By Leslie Kilgore EBS STAFF
Big Sky is often known as a mountain town that brings together longtime locals, new families, seasonal employees and a steady stream of visitors from around the globe, all shaping the energy of the community’s Town Center. That blend of people is central to the success of Rocky Mountain Toy Company, where owner Sam Rickenbaugh has created a bright, welcoming stop for families looking for gifts, entertainment and a sense of nostalgia. By filling a gap in Big Sky’s retail offerings and becoming part of the community’s year-round rhythm, his shop has grown into a place where vacationers and local kids alike can find something to enjoy.
This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.
Explore Big Sky: When did you first come to southwest Montana, or did you grow up here?
Sam Rickenbaugh: I have actually been in Bozeman since I was three years old.
EBS: Oh, so you are a true local.
SR: Yes, I guess you can say I am a true local. I was born in Denver. My parents moved up here in 1999 or 2000, so I’ve been in the Bozeman area basically since I was born. I had a brief stint at the University of Denver for two years and then decided that living in the city and Denver was not for me, so I transferred back to Montana State and finished up there.
EBS: Did you go to Bozeman High School? I bet you’ve seen the area change quite a bit.
SR: I did go to Bozeman High School and graduated in 2015. And I’ve definitely seen a lot of change in the past 10 to 15 years, let alone the last five years. There’s been a huge change, and specifically in Big Sky. My family would come to ski in Big Sky, and there was not a ton going on in the town. We would drive up to the resort, ski, and then head home to Bozeman. Now, it’s an incredible, lively community and a place where people can live year-round and support local businesses to thrive.
EBS: Right, for sure. Was that a reason for opening your toy store here in Big Sky?
SR: Yeah, absolutely. I took over the store from the Wests in 2021, right after COVID. In one of our initial meetings, I asked what their growth plan was before they decided to sell. They said they always thought about going to Big Sky because of the recent growth. So that was always in my head for the first three years of being in Bozeman. Then, in our third year, I decided to look into it and realized there were no toy stores or any stores really for kids.
EBS: That’s for sure. Birthday parties were always a scramble for us parents, finding last-minute presents before you arrived.
SR: Right. When I realized how many people are now in Big Sky, either visiting or living here, I knew it would be a great place to have another store.
EBS: And how is it going?
SR: It’s been really good. It’s definitely a different environment than I’m used to in Bozeman. But that being said, it’s great to have that sense of a smaller community, and in a community that really cares about its residents and other businesses. This will be our third Christmas in Big Sky, and I’m really excited to see what the next few years bring.
EBS: That’s great. Would you say most of your customers are visitors, locals or a mix of both?
SR: Definitely a mix of both. We definitely get lots of visitors during the busy tourist seasons. But we also have a great sense of local customers. We see a lot of local families who are so excited that we’re here. We definitely couldn’t do it without the visitors, but our local community in Big Sky is one of the reasons we’re still here and able to operate.
EBS: That’s great. Do you see growth for your business, either in Big Sky, Bozeman, or somewhere else?
SR: No real plan right now. I think we’re still trying to figure out all of the ins and outs of retail in Big Sky. I really want to focus on making our two stores even better before any other growth. We’re always looking for new community events to start, and we want to have more in-store activities too.
EBS: That’s good to hear. Do you enjoy being a part of both communities and getting to know families in the area?
SR: Definitely. I think there’s a real opportunity at the Big Sky store to do some kid-focused activities and events, particularly during the shoulder seasons. The Big Sky Chamber really focuses on driving traffic into businesses by supporting new events for both tourists and locals during the year. I’ve seen that evolve and grow even in the two years that I’ve been here. There are all sorts of new things going on all year-round now.
EBS: How did you acquire the toy store? It’s a unique business to own.
SR: I was 24, and it’s kind of a random story. I was newly graduated from college and working in real estate, and was finding out very quickly that it was not what I wanted to do. I grew up with a retail background; my mom started the store, HeyDay in Bozeman, and my dad owned a Play It Again Sports that was in town as well. The Wests were selling the [toy] store, and I sent it to my mom as kind of a joke, like “how fun would this be?” You know, because my family grew up going there. She said, “You should seriously consider doing that. I think you’d be really good at it.”
I ended up meeting with the owners, and they were incredible. They were just ready for something new, and it turned out to definitely be a viable business for me. So, I took over from there, and at first I thought it would be like a five-year, you know, get in and really make it incredible, keep its legacy, and then do something else. But I fell in love with the toy industry really quickly. And then, we started a second store, so I really have no plans of leaving the industry anytime soon.
EBS: What do you love most about owning a toy store? A very hyperlocal toy store at that.
SR: Just going off the local part, we get so many people that come into the store, and they’re like, “Wow, it’s really cool to see an old-school toy store in a small community.” A lot of people say they don’t really see that anymore. Also, everyone is really happy and fun, and excited to be in the store. It’s really our job to tell people what toys are new or fun and what kids are looking for.
EBS: On that note, since it’s the season of giving, what would you say are the top three presents this year for kids?
SR: Oh man, that’s always a hard question. I would say Legos are always on that list, and they’re such a fun company to work with. Air Tubes have been a really popular one as well this year, and that’s for kids 3 and up, It’s basically this really big, almost fan-like thing with these tubes that kids connect and can mix and match and turn them around to make a big maze, and then a little foam ball gets places in the top and it zips around the edge and then pops out the top. So, that toy has been really fun. And then the last one that I always love—which is not necessarily geared towards children but one I think is really fun that both Bozeman and Big Sky customers love—is the Liberty Puzzles that are made in Boulder, Colorado. They’re beautiful puzzles, all wood, which have been a huge hit in the past few years and are a great gift.
EBS: And what were your favorite toys growing up?
SR: I was definitely a big fan of Legos. Playmobiles were great too. I have three siblings, and we spent a lot of time playing with both of those, so I love seeing kids still into them now.
EBS: It sounds like you found your dream job.
SR: Yes, and this is a fun time of year to be in the toy business.
EBS: For sure. Merry Christmas, and I hope Santa delivers the wish lists of all your customers this year.
SR: Thanks! You too, and Merry Christmas.
