How One Resort Is Changing the Montana Ski Scene in Just Its Second Season on the Slopeshttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/mbs.png883585Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Montage Big Sky is elevating the luxury ski vacation through personalized service — whatever your level.
Perched on 3,530 acres of Montana’s Spanish Peaks mountain range, Montage Big Sky has managed to swiftly redefine luxury skiing in the area since opening in December 2021.
Checking into Montage Big Sky this past December, I was immediately blown away by the resort’s design. Natural wood and stone blend seamlessly with modern touches to create a charming and sophisticated mountain retreat just an hour south of Bozeman. The resort boasts 139 guest rooms, suites, and residences, and oversized windows throughout the property ensure that guests can enjoy the breathtaking peaks towering in the distance. If my entire time at Montage Big Sky had been spent in just the lobby and my guest room, I would have walked away raving about the experience. However, the rooms are just the start of what makes the resort so special, and my adventure was just getting started.
There are a myriad of winter activities to choose from at Montage Big Sky from November through April. Guests can enjoy a classic ski day with ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort, but Montage also offers snowshoeing, tubing, and even ice skating for those looking for something different to try during their stay. Even just exploring the hotel is an activity in itself — from the artwork by local creators, to the on-site boutiques and bar and lounge areas, to the bowling alley. I was excited to experience as much as possible, but my first priority was taking advantage of the clear skies and pristine slopes with a beginner ski lesson.
The Outdoors Are Calling Thrill-Seekers At Montage Big Sky In Montanahttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/montage-interior-1024x658.jpg1024658Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
The outdoors are calling at Montage Big Sky, where thrill-seekers gain unparalleled access to Big Sky Resort’s stunning ski terrain and nearby Yellowstone National Park.
Views of the spectacular Spanish Peaks abound from the cozy interiors at Montage Big Sky.
Since revealing its debut property in 2003—Montage Laguna Beach located in sunny Southern California—Montage Hotels & Resorts has spread its wings with six more properties spanning the United States. The seventh address in its coveted portfolio is tucked within the 3,500-acre enclave of the Spanish Peaks in Big Sky, Mont., and bowed in December 2021. Welcome to Montage Big Sky, an ode to the après-ski lifestyle that was designed by San Francisco’s Hart Howerton Architects Design with interiors by fellow San Fran favorite BraytonHughes Design Studios. “We are extremely proud to debut Montage Big Sky, which brings a first-of-its-kind resort experience to the Rocky Mountains of Montana, with striking design, extraordinary culinary offerings and incredible access to year-round adventure,” shares Alan J. Fuerstman, founder, chairman and CEO of Montage International.
Montage Big Sky’s Deluxe Peak King room includes unobstructed views, a fireplace and a private balcony or terrace.
Located just an hour from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montage Big Sky features 139 guest rooms, suites and on-the-market residences, with starting prices clocking in at $1.5 million. Whether you stay for a week or choose to make your visit a bit more permanent, all accommodations provide access to Montage’s signature amenities. At Big Sky, that includes ski-in, ski-out access to 5,850 acres of fresh powder; tee times at the 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed fairway at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club; relaxing treatments at the 10,000-square-foot Spa Montage Big Sky; and dining options at six on-site concepts.
The luxe lobby
At Alpenglow, the resort’s wintry watering hole, notable musicians perform live as guests belly up to the bar or settle in by the floor-to-ceiling fireplace to enjoy Montage Belgian Imperial Osetra caviar, charcuterie and sips, like the Woodford bourbon-spiked Après Delight. For a dinner to remember, book a reservation at Cortina, where mountain views and beautiful interior design are paired with renowned wines and Italian fare from the wood-fired oven—don’t miss the short rib sugo, if available, as the menu changes with the seasons.
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 realized 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 7,000ft 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 facility is home to 12 treatment rooms, heated plunge pools, steam rooms, separate-sex relaxation spaces, an indoor pool, a boutique, and a salon.
Programming highlights include a ritual designed to help guests acclimatize to the resort’s high altitude.
The treatment is claimed to open the diaphragm and lung points, ease headache tension, and ground guests. The experience is then rounded out with an oxygen beverage to assist in delivering oxygen to the cells.
With a starting cost of US$280 (€248, £210), the ritual is available for 60-,90- or 120-minutes.
Spa-goers can also access a fitness center surrounded by mountain views and supplied by Technogym, TRX, Woodway, and Peloton, with a studio for classes and a Yoga Lawn for soft arts practices.
Conceptualized by Hart Howerton with interiors by BraytonHughes Design Studios, Montage Big Sky was designed as a contemporary take on the classic North American lodge.
Fashioned in a palette of rustic materials, including regional wood and stones, and drawing inspiration from Montana’s history – from mining, timber, agriculture, and ranching – Montage Big Sky is a modern expression of mountain luxury.
“We’re extremely proud to debut Montage Big Sky, which brings a first-of-its-kind resort experience to the Rocky Mountains of Montana, with striking design, extraordinary culinary offerings, and incredible access to year-round adventure,” said Alan J Fuerstman, founder, chair, and CEO of Montage.
The location has easy access to the US’ second-largest ski resort – called Big Sky Resort – offering 5,800 skiable acres and an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course.
In addition, Montage Big Sky is located 18 miles from the magnificent Yellowstone National Park, a vast wildlife haven containing the world’s largest concentration of geysers.
The best new hotels to book in 2022https://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/http___cdn.cnn_.com_cnnnext_dam_assets_211224160740-new-hotels-montage-big-sky.jpg634357Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Montage Big Sky opened in December with ski-in, ski-out access to world-class slopes. Christian Horan Photography/Montage Big Sky
(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.
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.
Montage Hotels & Resorts Announces the Opening of Montage Big Skyhttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/montage-interior-1024x658.jpg1024658Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Montage Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of Montage Big Sky, a modern alpine retreat offering an elevated spirit of comfort and distinctive amenities that epitomize today’s sense of luxury, in an idyllic location for year-round adventures in Southwest Montana. The resort is located less than an hour from Yellowstone National Park and is 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’s 5,850 skiable acres, 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.
Developed in partnership with Lone Mountain Land Company, the development affiliate of CrossHarbor Capital Partners, Montage Big Sky features 139 artfully designed guestrooms, suites, and residences; six distinct dining venues; Spa Montage Big Sky, the first full-service spa experience in the destination featuring cutting-edge wellness technology; an expansive fitness center and indoor lap pool; state-of-the-art recreation room with sports simulators; bowling alley; and a curated art collection featuring works from local and regional artists.
“We are extremely proud to debut Montage Big Sky, which brings a first-of-its-kind resort experience to the Rocky Mountains of Montana, with striking design, extraordinary culinary offerings, and incredible access to year-round adventure,” said Alan J. Fuerstman, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Montage International. “Combined with the personalized and gracious service that has become a hallmark of Montage Hotels & Resorts, we look forward to welcoming guests and the local community to enjoy the magic of the American West and relax in one of the most inspiring destinations in the world.”
Resort Design:
Concepted by Hart Howerton with interiors by BraytonHughes Design Studios, Montage Big Sky was designed as a contemporary take on the classic North American lodge. Fashioned with a modern sensibility in a palette of timeless materials, including regional wood and stones, and taking iconic elements from Montana’s history – from mining, timber, agriculture, and ranching – Montage Big Sky is an elegant expression of mountain luxury that embodies the incomparable spirit and hospitality of the American West.
The guestrooms and suites showcase rustic hues and a neutral palette accented by pops of color in small details. In-room artworks contain a texture or tactility that conveys warmth and calmness, while others reference the experience of the resort and its surroundings.
A collection of 39 Montage Residences range in size from two to six bedrooms. Featuring timeless, comfortable styling, each embodies an enduring palette of regional materials such as hand-stacked stone, western-inspired lighting, and custom cabinetry, as well as state-of-the-art kitchens and grand fireplaces.
Culinary and Beverage Offerings:
Montage Big Sky delights guests with six inspiring dining venues featuring authentic epicurean experiences shaped by the rich agricultural heritage and wild bounty of Montana.
The resort’s signature dining experience Cortina serves rustic Northern Italian infused with local flare, perfect for satisfying appetites heightened by a day of alpine adventures. The menu features flavors of Northern Italy and an extensive selection of global wines served in a warm, inviting setting with an open-hearth, wood-fire oven, and stunning views.
Alpenglow is named for the vibrant pink-hued sunsets that light up the local mountains at the close of the day. The menu features savory bites with local brews and expertly handcrafted cocktails in a comfortable space of warm wood, glowing fireplaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows. A highlight includes the Après “Bubbles & Raclette” cart with artisanal accouterments.
The Living Room sits in the heart of the lobby framed by expansive windows with vistas of the Spanish Peaks. Warm and inviting, it’s a social hub for sharing experiences of the day with the coziness of a residential living room and offerings including Montana-inspired bourbon high tea service, and classic tabletop games to play with friends and family.
Beartooth Pub & Rec is an ideal destination for the young and young-at-heart with classic pub fare, wood-fired pizzas, decadent desserts and local craft beers served alongside amusements from bowling to darts and vintage arcade games.
Wildflower Market features local artisan goods, take-away meals, specialty coffee and tea, house-made ice cream, and more. Specialties include custom picnic baskets for guests to take on outdoor adventures and custom meal kits for those staying in residences.
The signature open-air Backcast Bar & Grille, opening in Summer 2022, showcases classic barbecue and smokehouse cooking at its finest. Come winter, it hosts the ultimate après-ski experience with hearty meals and craft cocktails, while in summer it’s the setting for Montana-inspired sandwiches, seasonal cocktails, lounging by the pool, and dining under the sun.
Spa and Wellness:
With an unparalleled mountain backdrop heightening relaxation, Spa Montage Big Sky delivers one-of-a-kind services and amenities in an alpine-inspired space. Design touches such as surfaces appearing as rocks that have been abstracted and sliced from boulders, angled millwork that mimics the angles of snowy mountaintops, and calming cove lighting suffuse the 10,000-square foot spa, creating a destination to embrace wellness within the twelve treatment rooms that include two couples’ treatment rooms, a full-service salon, as well as indoor lap pool, his and hers relaxations areas, heated plunge pools, and steam rooms. Spa goers can also access a state-of-the-art fitness center surrounded by mountain views, with a studio for classes and a Yoga Lawn for soft arts practices.
Outdoor Pursuits:
Montage Big Sky offers unparalleled access to seasonal outdoor pursuits for active and adventurous guests of all skill levels. Like Montana itself, options are expansive, from ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort’s 5,850 skiable acres and direct access to Spanish Peaks Mountain Club’s 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course, to destination excursions that include snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, guided tours of Yellowstone National Park, mountain biking, hiking and world-renowned fly-fishing.
Exclusive programming and equipment are available through the resort’s recreation outfitter, Compass Sports. Compass Sports has refined the resort’s ski and snowboard experience for the comfort of guests, who will find warm boots awaiting them in the morning, ski valets to assist with equipment needs, on-mountain hosts, and the most-current advanced ski tuning. Powder Park, located just steps from Compass Sports, is a one-of-a-kind recreation space featuring a 450-foot tubing hill, snow play, as well as a designated area for less experienced skiers and snowboarders looking to hone their skills prior to hitting the slopes.
For families, Montage’s signature immersive children’s program Paintbox, delights younger guests with elevated versions of locally inspired indoor and outdoor pursuits based on daily themes such as Camp Thunderbird, where children can make plaster casts of animal tracks and learn outdoor camping skills, and the Olympics, where they are invited to partake in Olympic themed activities such as obstacle courses and outdoor games, earning medals along the way.
Gatherings:
Montage Big Sky is an idyllic destination for meetings and events, with over 12,000 square feet of flexible space to ensure every business and social gathering is its own unforgettable affair. The design of each event space is rooted in nature, with an expansive boardroom, multiple executive rooms, and a grand 5,080-square foot ballroom.
The resort is a dream destination for weddings, receptions, and other momentous occasions for up to 400 guests. The Grand Ballroom offers a glamorous setting for celebrations with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, soaring ceilings covered in intricate wood paneling and signature double fireplaces. Ideal for alfresco cocktail parties and receptions, the Gallery Terrace outside offers spectacular views of the Spanish Peaks as the ultimate backdrop, while the Grand Terrace offers a crackling fire pit to add a distinguished mountain ambiance to any gathering. Additional outdoor spaces include two sprawling event lawns, expansive promenades, intimate terraces, and a well-appointed foyer.
The Season’s Most Exciting U.S. Ski News, from Resort Openings to Aprés Ski Funhttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Living-room-at-Montage-Big-Sky-1024x495.jpg1024495Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Last winter, ski resorts in the U.S. were quick to embrace COVID-friendly adjustments—food trucks, pop-up outdoor dining and seating, reservation requirements for both mountain access and (often severely limited) indoor dining—contributing to a semblance of normalcy in an otherwise abnormal year. There’s just as much exciting news this year, as well as the long-awaited return of aprés ski. If you’re planning a ski vacation this year, here’s what you need to know about the most highly anticipated openings at resorts around the country.
Montana’s Montage Big Sky opens December 15.; Courtesy Montage Big Sky
The Northern Rockies
If five-star lodging is required on your ski vacations, look no further than Big Sky, Montana. Ski-in and ski-out with a stay at Montage Big Sky, opening December 15. The posh property will feature local art, high tea, and aprés featuring charcuterie, caviar, and raclette, plus an elevated spa. Mountain enhancements include the launch of the fastest chairlift (heated, oversized seats, and a bubble, natch) in North America.
10 New Luxe Hotels Opening in the US This Fall, From Napa to New Yorkhttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MBS-Architecture-Guestroom-King-Mountain-View-West-Crop-2.jpg1000563Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Whether you’re looking for a sleek city retreat or a cushy ski hub, you’ll find it on this list.
As the tourism industry continues to rebound from the pandemic, hoteliers across the country are—cautiously, optimistically—doubling down by introducing new properties to help inspire travelers to hit the “book” button. In California wine country, for example, where tourism took a 62% dip last year, Four Seasons is finally set to open its much-anticipated vineyard-set resort. “This is an exciting moment, (as) we open up reservations and begin planning guest visits in tandem with the world’s return to travel,” says general manager Mehdi Eftekari.
Meanwhile, in New York City, the city’s tourism agency, NYC & Company, is predicting that the city will host around 38.2 million visitors in 2021, after only seeing some 22.9 million in 2020. And because all those people will need somewhere to stay, the city is set to welcome a slate of new properties through the end of this year. As James Paspaley, executive director of the Paspaley Group of Companies, owners of the new Wall Street Hotel, sums up: “Having been restricted for so long, in our view now is the perfect time to offer something new and refreshing in a world that’s been dull and gray of late.”
Here, then, are 10 domestic hotels opening this fall and winter that will help bring some color back into traveling. From chic urban hideaways and southern charmers to a ski-in, ski-out getaway with its own fly-fishing rivers and 18-hole golf course, these new arrivals should help inspire your next passport-free adventure.
Photo : Courtesy Montage Big Sky
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.
The Montage Big Sky Is Opening Just in Time for a Winter Vacationhttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-2-1024x683.jpg1024683Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
It’s time to get out and explore wide-open spaces once again. And there’s no better place to do just that than the new Montage Big Sky.
Centrally located in Big Sky, Montana, surrounded by endless wooded landscapes, the Montage Big Sky is ready to take your reservations.
Designed by Hart Howerton Architects Design, with interiors by BraytonHughes Design Studios, Montage Big Sky will feature 150 guest rooms and suites as well as 39 Montage Residences. Each room, the hotel explains, showcases the region’s “rustic charm and stately elegance” to create a warm and home-like feel for guests.
Guests, residence owners, and members of the local community will all have access to the hotel’s amenities, which include six dining venues like its signature restaurant Cortina where “the timeless flavors of Northern Italy meets the rich seasonal bounty of Montana.” Guests can also dine at Alpenglow, a lobby bar; The Living Room, a living room-inspired lounge featuring bourbon high-tea service; Backcast Bar & Grill, an après ski pub; Beartooth Pub & Rec, a dining spot specializing in wood-fired pizzas; and more. Of course, all are welcome to indulge in the property’s indoor lap pool, family swimming pool, fitness center, and signature Spa Montage as well.
The new resort is also tailor-made for family fun with its immersive children’s program, Paintbox, which brings kids on both indoor and outdoor adventures. Families can also spend time at Montage Ski Beach, a one-of-a-kind recreation space with a 450-foot tubing hill, snow play, snow bike area, and more.
And, of course, the resort will offer ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort’s 5,800 skiable acres and direct access to Spanish Peaks Mountain Club’s 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course, which both include access to world-class hiking, Nordic skiing, and snowboarding, as well.
How Mike Meldman Got the Rich and Famous to Live in Resortshttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BI_blue_background_vertical-1-1024x466.png1024466Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Mike Meldman is one of the most influential real-estate moguls in the country thanks to his luxurious live-in resorts, which became irresistible to the rich and famous during the pandemic
Mike Meldman started out a long way from the luxurious resort communities he’s built since the early 1990s.
The Milwaukee native and Stanford graduate started out with plans for a career in law — but he told Insider that idea was scrapped when he “bombed the LSATs” and had to refocus his postgrad path.
A few months later he found himself dealing blackjack in Lake Tahoe, where he met a man who asked him if he’d like to make as much money as he wanted while working as little as he could. He said yes.
From there it was off to the races in real estate, where Meldman started working as a commercial broker until he started building his own property empire.
Today he’s the chairman and CEO of Discovery Land Company, which he’s led since founding the firm in 1994. The multimillion-dollar developer is behind some of the world’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Meldman is also the co-founder of the trendy tequila brand Casamigos alongside two longtime pals: the Oscar-winning actor George Clooney and the nightlife mogul Rande Gerber, who is also the longtime husband of the model and actress Cindy Crawford.
Meldman, 62, has propelled Discovery from a single golf club to more than two dozen private enclaves from Idaho to the Caribbean that are now sought after by the world’s wealthiest.
Even before the pandemic, his properties had already lured A-list residents and guests from Michael Jordan and Tom Brady to Reese Witherspoon and Bill Gates. But the 1% have moved in even greater numbers since last spring. Sales at Discovery — where home prices range from $2 million to $50 million — were more than $2 billion last year, according to the company. That’s up from $1 billion in 2015.
“Everywhere we had available inventory, they sold it,” Meldman said via phone from Discovery’s Maui property. “People wanted the safety, the security, and the bubble we create.”
Last month, Ben Affleck, a member of Meldman’s Yellowstone Club in Montana along with the businessman Eric Schmidt and Justin Timberlake, reportedly rendezvoused with Jennifer Lopez in a mansion with a private chef in a much-watched rekindling of their early-2000s romance.
It’s just the latest sign that Meldman has convinced the richest, most famous people in the world that they don’t want to live (and vacation) on Park Avenue or in the Hollywood Hills but rather in remote, lush landscapes with spacious lots, outdoor activities, and amenities that outshine the Ritz-Carlton.
Inside Discovery Land
It helped a business that the casually fancy atmosphere Meldman cultivates became coveted year-round during the pandemic.
The move toward social distancing and remote work turned several of Discovery’s vacation communities into primary residences, Meldman said. Existing inventory sold out at virtually all properties in the months after the coronavirus hit the US, and demand drove Discovery home prices up 25%.
People who flocked to Yellowstone, for example, came from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Meldman said, emphasizing that many relocated to far-flung locales, like Montana, because they felt safe. At his upstate New York property, Silo Ridge, the same phenomenon unfolded.
The company’s vigilance in on-site COVID-19 testing and amenities like homeschooling and medical facilities, Meldman said, made living at Discovery all the more attractive to homebuyers looking to escape the crowds while still having every convenience close at hand. When residents, called members, arrive at a Discovery property, the staff handles everything, he said, so the experience can be stress-free.
To support members’ outdoor pastimes, Meldman “loves to hire the best local people” and bring on the “best experts.” Yellowstone offers fly-fishing and skiing, while the Hawaii property, Mākena, lends itself to pursuits like surfing and paddleboarding.On-site dining facilities use organic farm-to-table produce, Meldman said, mimicking the Michelin-starred beach clubs of Italy’s Amalfi coast. Jim Tripi, the director of culinary operations at Discovery’s Austin and British Columbia locations, said he “fell in love” with the company for the freedom it gives its chefs to create dishes with producers and harvesters. But a clean diet wasn’t always Meldman’s style, Tripi recalled.
“He was eating classic American food like meatloaf when I first met him,” Tripi said, but over the past decade or so he has become more health-conscious. Now he’s a fan of Tripi’s plates of fish and turkey.
Meldman recalled a time at Discovery’s Bahamas location when a chef caught a fish right out of the water and made sushi for a table of 15 dining beachside.Members at all outposts enjoy vegetables and herbs grown on-site, along with vineyards and indigenous plant life.
Silo Ridge — located in Dutchess County, New York, about two hours north of Manhattan, where homes start at $2 million — “has an amazing garden,” Meldman said.
It’s fitting that Mindy Grossman, the CEO of WW International (formerly Weight Watchers), is a resident there. She and her husband have owned a home in nearby Millbrook for the past 23 years, but when they found Discovery, they couldn’t help but buy a property.
“Silo is a gift,” she said of the sprawling community with a bustling social life and leisure offerings including ice skating and golf — a sport her husband loves but she’d never played before joining. Now she’s found herself driving and putting on the regular. She even recounted a time when she finished up on the green and a staffer stood waiting to cool her down with a shot of tequila and a wet towel.
“I’m wowed a lot,” she said, recalling memories of meals with Meldman, emphasizing that he sets the tone for the entire operation. “He’s a fantastic human being. You can tell his belief in what he’s creating is who he is and authentic, and that’s why it’s successful.”
Peter Whalen, the general manager of Discovery’s Bahamas property, Baker’s Bay Golf and Ocean Club, has been working for Meldman since he was 19. Now 37, he spoke to Insider about his career as passionately as if he’d only just finished his first day.
He remembers arriving at the Arizona club, called Mirabel, as a teenager during a long day of job hunting. He was welcomed in, he said, and spent hours shaking hands and interviewing while his then-girlfriend (now wife) waited in the car. He got the job.
“I love Mike Meldman more than my father, and I really love my father,” he said. “He made me feel important like I mattered — part of his family.”
Whalen loves the company so much he named his 2-year-old daughter Baker after his Bahamian paradise.
In 1996, he debuted his first official project in Scottsdale, Arizona, a ritzy suburb of Phoenix.
The Estancia Club’s golf course was named the best new private course anywhere by Golf Digest. Lots sold for $1 million, significantly higher than neighboring properties. But there were fewer of them — just 223 homesites on 640 acres.
But the smaller a golf club was, the better. It’s more exclusive: A scarcity of homes makes each one more attractive — and more valuable.
“Most people think you have to have as much density as you can, but it doesn’t work like that,” Meldman said. “You’re just scarring the land.”
Meldman then crossed the Rockies to work on Yellowstone, now one of the most exclusive private ski resorts in the world. From there, he went on to develop a total of 25 Discovery properties worldwide.
A Ski-In, Ski-Out Mountain Condo in Big Sky, Montana, With Resort Amenitieshttps://www.harthowerton.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/5dacd90c8c1ee.image_-1024x410.jpg1024410Madison SilversMadison Silvershttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1ad2efe6a2ca30ba97aa9923389e70dd?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Residence 11 comes with priority access to all of Montage Big Sky’s luxury hotel perks and direct access to world-class skiing
LISTING OF THE DAY
Location: Big Sky, Montana
Price: $18.1 million
This 8,043-square-foot condo is the second-largest residence ultra-luxury development at Montage Big Sky, boasting six bedrooms, six bathrooms and one powder room.
Residence 11, one of 39 on the property, has contemporary mountain-style interior design and features local materials, including hand-stacked stone and regional woods. Owners can choose a design scheme and create a turnkey residence or have the option to personally design their home.
The home has custom, white oak cabinetry, luxury millwork, oak-plank flooring, quartz kitchen counters, a Lutron lighting system, vaulted ceilings, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and large windows in each room that frame the mountain views.
“This luxurious residence features unobstructed mountain views in three different directions, including breathtaking views of the Spanish Peaks mountain range,” said Ania Bulis, founding broker and vice president of sales at Big Sky Real Estate Co.
Four of the six bedrooms have balconies, and there’s a media room, an office and a wine room directly off the dining area. The home also has a one-bedroom lock-off feature that can be rented out separately from the rest of the residence.
“Residence 11 will allow owners to experience the ease of a world-class ski vacation, while also having a place to come home to in Montana,” Ms. Bulis said.
Residences are expected to be move-in ready by November, just in time for ski season.
Residence 11 has six bedrooms, six bathrooms and one powder room spread throughout 8,034 square feet. There are four decks totaling 517 square feet. It’s located on the building’s fourth floor. Montage Big Sky offers owners direct access to Big Sky Resort’s 5,800 skiable acres, which includes four connected mountains with more than 300 total runs.
Amenities
Not only do owners have access to all of Montage Big Sky’s facilities, as well as priority reservations at the resort’s restaurants and bars, and treatments at Spa Montage, but residents have access to a dedicated staff, including a 24-hour concierge and security, housekeeping and maintenance services.
Residents also get custom pre-arrival provisions, an optional rental management program, asset management services and à la carte services, such as transportation, private air travel arrangements and even gift wrapping. Owners have a private ski locker in a residential locker room, a storage area and dedicated underground parking.
Montage Big Sky’s amenities include a four-lane bowling alley; a childrens’ program, called Paintbox; a 32,000-square-foot private clubhouse; an indoor lap pool; and retail shops.
Homeowners have the option of membership at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, which has an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course surrounded by 300 acres of forest. The resort also has a private network of hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as a stretch of four miles of private river to experience world-class fly fishing.
Neighborhood Notes
Big Sky, Montana, has always been a sought-after ski destination, but is less populated than other major mountain towns in the American West. Montage Big Sky is located within the 3,530-acre Spanish Peaks enclave. The resort is just an hour away from Yellowstone National Park. It’s a ten-minute drive to Big Sky Town Center, with breweries, dining and more.