Nonprofit - Bridger Bowl Ski Area

Operating with Purpose

As a nonprofit ski area, Bridger Bowl is proud to offer a genuine community-driven experience. All revenue generated is reinvested into the mountain, improving facilities, maintaining affordable lift tickets and supporting local programs. Bridger Bowl relies on its board of directors as a well informed and involved membership base to understand its historical development and help steer the ski area into the future. This is guided by Bridger Bowl’s:

Mission: To remain a locally focused recreation area that balances quality, affordability and sustainability in a way that best serves our community.

Vision: Be the model nonprofit community resource that fosters a lifelong passion for outdoor recreation to benefit all generations.

Stats from the 2023/24 Season

25,997 Bus Riders

$1,192,275 given in Community Donations

141 Free Host Tours

$23,208 raised for Gallatin National Forest Avalance Center

4,000 lbs of food donated to Gallatin Valley Food Bank at Carve Out Hunger

71 units of blood saving 213 lives donated at the MSU Blood Drive

1,415 Multi-week Youth Program participants

4,355 Ski PE participants

$6,515 raised for the Bridger Bowl Foundation at Ride and Seek

History

Skiing enthusiasts have enjoyed the area known as Bridger Bowl since the mid 1940’s. A rich history has resulted in Bridger Bowl becoming a cornerstone for the local recreational community and a major contributor to the area’s vibrant winter tourism economy.

The outstanding effort and support of local volunteers, the board and membership, businesses, staff, and dedicated passholders have enabled Bridger Bowl to grow from one rope-tow and a quonset hut to a major ski area with 2,000 acres of terrain, 8 chair lifts, 2,600 vertical feet, 4 lodges and a plan for future expansion as needed.

A timeline of Bridger Bowl

Many different Native American tribes made the Gallatin Valley home for thousands of years, including Shoshone, Bangtail, Nez Perce, Sioux, Blackfeet, and Flathead.

Native tribes described the Gallatin Valley as the “Valley of Flowers.” It was considered a neutral ground where members of different tribes, could gather in uneasy truces during the long summer days and eat from the abundant game while preparing for the upcoming winter months.

1806

Bozeman visited by Lewis & Clark

The Lewis & Clark Expedition camped in the Bozeman area guided by Sacagawea whilst headed east from Three Forks, MT.

1856

Jim Bridger discovers Bridger Canyon

1950

Bridger Mountain State Park established

This consisted of a rope tow which was powered by a car.

1954

Bozeman State Park Recreation Association formed

The organization was granted 501(c) (4) Nonprofit Status with membership open to Montana residents 18 years of age and older and a 9 member board was elected.

Membership

Jan. 16, 1955

Bridger Bowl's Birthday

The ski area opened to the public with just one employee.

1956

Upper hill poma lift installed giving access to North Bowl, Avalanche Gulch and Bronco Face

1958

Lower platter lift replaced by T-bar

1959

Deer Park Chalet A frame constructed

This was the original lodge & base area.

1964

Bridger lift installed

1964

75mm rifles installed for avalanche control

1967

Alpine lift installed and new chalet constructed at present base area

1968

Large wooden ski jump constructed

1971

Name changed to Bridger Bowl and Deer Park lift installed

1973

Ridge skiing opens

Ridge skiing was opened to the public with a few “hard-core” locals enjoying the backcountry-like conditions.

1978

Virginia City and Pierre's Knob lifts installed

1988

Jim Bridger Lodge constructed

This replaced the base lodge chalet providing a full rental shop, day care, cafeteria, restaurant, bar and ski school.

1988

Blue Light installed on top of Baxter Hotel

The light blinks atop the historic downtown Bozeman hotel when two inches or more of snow has fallen in the last 24 hours.

1991

Snowmaking introduced at Bridger Bowl

1995

Powder Park quad (present day Sunnyside lift) installed

1996

Deer Park Chalet replaced

2000

Snowflake lift and beginner's area added

2001

Pierre's Knob lift upgraded

2004

Saddle Peak Lodge & First Aid Room constructed

2008

Schlasman's lift installed

The recycled Schlasman's lift is a reconditioned 1976 Doppelmayr double chair, formerly known as the “Peruvian” lift, purchased from Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah. It added 311 acres of lift-served ridge terrain for expert skiers. The lift was named after P.B. Schlasman, one of four miners killed in an avalanche in the Bridger Mountains.

2010

Bridger & Deer Park red chair lifts replaced with Bridger triple chair

2013

Alpine red chair lift replaced

The old Alpine lift was sold to Mount Spokane and replaced with two new triple chairs, Alpine and Powder Park, opening up more access to terrain on the north side of the mountain.

2014

Alpine Cabin constructed

2017

Virginia City red chair lift replaced with triple chair, Snowflake Hut and new beginner area built

2017

Sundog and Flurry surface lifts installed; beginner lift expanded

2018

Vertical flow wetlands wastewater system installed

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2019

Solar Panels installed and composting implemented

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2019

NSAA Golden Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence winner

Bridger was honored to receive this award which was established in 1993. This is considered the highest honors bestowed on a ski area for environmental performance. The awards have been updated over the years to reflect changes in sustainability best practices and highlight the importance of climate change action and advocacy.

2020

Bridger Foothills Wildfire

2024

EPA Region 8 Pollution Prevention Recognition Award

Bridger Bowl Ski Area was recognized for the reducing electricity use through LED and motion-activated lighting, installing an on-site 50 kW solar array and implementing a transit and carpooling incentivizing program that is free for guests and employees. These projects and others resulted in annual savings of 76.3 Metric Tons of CO2 and over $9,000 in annual cost savings.

2025

Bridger Bowl turns 70!