mattB wrote:Big Mountain may be getting more "gentrified" on a Whitefish scale of gentrification, but it is still much more of a small town laid back locals hill.. I doubt that Big Mountain will ever be gentrified to the point that Big Sky, Steamboat, Vail, or any of the other fancy "resorts" like SunValley, Park City, etc
I'm still in denial on the name change!!
You might want to take a closer look at what's going on here in the area next time you visit.
There's nothing "small town or laid back" about WF these days.
The Whitefish Mountain "Resort" is going just as hard as it can to put Whitefish "on the map" so to speak.
They will tell you that themselves. They make no bones about it.
Check out the real estate development and home prices in places like Iron Horse.
Take a driving tour through Iron Horse...not exactly Section 8 housing
When I moved here in 2002, there wasn't much going on in the summer season up on "Big Mountain" as it was billed then.
They have recently built a nice Zip Line facility as well as world class mountain bike trails.
Make no mistake. The new(ish) owners of Whitefish Mountain Resorts have
big plans for the mountain.
And the city of Whitefish is following suit. New motels and hotels springing up on US 93 and they are not the "Motel 6" variety.
Nelson's ACE Hardware, heretofore your typical small town hardware store on Central Ave, is moving out to US 93 in a BIG new building across from the WF Mall.
There's a big new boat dealership on US93...and they ain't selling "john boats" for the locals. Look like high end ski boats for the big money folks on Whitefish Lake.
The new art gallery they built right behind my apartment building has paintings that
begin "around $5000"--in the owners own words to
me.
My rent was $400/month for my 2BR apt. when I moved here in 2002.
Apartment rents are rapidly rising.
Virtually
nothing under a $1000/month in Whitefish....which is why I worry about my rent which is
considerably under that...for now.
So as I said, here's nothing "small town or laid back" about WF these days.
It may never be like Vail, but it won't be for lack of effort on the part of the
powers that be in Whitefish.
pete
PS
As for the name change...
I'd like to see it go back to "Hell Roaring Mountain"
I heard the "Temperance Ladies" in Whitefish made them change it to Big Mountain around 1913 as part of an effort to clean up "Stumptown" circa 1913.