Could Locals See Massive Changes At Montana’s Ski Areas?

No local skier or snowboarder would want to see this happen in Montana, and it's a real fear.

The ski season is officially over in Montana, even though the mountains have been getting dumped over the past few weeks. Skiers and snowboarders are putting their gear away and keeping it safe until the winter.

Montana has some incredible spots to shred powder, whether you prefer resorts or local areas. Each mountain has a different atmosphere and vibe. You also might factor in how much you want to spend on a day ticket.

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Most of the mountains are either independently owned or owned by corporations. Bridger Bowl, for instance, is a community nonprofit that locals run, and all the profits go toward improving or fixing the ski area.

The mountains owned by corporations tend to be more expensive than local ski areas.

Why? They have more amenities to offer, but they have more money to update their mountain.

Local mountains tend to keep prices reasonable so Montanans can enjoy their favorite ski area and not break the bank.

Well, that could change.

Unofficial Reports announced a billionaire bought a local ski area in Wyoming and wants to turn the area into a resort.

Joe Ricketts is a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team and plans to expand and build out White Pine Ski Area into a destination spot for skiers and snowboarders.

What has us worried about this sale is we could see some of Montana's privately owned mountains purchased by billionaires or corporations, who see potentially turning them into resorts.

Ski areas are becoming a new trend for people to invest in, and Montana has several privately owned ski areas that could sell for the right price.

Let's hope this isn't the future for Montana's ski areas.