Moonlight Basin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moonlight Basin |
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Tilt-Shift Photograph of Moonlight Basin
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 Moonlight Basin
Location in Montana
Moonlight Basin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Big Sky, Montana |
| Nearest city | Bozeman, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45°18′51″N 111°27′03″W / 45.31417°N 111.45083°W |
| Top elevation | 11,166 feet (3,403.4 m) |
| Base elevation | 7,000 feet (2,100 m) |
| Skiable area | 1,900 acres (769 ha) |
| Runs | 76+ |
| Longest run | 2.8 miles (4.5 km) |
| Lift system | 6 chairlifts |
| Snowfall | 400 inches |
| Website | Official Site: http://www.bigskyresort.com/ |
Moonlight Basin is a fun ski resort in southwestern Montana. It's nestled in the Rocky Mountains, near the town of Big Sky. In October 2013, Moonlight Basin joined with Big Sky Resort. This made it one of the biggest ski resorts in the whole United States. Together, they have a huge area for skiing and lots of ski lifts. Moonlight Basin offers many different places to ski. It also has cool places to stay and a golf course.
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History of Moonlight Basin
The land for Moonlight Basin was bought in 1992. It started as Moonlight Basin Ranch, a large property development. This ranch was next to Big Sky Resort. The first owners bought 25,000 acres (about 10,000 football fields) for $6.5 million.
Moonlight Basin officially opened as its own ski area in December 2003. It was built on the north side of Lone Mountain. The very top of Lone Mountain is 11,166 feet (3,403 meters) high. You can reach the summit using the Lone Peak Tram, which is part of Big Sky Resort.
The resort is next to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area. It is also close to the Yellowstone Club.
Skiing at Moonlight Basin
Moonlight Basin has many different types of ski runs. The most challenging area is called the Headwaters Bowl. These are very steep slopes on the north side of Lone Mountain. You can hike to them from the Headwaters lift or Big Sky's Challenger lift. Both lifts drop you off at almost 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) above sea level.
The resort also has wide-open bowls and areas for skiing through trees. There are bumpy mogul runs, long smooth trails, and easy runs for beginners. In 2005, Moonlight Basin and Big Sky Resort teamed up. They created the "Biggest Skiing in America" pass. This pass lets visitors ski at both resorts with just one ticket.
Ski Lifts at Moonlight Basin
The main ski lift at Moonlight Basin is the Six Shooter. This is a fast chairlift that can carry six people at once. It climbs 1,850 vertical feet (564 meters) from the base. The Headwaters chairlift connects at the top of Six Shooter. It goes up another 685 feet (209 meters). This means you can go up a total of 2,535 feet (772 meters) from the base.
Another important lift is the Lone Tree quad. This four-person chairlift takes you to more difficult areas. The first two chairlifts at Moonlight Basin were Iron Horse and Pony Express. They were put in before it became a separate ski area. Big Sky Resort used to operate these lifts.
Wildlife and Nature
Moonlight Basin is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This area is important for wildlife. It connects two parts of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. It's a special path for elk to move around. It's also a home for grizzly bears. Because of this, the company that owns Moonlight Basin has set aside a lot of its land for conservation. This helps protect the animals and their homes.
Joining Big Sky Resort
In 2009, the owner of Moonlight Basin faced some financial problems. The property reopened in 2010.
Then, on October 1, 2013, two companies bought Moonlight Basin Resort. These were Boyne Resorts and the Yellowstone Club. After this purchase, Boyne announced that Moonlight Basin and Big Sky Resort would become one. The new, combined resort offers more than 5,750 acres of skiable land. It has 4,350 vertical feet and 38 lifts. This makes it one of the largest ski resorts in America.
Fun Things to Do
Moonlight Basin has a private golf course called The Reserve at Moonlight Basin. It was designed by famous golfer Jack Nicklaus. This golf course opened in 2016. It's 7,800 yards long and sits at an average height of 7,500 feet (2,286 meters). You can also find a spa and nice restaurants here.
There are two lodges on the Moonlight Basin side of the resort. The Moonlight Lodge is just for members. The Madison Lodge is open to all guests. The Madison Lodge has a ski school, a restaurant, a place to rent ski gear, and a gift shop.
Resort Facts
- Total lifts: 7 (6 chairlifts, 1 conveyor)
- Total skiable area: 1,900 acres (769 ha)
- Summit Elevation: 11,166 ft (3,403.4 m)
- Base Elevation: 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
- Mapped Trails: 90
- Longest run: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
- Average annual snowfall: 400 inches (10 m)
Images for kids
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The northern face of Lone Peak with Headwaters Bowl (left). Moonlight Basin operates on this side of the mountain.
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Snowboarders hiking The Headwaters with Lone Peak in the background
