Newsman Chet Huntley and his consortium developed Big Sky Resort in the early 1970s. Since then it has grown to become a year-round, world-class recreation area with “the Biggest Skiing in America,” four ski resorts and a vibrant community around them. Located on the meadows of the West Fork in the Gallatin Canyon, this area was early on a microcosm of pioneer hardiness and activity characteristic of the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Throughout its early history, one finds Native Americans, trappers, miners, loggers, cowboys and ranchers. Some of their ventures failed and some succeeded as the land and weather allowed. The most successful ventures were the dude ranches that introduced the pleasures that remain today: hunting, fishing, trail rides, touring Yellowstone Park and even skiing.
All author proceeds from the sale of this book are being donated to the Historic Crail Ranch Conservators.
Highlights of Big Sky include:
• Documentation of the haying operation in the horse-drawn era
• Complete set of images of the cattle operations of the mid-20th century
• Description of the dude ranching experience from 1908 to 1970
• Examples of recreation before the ski resort
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Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit arcadiapublishing.com.
