The Future of Crosscut Mountain Sports Center
Ours and yours — shared vision becoming reality
More than 60 years ago, a group of passionate skiers came together to form the iconic non-profit ski area, Bridger Bowl. Looking back, it is impossible to imagine the town of Bozeman without such an important landmark. With that tangible example in mind, we believe that now is the time to act, creating the best possible future.
We have the responsibility — and opportunity — to ensure our children and families can continue to connect with a landscape. Whether through a jog on the trails after work, or a weekend of athletic endurance endeavors that push both mind and body, we want to facilitate and protect an authentic sense of place. Crosscut’s efforts follow decades of work by local leaders and conservationists who had the foresight to thoughtfully develop this legacy for a diverse group of users. Arm in arm with our community, Crosscut will foster healthy lifestyles, promote stewardship, empower youth, and put smiles on faces for generations to come.
Our Phased Approach
Beginning today, to protect access for generations
The vision for Crosscut’s future will ensure that Bozeman’s outdoor community has a place to enjoy for generations to come. This audacious effort has already secured 533 acres of pristine terrain barely a stone’s throw from town, and we now have the chance to build something incredible.
A new facility will provide much needed space for our partners, and it will increase our ability to serve the public. Crosscut is raising $20M to fund this new venue, and Phase 1 of this campaign is underway. Raising $5M will allow us to break ground on a 30 point biathlon range, roller skiing, homologated loops, and carry out other site improvements that will pave the way for Phase 2 of the project. We encourage you to check out the plan page for more details about the new lodge, training facilities, and trail system.
Phase 1
This phase includes a 30 point biathlon range, 200 new parking spaces, a homologated trail system, and updated mountain bike trails. These projects will serve our partner organizations, get hundreds of kids off of busy roads, and set us on the course for a new lodge.
Phase 2
The second phase of our capital campaign will be focused on the lodge itself. A warm and inviting, living building that welcomes and serves guests and community members during their visit.
Phase 3
The final phase will bring the dreams of our community fully to being. Crosscut will be a place for families to enjoy all year round with an ice climbing wall that turns into a rock climbing wall in the summer, a pumptrack, edible food gardens, and a state-of-the-art playground.
Lodge Development Plans
Sustainability for our local community and wild landscape
Crosscut envisions a new, sustainably built lodge at the heart of our future. In addition to a restaurant, a full service ski shop, and community space, this lodge will serve as the basecamp for our partners, providing much needed storage and staging space. Working with Bozeman based Comma-Q Architecture, we arrived at a design that echoes the rugged beauty of the surroundings. Reflecting our passion for conservation and our commitment to environmental stewardship, the new lodge is designed to meet the most stringent sustainable building requirements. Learn more about the Living Building Challenge here.
LOWELL BAILEY | 3-TIME OLYMPIAN WITH U.S. BIATHLON 3-TIME OLYMPIAN, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CROSSCUT, CURRENT HIGH PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR OF U.S. BIATHLON
A Thoughtful Strategy for Tomorrow’s Needs
Outdoor access for years to come
Bozeman’s growing outdoor community has an unmet need for human-powered recreational facilities. Visit any trailhead in the Gallatin Valley on a Saturday morning and you will find parking lots overflowing with outdoor enthusiasts of all types, including hikers, runners, bikers, or skiers. Public demand for places to play is already outpacing local and regional groups’ ability to build new amenities – a trend that will continue as more and more people move to Bozeman. In Montana, and especially in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, it is very difficult for organized groups to gain the required permits to operate on public land. For after school programs, outdoor educators, and sports programs, this policy failure has left a gaping hole - they have nowhere to go.
Over the last three years, Crosscut has witnessed double-digit growth in program participation, and our events calendar is fully packed. The ever increasing demand from various user groups wanting to use Crosscut’s facility makes the need for a purposefully built year-round recreation facility clearer than ever before.
Support the Cause Today
Our vision is to serve everyone, for years to come — and your support makes it possible. Please consider donating today to bring this better future to life.
Let’s protect our community’s future connections to the outdoors — together, for all.
There are only a few times in our lives where we have the opportunity to make such a lasting impact in our community. Now is the time to dream big, to come together, and to create a legacy that will endure for generations to come.
We say that Crosscut lies in the heart of the Bridger Mountains, but I believe it is in the heart of Bozeman. When this property went up for auction, our community rallied in an incredible way. Together we raised $8M to ensure that this land would belong to outdoor enthusiasts, not condo developers.
Now it is time for us to take the next step. Crosscut is working with a team of community partners and national experts to design our future lodge and facilities, and I invite you to explore these pages to learn more about our vision for the future. As a community non-profit, we are raising $20M to fund a new lodge, training facility, and trail system that will energize all of Bozeman.
I ask that you join me in dreaming big. Believe in the potential to create something special, and help define our future today.
Jen Beaston
jen@crosscutmt.org
Crosscut Mountain Sports Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN number is 81-1818317, and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
