Big Sky · Montana
Inside the Yellowstone Club: The World’s Only Private Ski Resort, Where Even Billionaires Need an Invitation
No lift lines. No lift tickets. No public at all. High in the Montana Rockies, a 15,200-acre mountain kingdom has its own private ski terrain, its own golf course and a guest list that money alone cannot get you onto.
Picture a powder day with no one else on the mountain. No lift line, no ticket scanner, no crowd waiting at the top of your favorite run. Just fresh snow, a private lift and a hot lunch waiting at the lodge. For almost everyone, that is a fantasy. For the members of the Yellowstone Club, it is a regular Tuesday.
Tucked into the mountains of Big Sky, in southwest Montana, the Yellowstone Club bills itself as the world’s only private ski and golf community, and it may be the most exclusive address in American skiing. Its gates close off roughly 15,200 acres of the Rocky Mountains, its member roster is famously guarded, and there is no such thing as a day pass. You cannot buy your way in for an afternoon. You have to be invited, and you have to own a piece of the mountain.
No lift lines. No lift tickets. No public at all.
The Yellowstone Club by the Numbers
- About 15,200 acres of private Montana mountains.
- 2,900+ skiable acres reserved for members and guests.
- 2,700 vertical feet of private ski terrain.
- 5,800 more acres next door at Big Sky Resort, skiable straight from the club.
- About 1 hour from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
Skiing with the mountain to yourself
The heart of the Yellowstone Club is its skiing. More than 2,900 acres and 2,700 vertical feet of terrain are set aside for members and their guests alone, served by the club’s own private lift network, with groomed cruisers, tree runs and steep powder fields that stay untracked long after a storm. The club has a name for it: Private Powder. And because the club shares a boundary with Big Sky Resort, members can also ski straight into one of the largest ski areas in the country, home to roughly 5,800 more acres and the iconic Lone Peak.
Lodges, dining and the good life after skiing
Life off the slopes is just as polished. The grand Warren Miller Lodge, named for the legendary ski filmmaker, anchors the club’s social life, while Rainbow Lodge serves bistro-style dining in winter and doubles as an event venue in summer. Throughout the club, chefs, ski valets and attendants handle everything from boot warming to dinner reservations, so the only decision members have to make is which run to take next. The club’s wellness offerings round out the day, a quiet counterpoint to a morning of Private Powder.
Golf, fly fishing and summers in the Rockies
When the snow melts, the Yellowstone Club becomes a summer playground. Its 18-hole championship golf course winds through mountain meadows with views of the surrounding peaks, and members spend long days hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and fly fishing in some of the most beautiful country in the West. Families have their own programs too, which is a big part of why so many members treat the club as a year-round home.
So, how do you get in?
This is the question everyone asks, and the answer is simple: it is not easy. Membership is by invitation, and it is tied to owning property inside the club, from homesites to mountain residences and grand ski-in, ski-out estates, along with an initiation fee and annual dues. Prospective owners typically begin with the club’s real estate team, which can arrange a visit for approved buyers. Members have long included a who’s who of business, sports and entertainment, though the club is famously discreet about who belongs.
The rest of us can still get a taste of Big Sky. Neighboring Big Sky Resort is open to the public, and nearby Montage Big Sky in Spanish Peaks offers a luxury mountain resort stay, close enough that you can look up at the Yellowstone Club’s peaks and imagine.
Yellowstone Club — At a Glance
- Where
- Big Sky, southwest Montana
- Size
- About 15,200 acres
- Skiing
- 2,900+ private acres and 2,700 vertical feet, with direct access to Big Sky Resort
- Summer
- 18-hole championship golf, hiking, biking, riding and fly fishing
- Lodges
- Warren Miller Lodge and Rainbow Lodge
- Access
- Members and guests only; membership by invitation with property ownership
- Getting there
- About an hour from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
Plan Your Big Sky Trip
The Yellowstone Club may be members only, but Big Sky is open to everyone. Book a stay, ski Big Sky Resort and see the mountains for yourself.
Visit the Yellowstone ClubFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Yellowstone Club?
The Yellowstone Club is a private, members-only ski, golf and adventure community in Big Sky, Montana. It spans roughly 15,200 acres of the Rocky Mountains and bills itself as the world’s only private ski and golf community, with members-only ski terrain, a championship golf course, lodges, dining and outdoor adventures.
How many skiable acres does the Yellowstone Club have?
The Yellowstone Club has more than 2,900 skiable acres and 2,700 vertical feet of private ski terrain, and members can also ski directly into the adjacent Big Sky Resort, home to about 5,800 acres of ski terrain.
Where is the Yellowstone Club?
The Yellowstone Club is in Big Sky, in southwest Montana, about an hour’s drive from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and roughly 50 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.
Can anyone visit the Yellowstone Club?
No. The Yellowstone Club is open only to members and their guests. Prospective property owners can arrange a visit through the club’s real estate team, but there is no public access, no day tickets and no lift passes for sale.
How do you join the Yellowstone Club?
Membership is by invitation and is tied to owning property within the club, along with an initiation fee and annual dues. Prospective members typically begin by working with the club’s real estate team to find a homesite or residence.
What is there to do at the Yellowstone Club besides skiing?
Beyond skiing, members enjoy an 18-hole championship golf course, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fly fishing, family programs, private dining and events at lodges such as the Warren Miller Lodge and Rainbow Lodge.
Where can non-members stay near the Yellowstone Club?
Visitors to Big Sky can stay at public resorts and hotels in the area, including Montage Big Sky in neighboring Spanish Peaks and the lodging at Big Sky Resort, which shares a mountain boundary with the Yellowstone Club.
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