Big Sky Confirms Opening Day for Winter ’24/’25 Season; Touts New Upgrades

Another major ski resort has confirmed its opening date: Big Sky Resort, Montana, plans to start spinning the lifts on November 27th, 2024 (barring an act of Mother Nature, of course. The weather and conditions permitting caveat always applies).

There’s more to the news, though. A few major infrastructure projects are underway at Big Sky this summer.

The first of which is a massive, funky-looking (in a good way) lower terminal enclosure designed to protect the cabins of the Lone Peak Tram, which, after a significant facelift, re-opened in December 2023 . Composed of several hundred panels of inch-thick glass, the new enclosure is, fittingly, inspired by snowflakes.

“There's not going to be another one like it anywhere,” said Patrick Doolin, project lead for Jackson Contractor Group, whose team is working on the project.

The other enhancement directly benefits on-mountain skier circulation. Doppelmayr and Big Sky Resort crews are hard at work replacing the Six-Shooter lift with the brand-new Madison 8. Once complete, the eight-person lift, which is slated to nearly double uphill capacity and reduce ride time by 30%, will be the longest of its kind in the world. If everything goes as planned, it’ll open in December 2024.

“This lift replacement supports our long-standing reputation for having some of the shortest lift lines in the Rockies,” said Troy Nedved, the resort’s general manager.

The Madison 8 adds to an already-impressive lift roster at Big Sky. Both the Ramcharger 8 and the Swift Current 6 boast heated seats and weatherproof bubbles. The resort's claim-to-fame? "The most technologically advanced lift network in North America," per a blurb on its website.

While Big Sky had a challenging start to the ski season snowfall-wise in 2023 and 2024 , the time to write a new chapter is fast approaching. Before long, those webcams will start turning white as the first flakes of winter arrive. In the meantime, the resort’s bike park remains open until September 15th.

Related: Ikon Pass Adds Complimentary Bike Park Access to Benefits

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