 2026 Destination of the Year.

New this winter

Big Sky opens Wednesday, November 25. New this season is a learning center at the gondola's mid-station with its own beginner terrain, so new skiers have their own space away from the base area. The Iglu snow bar at the base of the tram returns with a bigger footprint.

What's left

With Big Sky 2025 finished, the obvious question is what comes next. As of now, Boyne hasn't publicly announced a new lift or terrain master plan for Big Sky. What is on the books is company-wide: Boyne's ForeverProject 2030 plan commits its resorts to net-zero carbon emissions and 100% clean electricity by 2030, which means more work on building efficiency and energy across the mountain. Housing for resort workers remains an ongoing challenge in Big Sky as it is in most mountain towns. When Boyne announces its next major plan, I'll cover it here.

What it means for real estate

Resort investment tends to support demand for property around it. Better lifts mean shorter lines and more people who want to be close to them. A few things to understand before you buy in Big Sky:

• HOA dues and resort fees vary widely between communities, and they're part of the real cost of ownership.
• Rental rules differ by community and by zoning. Check them before you count on rental income. Our rental guide is a starting point.
• The drive matters. Most trips in and out of Big Sky use the Gallatin Canyon road, and winter conditions can change your day.

A builder's view of Big Sky

Building in Big Sky is a different job than building in the valley. Higher elevation brings heavy snow loads, a shorter construction season and steeper sites, and getting crews and materials up the canyon adds cost. If you're buying land to build, budget for that from the start and get a builder's read on the site before you close. Our Big Sky area guide and ski season outlook are good next reads.

Thinking about a place in Big Sky? I'd be glad to help you look at it with a builder's eye.