Big Sky, Montana, is a winter sports mecca — and it just got its first luxury ski-in/ski-out resort

Southwest Montana has long attracted skiers and snowboarders; now, with the arrival of the ski-in/ski-out destination Montage Big Sky, which started welcoming guests near the Spanish Peaks and Big Sky Resort’s mountain village last month, it’s about to become even more of a hot spot for travellers of all types.

The backstory: This is Big Sky’s first luxury hotel, and California-based Montage Hotels & Resorts invested $400 million (U.S.) into the alpine development. Surrounded by wilderness, it’s also just a 20-minute drive from Big Sky Resort, where you can access 5,850 skiable acres and a 4,350-foot vertical drop.

The space: There are 100 rustic yet elegant rooms and suites (from $1,785), ranging from 530 to 2,735 square feet. Drawing on the state’s timber and mining history, locally sourced wood and stone are used throughout, including in wall-to-wall shelving and cabinets, and striking black marble countertops and soaker tubs in the bathrooms. Select rooms also feature fireplaces and private balconies; you’ll get a stunning view in each, but the most exceptional is the panorama you’ll see from the Spanish Peak Suite.

The dining: After you’ve worked up an appetite on the slopes, head to one of the six on-site restaurants. At Cortina, dine on Italian dishes (like handmade pastas) with a Montanan twist (a hearty bison filet, for example), or sample Buffalo wings and other classic bar fare at Beartooth Pub & Rec, where you’ll also find a bowling alley and vintage arcade games. Stop by Alpenglow for après-ski craft cocktails and comfort food (like a cheesy shepherd’s pie or baked brie with truffle honey butter), or warm up at the Living Room, a cosy lounge space with bourbon high-tea service and board games.

The extra amenities: If you’re here for skiing and snowboarding, Compass Sports is on hand for fittings and gear rentals. For less rigorous outings, try the family-friendly tubing hill or ice rink. In warmer months, guests can access the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club’s 18-hole golf course, designed by former pro player Tom Weiskopf, as well as rivers for fly fishing, and trails for mountain biking and hiking. If you’re the indoorsy type, head to the 10,000-square-foot Spa Montage, where the menu includes a massage meant to help you adjust to the high altitude. You’ll also find an indoor lap pool, heated plunge pools, steam rooms and a fully equipped gym.

Surrounded by the Spanish Peaks, the resort’s guest rooms offer mountain views.
The nearby sights: Yellowstone National Park is less than an hour’s drive away, so make time for a guided tour. Take a private car through the landmark, where you can see the famous Old Faithful geyser, gaze out from the picturesque Artist Point overlook and stop at the Grand Prismatic Spring, the world’s third-largest hot spring. Keep your eyes open: you may even spot bison, moose and bighorn sheep.

Book your stay.

Montage opens alpine wellness retreat amid Rocky Mountains of Montana

Montage Hotels and Resorts has unveiled a luxury all-season alpine resort in Southwest Montana, complete with a signature Spa Montage. Developed in partnership with Lone Mountain Land Company, Montage realised the 139-key ski-in ski-out resort with an 11,000sq ft spa, six dining venues, 39 residences and 12,000sq ft of meeting space.

The destination is situated 7,000sq ft above sea level and is set against the backdrop of Montana’s alpine region of Big Sky Country. Spa Montage Big Sky delivers wellness rituals from Valmont, Arcona Facials, HydraFacial and Oxylight in an alpine-inspired space. Design touches include surfaces appearing like alpine rocks, angled millwork that mimics the angles of snowy mountaintops and calming cove lighting.

 

The best new hotels to book in 2022

(CNN) — Though 2021 was not exactly the year of jet-setting travel that we’d hoped for, we have our fingers crossed for 2022. From cool urban hideaways in Oslo, Sydney and New York to far-flung island escapes in Mozambique, Indonesia and the Maldives, there’s an exciting array of hotels opening across the world.
We’ve handpicked 22 incredible hotels with openings in 2021 and 2022 for you to stay at — or dream of — in the new year.S tarting rates are included where available.

Montage Big Sky, United States
Just opened in December, Montage Big Sky is Montana’s first luxury five-star resort.
The $400 million resort has 150 plush guest rooms and suites and 39 residences in a sleek mountain modern design featuring regional wood and stone finishes.

While the main draw is the ski-in, ski-out access to Big Sky’s world-class slopes, the Montage is also a destination unto itself, with its 10,000 square foot alpine spa, a bowling alley and multiple eateries, including a barbecue restaurant and smokehouse.

Where to Travel in 2022

For a certain subset of the population, the luxury western ranch trip has become a near-obligatory rite of passage in recent years. Montage is just the latest to seize on this opportunity—on December 15, it officially opened the doors to a sprawling new resort in Big Sky, Montana, becoming the first luxury ski hotel to ever be built in this picturesque region.

And just like that, another extraordinary year nears its end. In between wrapping up the rest of 2021 with subdued holiday gatherings and quiet champagne toasts at home, the mind inevitably wanders. To what could be in 2022. To the trips we may finally get to check off that bucket list, whether it’s to see the Scottish countryside from a sumptuous train fit for a royal, or to soak in the same ochre-hued New Mexico landscape that so captivated Georgia O’Keeffe for many years.

15 Best Winter Wedding Venues Across the U.S.

While many flock south for a winter wedding with their toes in the sand, there are those who dream of creating a wedding wonderland that rivals a scene from a shimmering snow globe. If you’re warming up to the idea of a wintery milieu, we’ve called in wedding expert Jennifer Allen to share her tips for cold weather location scouting. Her first word of advice: “Since ‘wedding season’ is typically over by the winter, be sure to ask if your venue offers a winter discount.”

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Spanish Peaks Mountain range is Montage Big Sky, the city’s first-ever luxury ski hotel set that opened in December 2021. Featuring three outdoor event lawns, two ballrooms, expansive promenades, and vista-rich terraces, the resort has over 12,870 square feet of space to choose from to create the perfect wedding in the mountains.

Explore Montana’s Newest Luxury Hotel
Montage Big Sky opens for year-round adventure in the Rocky Mountains

Montage Big Sky, a modern alpine retreat offering an elevated spirit of comfort and distinctive amenities that epitomize today’s sense of luxury, is now open in an idyllic location for year-round adventures in Southwest Montana. The resort is located less than an hour from Yellowstone National Park and surrounded by vast wilderness.

Montage Big Sky brings the first luxury resort to the destination, offering an unparalleled array of experiences for every season, including ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort, three world-class Blue Ribbon fly-fishing rivers, a private 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf, a 10,000-square-foot Spa Montage, mountain-inspired dining and more.

The 30 Best Ski-In and Ski-Out Resorts In The World For 2022

ONES TO WATCH

Montage Big Sky – Montana

Opening December 2021, the luxury resort is home to 139 large guestrooms, suites and residences with ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort, 3 world-class fly-fishing rivers, a 10,000-square-foot Spa Montage, and more. The expert ski concierge service and on-mountain hosts, will get you into your boots, clip into your skis and slide down to your own easy-access chairlift, bypassing the crowds at the base.

Grand Living, Big Sky

Calling all luxury adventurers. This winter, head west to the powdery pitches of Big Sky, the iconic beauty of nearby Yellowstone National Park, and an inviting new retreat at some seriously luxurious digs – Montage Big Sky. Mountain modern meets classic ski lodge – grand vaulted ceilings, warm wood and local stone, all nestled within Big Sky’s exclusive Spanish Peaks enclave. The cosseting formula many of us know from Montage Deer Valley has been lavished on these 150 guest rooms and suites located within the second largest ski area in the United States by acreage. Providing smooth ski-in, ski-out access to 5,800 skiable acres, Montana also means fantastic wildlife spotting, scenic Nordic skiing, snowshoeing trails and, depending on the month, cozy proximity to world-renowned fly-fishing. Back at the lodge, expect the same fine service found in Montage properties from Cabo to the Caribbean: superlative cuisine, classy cocktails, a bowling alley and indoor lap pool, family swimming pool, fitness center, and a very fine Spa Montage featuring the finest Tata Harper and Valmont in a dozen treatment rooms. Prepare to be lavished.

SoCal Hotel Transforms Fourth Floor Into Wellness Retreat, Plus 3 New Hotels Out West

Montana

Slated to open in December, Montage Big Sky aims to be a year-round, luxury mountain haven located within Big Sky’s 3,530-acre Spanish Peaks enclave. The property will feature a modern mountain design and offer 139 guestrooms, suites and residences. Amenities include a three-meal restaurant, lobby bar and lounge, recreation room with a bowling alley, indoor lap pool, family swimming pool, a spa and nearly 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Montage Big Sky will have proximity to outdoor amenities offering ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky’s 5,800 skiable acres and access to Spanish Peaks Mountain Club’s 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course. Guests can also enjoy hiking, mountain biking, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing trails.

10 New Luxe Hotels Opening in the US This Fall, From Napa to New York

Whether you’re looking for a sleek city retreat or a cushy ski hub, you’ll find it on this list.

Montage Big Sky

The first truly luxury resort in the area will have a lot to love on its 5,850 acres, from ski-in, ski-out access to Big Sky Resort and three fly-fishing rivers to a Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole golf course and a 10,000-square-foot spa. Also sure to be a favorite: The Living Room, a lounge with vaulted ceilings and oversized windows with views of the Spanish Peak Mountains where you can enjoy an après-ski bourbon tea service or the table-side “Bubbles & Raclette” cheese-and-Champagne cart. (It will be one of six dining establishments at the property.) Located 45-minutes from Yellowstone National Park, the resort evokes the Big Sky vibe with regional wood and stone throughout its interiors, while the 139 rooms have fireplaces, Montana-made art, heated bathroom floors and striking Black Cosmic Granite counters that mimic the jagged peaks outside your window. Opening December 2021; rooms start at $1,395 per night.