Dear Reader,
An article from Harper’s Magazine about Big Sky has generated discussion in recent weeks. From its headline on down, it’s clear the article is not a celebration of this place.
As your source for local news, we are not writing to agree with or confirm, nor refute or criticize the central argument of that story, or the quality of reporting from their magazine staff. Readers can decide independently whether or not they find truth, power or inspiration in that story.
We do want to stand behind one message. The Big Sky community is not without our challenges, but like any community, those challenges do not define us.
We are growing rapidly, and not without the growing pains. We are, in many ways, a travel destination with luxury amenities and high-priced assets. Inequality and inequity are inevitable. Any full- or part-time resident would agree that Big Sky faces wide-ranging obstacles, from affordable housing and economic disparity to vehicle traffic and mental health. And yet, virtually all communities face challenges and shortcomings.
Still, Big Sky is home to a wide spectrum of full-time residents—some working class, some who are more fortunate—who choose to continue living here.
We have nearly 500 children who are privileged to grow up in a beautiful place with access to a strong public school system. Just last summer, Lone Peak High School opened a state-of-the-art technology education facility and ranked atop the state in two categories. Youth and high school sports unify teams and show the value of hard work. Theater productions are casted with unusually high participation across all age levels. There is a true sense of Big Horn pride.
Big Sky’s economic foundation is profitable tourism. And our largest attraction, Big Sky Resort, hosts community-building events every year, from regional Special Olympics to one of the nation’s most challenging trail running events. Locals attend with pride and joy.
We are lucky to have down-to-earth and unique neighbors. Some have spent decades sharing their warm smiles around town or volunteering their precious time in ways that a wide audience of national readers would not be led to assume.
Our own small community newspaper, and our local publisher, Outlaw Partners, are not perfect. The editorial team at EBS takes pride in doing our best to tell stories that enlighten and represent our readers, and attached to our own human imperfection is our humble attitude and driving passion to do better tomorrow, for our readers.
That’s what keeps us in Big Sky, and we aren’t alone; in our reporting, we are lucky to learn from so many community leaders acting in the same way.
You, our readers, are free to interpret outside narratives about Big Sky using your own critical eye.
We will remind you, however, that we write our stories close to home, focused on the people and projects and teams and events that keep Big Sky moving forward in the right direction.
There are challenges here. There always have been. Today’s concerns will soon be replaced with new ones.
But upholding our mission, EBS will remain dedicated to shedding light on solutions; celebrating Big Horn wins or lessons learned otherwise; reporting snowstorms with eagerness but without proper license; and grabbing notes and quotes on everything else that makes us—the people who stay here despite our blemishes—proud of the Big Sky community.
So, when you finish digesting any national headline, we hope you’ll grab a copy of EBS and regain balance with a local scoop that will not overlook the forces that keep us around, in spite of everything troublesome.
Thank you for doing so,
The Editors
