Articles

Published in the Bozeman Chronicle, January, 2007.

Many people, even in Montana , think of Big Sky as merely a great ski resort and not as a full-fledged community or an economic engine. However, the truth is that Big Sky is actually an internationally renowned ski and summer destination resort as well as a place to call home for many part-time residents. Both of these facts lead to Big Sky having a significant financial impact on Montana 's economy through its tourism and construction industries.

Big Sky is relatively small in size yet is experiencing steady growth. The 2000 census information reported a little over 1,200 Big Sky residents, though estimates now increase that figure to about 2,000 “locals”. The business community also continues to grow with the number increasing from 121 operational businesses in 1999 to 171 in 2004, which was the most current data produced by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Of course the big difference about Big Sky versus most other Montana towns is the large number of part-time residents who have vacation homes in the area but call somewhere else “home” for most of the year. These homeowners have been building new homes and supporting the construction industry substantially. The best indicator of this building activity can be demonstrated by reviewing property tax records over time. The Department of Revenue's most current data is only through 2004, yet clearly shows the economic impact that Big Sky has on Montana 's economy as a whole. The information just published by the Montana Department of Commerce Census and Economic Information Center states “From 1999 to 2004, the taxable value of residential property in Madison County (location of most of the Yellowstone Club at Big Sky, parts of Spanish Peaks Resort, Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin Ranch) expanded by 80%. Gallatin County 's taxable property increased 45% during the same time period while Montana 's grew by 22%.”

More current statistics report that residential construction, commercial construction, and additional infrastructure in Big Sky will result in an estimated $476 million in expenditures in 2006. Projections for the subsequent 5 to 10 years show sustained spending at this level. Construction related jobs total 7,431 with a total compensation reaching $238,210,484. If you combine the direct effects, indirect effects (business-to-business exchanges), and induced effects (the spending by the employees on consumer goods), nearly 3,500 other workers are supported by this spending for a total of over 11,000 jobs attributable to Big Sky.

Tourism is also paramount to Big Sky's success. And although there are endless amenities and activities to enjoy in Big Sky, skiing is still the most prominent choice. The resorts track the number of daily visits with over 330,000 recorded in 2005. Golfing was reported to have 60,000 visits during that time period. This high level of tourism directly supports over 2,100 employees with compensation valued at over $21 million. These employees work in the lodging, restaurant, car rental, retail, and resort industries among others.

From its humble beginnings in the early 1970's when the main economy was subsistence ranching along with farming, timber harvesting, and guest ranching, Big Sky has come a long way. It is often considered one great big playground, but it has a serious side in that it helps to supply a substantial amount of quality jobs and is a valuable source of state individual income taxes.

Robyn Erlenbush is owner of ERA Landmark Real Estate (with offices in Bozeman, Big Sky, Livingston and Clyde Park) and Intermountain Property Management. She can be reached at robyn@eralandmark.com.

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