SAM Magazine-Big Sky, Mont., June 28, 2005-Big Sky Resort and its new neighbor on Lone Peak, Moonlight Basin, will give visitors next winter the option to purchase tickets and passes allowing unlimited access to both resorts. The resorts shared several trails and a lift in the past. But previously, it was necessary to purchase a ticket or season pass from each if you wanted to ski them both.

Combined, the two trail networks offer nearly 5,300 acres of skiable terrain and the second-biggest vertical descent in the U.S. at 4,350 feet. The combined pass will also provide lift access to hundreds of acres of summit snowfields that were previously accessible only by hiking. Between them, the two resorts operate 23 lifts.

"Big Sky and Moonlight Basin will offer what may well prove to be the largest amount of skiable terrain in the nation," said Taylor Middleton, general manager of Big Sky Resort. Burt Mills, CEO at Moonlight Basin, added, "What we're doing is closer to the European model, where adjacent resorts interconnect with a lift ticket that permits skiers to access everything. Moonlight and Big Sky will offer a ski experience larger than many European resorts."

Joint lift tickets are a rarity in the U.S. Only two other pairs of resorts-both in Utah-offer interconnected lift and trail networks and joint ticket products while maintaining separate ownership. Pricing for interchangeable lift tickets and season passes will be released at a later date.

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