Skiers celebrate: Montage Big Sky shares more details about its December launch

Montage has disclosed new information about one of the most eagerly awaited hotel openings of 2021.

The highly anticipated Montage Big Sky is set to open on December 15, 2021, in Big Sky, Montana, perfectly timed for the winter ski season.

While destinations like Aspen, Colorado, and Park City, Utah, are known for their luxury accommodations, this will mark the first luxury resort in the Montana mountain town, renowned for its superb skiing, hiking, fly fishing, golfing, and various outdoor activities.

Skiing guests will enjoy the convenience of ski in/ski out access to over 5,800 skiable acres at Big Sky Mountain Resort, complete with ski lockers and additional ski services available at the resort.

Situated approximately five miles west of Big Sky Town Center, on the eastern side of Big Sky Mountain Resort, Montage Big Sky offers year-round amenities, including an indoor lap pool with a sleek mountain design, a Powder Park featuring snow tubing and biking, and direct access to the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club's 18-hole golf course, designed by Tom Weiskopf.

Renderings depict the 150-room establishment as a contemporary mountain resort, showcasing abundant glass, wood, and stone, along with expansive windows that frame the breathtaking views of the nearby Spanish Peaks mountain range.

For those seeking wellness, the Spa Montage features an expansive 10,000-square-foot alpine-themed space, complete with 12 treatment rooms (including couples' rooms), a lap pool, heated plunge pools, and steam rooms situated within gender-specific relaxation lounges. A full-service salon is also available on-site.

The gym, as you would expect, is designed to ensure no muscle group is overlooked, featuring essential Peloton, Technogym, and TRX equipment, along with free weights and a variety of group classes.

If you’ve experienced stays at Montage Deer Valley or other Montage properties, you probably know that the brand masterfully combines family-friendly amenities with stylish designs that appeal to adults as well.

Montage Big Sky is set to continue this trend of family entertainment. The resort will include an indoor bowling alley, a family swimming pool, and the brand's engaging children's program, Paintbox, offering half or full-day sessions for kids aged 5 to 12, featuring locally themed arts and crafts as well as outdoor activities.

Outdoors, the resort's Powder Park recreation zone will feature a dedicated area for novice skiers and snowboarders to hone their skills before hitting the slopes, along with a 450-foot-long snow tubing run.

Big Sky is one of those mountain towns that locals often say visitors come for the winter but end up staying for the summer.

In summary, there’s nearly no bad season in this western wonderland.

During the warmer months, popular mountain activities include hiking and mountain biking, as well as fly fishing just a short drive from the resort on three rivers famed for the sport.

You’re also about an hour's drive from Yellowstone National Park, and the resort concierge can assist in arranging guided tours and wildlife excursions to the park throughout the year.

The resort boasts six on-site restaurants, which are also open to non-guests, offering a diverse menu that includes Italian cuisine, casual pub fare, and locally-sourced Montana ingredients.

Cortina, the signature restaurant of the property, draws inspiration from rustic Northern Italian dishes, many of which are prepared in the open-hearth wood-fired oven. For a more casual experience, Beartooth Pub & Rec, located near the hotel’s arcade and bowling alley, offers ice cream sundaes for kids, wood-fired pizzas, and local craft beers in a relaxed setting.

During après-ski in The Living Room and Alpenglow, keep an eye out for a "roaming raclette cart" (a delightful winter trend) featuring all the accompaniments to complement the melting cheese, such as pickled veggies and hearth-baked sourdough bread.

The hotel’s grab-and-go option is Wildflower Market, where you can find baked goods, picnic supplies, coffees, and more.

Montana's ranching heritage is reflected at Backcast Bar & Grill (set to open in late January 2022), an open-air dining venue expected to become a popular spot for both après-ski and summer evenings, featuring fire pits, craft cocktails, and "ranch-inspired sandwiches" (whatever those may be), alongside more substantial winter dishes.

As of early August 2021, the resort's website indicated several sold-out dates in January and February, with more availability in December and March.

When TPG inquired about rates on August 3, 2021, we learned that there is a two-night minimum stay required in December and January, with an eight-night minimum during the busy holiday season from December 25 to January 1, 2022.

We received quotes starting at $1,595 per night (before taxes) for a resort-view room accommodating three guests (with a king bed and pullout sofa) on December 16 and 17, while January rates (January 3 and 4) began at $1,845 per night for a similar room with a superior view.

If you’re considering a stay at the new property, it’s advisable to book sooner rather than later—currently, the website features a promotion offering a 15 percent discount on the best available rate for reservations made at least 45 days in advance.