After two-year closure, Lone Mountain Land notes ‘deep respect’ for ‘legendary’ legacy of Big Sky staple
By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
On Friday, Dec. 19, restaurant service will return to Buck’s with new management and “a new menu rooted in Montana tradition,” according to a Dec. 10 press release from Lone Mountain Land Company and new operator Aprés Cru.
LMLC acquired Buck’s T-4 in 2020 and closed it in September 2023 for renovations and adjustments to the business concept. After months of collaboration and preparation with Après Cru, LMLC described the news as “a new chapter for one of Montana’s most beloved and storied establishments.”
The grand re-opening ceremony will be a holiday-themed open house taking place from 3 to 7 p.m. including live music, snacks and photos with Santa.
“Buck’s has long been woven into the fabric of Big Sky,” Après Cru representatives stated in a press release. “It’s important to us that we celebrate its past while shaping an experience that feels exciting and memorable for seasons to come.”
The new Montana-inspired menu includes a half-pound prime beef steakhouse burger with cheese and caramelized onions, lasagna with house-made pasta filled with elk, bison and wild boar, and a kids menu, according to the release.
In addition, the bar was renovated and will include beer, wine and spirits, and the Buck’s arcade and game room has been expanded and refreshed.
Buck’s will revive its offerings as an event space and aims to become “one of Big Sky’s premier gathering venues,” according to the release.
LMLC and Aprés Cru emphasized the two-plus year renovation and reimagination of Buck’s has been done “with care and intention,” and “deep respect” for the historic and “legendary” legacy of one of Big Sky’s earliest establishments, founded in 1946.
In addition to the restaurant and bar, LMLC has constructed employee housing on the Buck’s campus in the past five years.
“For decades, Buck’s has been a gathering place for locals, visitors, and generations of Montanans—a landmark known for its warm spirit, adventurous character, and unmistakable sense of place,” the release stated. “The upcoming grand opening honors that legacy while introducing a new era led by Apres Cru, a distinguished hospitality group committed to preserving the history that has made Buck’s a Montana staple.”
After the grand opening, the bar will open Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m., and will be open Wednesday through Sunday moving forward.
The restaurant will open Wednesday, Dec. 24, and remain open Wednesday through Sunday at 3 p.m.
