Let’s Share & Connect

We’d like to share some information with you about Bozeman, Montana and our schools, hospitals, skiing and great places to stay. We also have a very interactive map on our website that will provide you with much more detailed information and possibly answer some of your questions.

You can always reach us via phone, email or fax.

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Our Schools

Living in such a beautiful area has some real benefits where schools are concerned. As a result of the high amount of competition to live and teach here, our School district has the opportunity to really get the best teachers, and our kids reap the benefits.

Some quick Bozeman School district facts:

We have six K-6 public elementary schools, two 6-8 public middle schools, a 9-12 public high school, four private high schools and an alternative high school. The rural public elementary schools include Anderson, LaMotte, Monforton, Gallatin Gateway, Cottonwood, Malmborg and Ophir in Big Sky.

Look here for a complete listing of all Bozeman Elementary Schools at
Great Schools.com

Look here for a complete listing of all Bozeman High Schools at
Great Schools.com

Bozeman High School has an average enrollment of 1,957. The school was twice named as one of the Outstanding Schools in America by the U.S. Department of Education, and is accredited by the Northwest Accrediting Association and the Montana office of Public Instruction.

Bozeman Senior High has two Diploma Programs. A General Diploma requiring 21 credits and a College Prep, requiring a total of 23 credits. Most students choose the College Prep diploma and approximately 78% go on to college. BHS students have gone on to participate in many successful careers as adults including playing in the NFL, Rhodes Scholars and news anchors for national television.

BHS has exemplary music and arts programs! Our marching band performed in the 1999 Tournament of Roses Parade. We also have a very well equiped art department as well as an active and dynamic theater program.

Bozeman Students Score High in there SAT tests:

• The average national SAT verbal score for girls was 505 – in Bozeman the average score was 582.
• The average national SAT verbal score for boys was 508 – in Bozeman the average score was 549.
• Bozeman Girls and boys had the average of 565 in verbal SAT scores over the Montana average of 540.
• Average national SAT math score for girls was 504 – in Bozeman the average was 570.
• Average national SAT math score for boys was 520 – in Bozeman the average 569.
• Bozeman Girls and boys had the average of 569 in verbal SAT scores over the Montana average of 540.

Source: Bozeman Public Schools District Profile 2005-2006

Quotes from kids and parent’s

(July 2006) As a current student at bozeman high, I have enjoyed the experience and have found areas to work in that almost every student finds. This isn’t just for the academic or athletic, as there are so many classes and activities that anyone can find something. These classes range from computers to art to music to sports to language. It is a large school, yes, but it is being improved. The teachers are second to none, and even though one person talks about low rates of SAT and higher learning, we are always encouraged to do more and go on in life. Our counselors are awesome and are always there for us. The entire community is extremely supportive of the school. Overall it is a wonderful place that almost all students enjoy.

(March 2006) School has very high acheivement scores compared to CA schools. The difference is that MT schools work hard to include all students. It is not a ‘turn out only the best and the h—- with the rest’ type of school. The teachers are excellent as is the adminisration. Overall, I would rank this school very high in all areas.

(January 2006) These are some of the single best public schools you will ever find. Students rank quite high on national and state tests and the courses are quite diverse. We have some of the most remarkable teachers. These people are good at what they do and do it because they enjoy it (they have to for the low amount they are paid). The student counselors are very impressive. I’ve never seen better. Very good schools, very nice community.

Source: GreatSchools.com

Bozeman School District Home Page

Local Private Schools

Bozeman Christian – K-12 1935 Nelson Road Bozeman, MT 406-586-8061	Heritage Christian – K-8 4310 Durston Rd. Bozeman, MT 406-587-9311	Petra Academy – 4-12 100 Discovery Dr. Bozeman, MT 406-582-8165	Great Beginnings Montessori 5860 Springhill Lane Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-0132 (fax, 406-586-5794) E-mail: greatbegin@montanadsl.net
Learning Circle Montessori Elementary Schoool 3001 West Villard Street Bozeman, MT 59718 406-585-3778 (fax, 406-522-9477) E-mail: LCM@in-tch.com	Headwaters Academy – 6-12 418 W. Garfield St. Bozeman, MT 406-585-9997	Mount Ellis Academy – 9-12 3641 Bozeman Trail Rd Bozeman, MT 406-587-5178	Highland Montessori School 111 Highland Boulevard Bozeman, MT 59715 406-585-0171 E-mail: vbthompson@hotmail.com
Learning Circle Montessori School 516 West Cleveland Bozeman, MT 59715-9354 406-587-2672 (fax, 406-587-2672) E-mail:LCM@in-tch.com

 

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Our Hospital

Bozeman Deaconess Hospital offers a comprehensive list of services in the heart of the Gallatin Valley. This team of dedicated healthcare professionals provides health care of the highest quality with the greatest compassion. Below is a list of services provided.

• Cancer Center
• Cardiac Services
• Diabetes
• Diagnostic Imaging / Radiology
• Diet & Nutrition Services
• Emergency Services
• Gynecology
• Hospice
• Internal Medicine
• Interventional Radiology
• Laboratory Services
• Lifeline Personal Response System
• Palliative Medicine
• Perioperative Services
• Pharmacy Services
• Rehabilitation Services
• Respiratory Services
• Sleep/Wake Disorders
• Surgical Services
• Women’s Services
• Worksite Wellness
• Wound Clinic

Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Website

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Hotels in Bozeman

Many of our clients contact us before visiting Bozeman to request information on lodging in the area. We can suggest a few local places. Some choices are better than others, so feel free to contact us at your convenience to discuss which of these area hotels and motels will be most accessible and convenient for you and your family as you investigate the unique qualities of Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley.

The following is a list of local lodging places that Stuart and Sally created for the times when we are simply unable to host friends or family in our own homes. Whenever possible, we’ve included both toll-free phone numbers and easy links to each location’s website.

C’Mon Inn
www.CmonInn.com
Toll Free: 866-782-2717 or (406) 587-3555

Gallatin River Lodge
www.glodge.com
(406) 388-0148

Hilton Garden Inn
www.bozeman.stayhgi.com
(406) 582-9900

Voss Inn Bed & Breakfast
(406) 587-4995

Wingate Inn
(406) 582-4995

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Skiing

Bridger Bowl – http://www.bridgerbowl.com/

Bridger Bowl is flanked by two large bowls to the North and South.  Most of the ski area offers wide open terrain with a variety of landscapes including long slopes, glades, chutes, gullies in addition to other smaller bowls.

Bridger Bowl offers a very diverse ski experience with the following ratings: 25% beginner, 35% intermediate, 30% advanced and 10% extreme. Incredible expert only skiing is available on Bridger’s renowned “Ridge”. Skiers and snowboarders who wish to access this terrain must hike up 400 vertical feet above the Bridger lift. Ridge skiing requires expert ability, an avalanche transceiver (457 khz), shovel, partner and knowledge of the terrain. The ridge has steep chutes, rock cliffs, and snowfields, providing some of the most challenging skiing found within any ski area boundary.

 

Big Sky – http://www.bigskyresort.com/

Big Sky Resort in Montana offers you three mountains graced by over 400 inches of annual snowfall to delights skiers and snowboarders. The signature Lone Peak rises to a lofty 11,166 feet in elevation with European-style expert terrain accessed by the Lone Peak Tram. Andesite Mountain has some of the resort’s most notable intermediate trails, some comfortable south-facing beginner trails, several expert tree runs and a giant half-pipe and terrain park with rail slides. Flat Iron Mountain is on the eastern shoulder of Andesite and offers even more variety.

Big Sky has a total of 3,812 expansive acres, 4,350 jaw-dropping vertical feet and over 150 named trails. The reputation for short or non-existent lift lines makes this truly a place all your own.  Now with the option of the Line Peak Pass, the combined total with Moonlight is 5,512 acres.

Tickets are now available at the ERA Landmark Downtown office for a $5.00 discount. You can purchase your tickets now and use them any time during the 2007 Ski Season. Call 556-5013 for more information.

 

Moonlight Basin – http://www.moonlightbasin.com/home/

Moonlight Basin is a beautiful new addition to the skiing experience at Lone Mountain. Located on the Northern Slopes of Lone Peak, Moonlight Basin boasts 7 lifts, 1,900 skiable acres, with a 4,150 vertical drop.  Fast becoming a favorite for the locals and conveniently  located right next to Big Sky Ski Resort, Moonlight Basin is a short drive through the beautiful Gallatin Canyon away from Bozeman.

 

Bohart Ranch – http://www.bohartranchxcski.com/

Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center is 16 miles northeast of Bozeman just up Bridger Canyon Road, with a 27km trail system located on private and Forest Service lands. The terrain is well suited to all ability levels and are professionally groomed for both classic and skate skiing.

There is a Biathalon Range that offers year-round training and  competition, as well as the Kiddy Kilometer Trail which is a signed interpretative trail popular with families and younger skiers. Bohart Ranch was the local location for the 2002 National Olympic Qualifier competition. 

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Let’s Connect!

Call us at: 406-556-5013

Fax: 406-586-4946

e-mail: contact@stuartandsally.com

Ski the BEST in the Rockies!

When asked about one of the main draws to the Bozeman area for locals and tourists alike, undoubtedly the top quality skiing will come to the forefront of most conversations. Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin, and Bridger Bowl all offer excellent skiing and amenities that can compare favorably with the “big names” in the Rocky Mountain region.

Looking back at the 2006-07 season, the number of ski visits as a whole was down 6.5% nationwide from the record setting 2005-06 season. This setback can be attributed in part to abnormally warm temperatures and below average snowfall in most areas of the country. However, the Rocky Mountain region (which includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico ) seemed to be immune from the national trend with no significant decrease in the length of the season and actually a slight increase in the number of skier visits. In fact, the 2006-07 season, while only up 0.6% in number of visits, set a record for the third consecutive year by reaching 20.8 million visits, which comprised approximately 38 percent of the total visits nationwide.

Big Sky Resort has continually set high standards for not only skiing satisfaction but for a complete resort package. The area is frequently expanding and improving its offerings to ensure a memory filled experience – whether a day trip or complete vacation. But Big Sky definitely has Mother Nature on its side also. Big Sky encompasses 3,812 acres, 150 named runs, 400+ inches of average annual snowfall, and 4,350 feet of vertical drop. These statistics certainly showcase Big Sky as the best conditions Montana has to offer. However, Moonlight Basin adds an additional 1,900 acres, 400 inches of average annual snowfall, and 4,150 feet of vertical drop. Additionally, Bridger Bowl can certainly stand on its own with 1,500 acres, 71 trails, 350 inches of average annual snowfall, and 2,600 feet of vertical drop.

Just to give a glimpse of how attractive our local ski resorts are when compared to others in the Rocky Mountain region, the same statistics from many of the more renowned resorts are included. Vail, Colorado (the largest ski resort in the United States ) boasts 5,289 acres, 193 trails, 346 inches average annual snowfall, and a 3,450 foot vertical drop. Telluride, Colorado possesses 1,700 acres, 84 trails, 309 inches annual average snowfall, and a 3,530 foot vertical drop. Steamboat, Colorado has 2,965 acres, 165 named trails, 331 inches average annual snowfall, and a 3,668 vertical drop. Sun Valley, Idaho has 2,054 acres, 220 inches annual average snowfall, and a 3,400 foot vertical drop. Jackson Hole, Wyoming has 2,500 acres, 116 trails, 450 inches average annual snowfall, and 4,139 feet of vertical drop. Park City, Utah reports 3,300 acres, 104 runs, 350 inches of average annual snowfall, and 3,100 feet vertical drop. Finally, Deer Valley, Utah (which received the top ranking in SKI Magazine’s annual “Top 50 Resort Guide”) touts 2,026 acres, 99 runs, 300 inches average annual snowfall, and a 3,000 foot vertical drop. Within Montana, Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain ) has 3,000 acres, 93 marked runs, 335 inches average annual snowfall, and a 2,500 foot vertical drop. Red Lodge Mountain consists of 1,600 acres, 70 trails, 250 inches average annual snowfall, and a 2,400 foot vertical drop.

With these figures, it is easy to see why our local resorts have much to be proud about. Quoting from Bridger Bowl’s website, “Bridger Bowl has become a cornerstone for Bozeman ’s recreational community and a major contributor to the area’s vibrant winter tourism economy. Bridger Bowl’s original mission still stands to this day: to plan, develop and maintain facilities and services in a financially sound manner which provide the best possible skiing experience at a reasonable cost to local, regional and destination skiers.” And from Big Sky Resort’s website, “With more accommodations, terrain and services than ever before, Big Sky Resort continues to make its mark on the mountain vacation industry, and more importantly, make fond memories for guests.”

So, how does all of this correlate to the real estate market? Second home buyers and investors look at and compare us to other communities in the region when making their buying decisions. Bozeman and Big Sky’s terrain, vertical drop and snowfall stack up near the top in every category. It is just another compelling component of the real estate economy which helps Bozeman stay vital and growing.

Robyn Erlenbush is owner of ERA Landmark Real Estate (with offices in Bozeman, Big Sky, Livingston and Clyde Park) and Intermountain Property Management. She can be reached at robyn@eralandmark.com.

Spring has almost sprung in Bozeman!

Spring has almost sprung!There is still time to ski the 3rd snowiest winter in 20 years! As the powder days of winter transition to spring’s blue, sunny skies and warmer temperatures, now is the ideal time to get out and enjoy our surrounding ski areas. Big Sky Resort has received 374 inches of snow on the upper mountain and 246 inches at mid-mountain. Snowfall at Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin is currently 15% above the 20 year average. Bridger Bowl, recent hosts of the NCAA alpine championships, received over 263 inches of fluffy powder as of February 21, 2008. Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center offers 27 km of scenic skiing in the Bridger Mountains. Big Sky’s Lone Mountain Ranch offers skiers a change of pace. Whether enjoying a horse-drawn sleigh ride dinner or a tour of the 80 km Nordic trail system, natural beauty surrounds you. Please contact our Downtown Bozeman Office at 406-556-5001 or our Big Sky Office at 406-995-3444 for discounted Moonlight ski tickets, information about special Big Sky Resort rates or just to check the current snow conditions. Find A Property Featured Vacation Rental Featured Commercial Property More About Big Sky More About Bozeman More About Livingston

ERA Landmark is currently working on their new and improved website. We are all so excited for it to be completed and will keep you posted.

We’d like to thank Robyn and the team at ERA Landmark for all their valuable information we use in our blogs and our website. It’s great to be a part of such a wonderful and interactive team!

Robyn and her staff do an incredible job with market updates and reports. We would be happy to share them with you upon request. Our local MLS here, Gallatin Association of Realtors, also does a magnificent job with their reporting and stats as well.

Thanks again and don’t forget to visit our website for any new listings and to see how wonderful it is to live in Bozeman, Montana!

Falling Market? Injured Economy?

You can never say enough good things about Bozeman.

I know consumers can’t help but listening to the never-ending media hype about the falling market and injured economy. But we’re here to tell you that is NOT the case here in Bozeman. We are one of the luckiest cities in the country, we continue to boom, bang and awe not only our annual visitors but our locals as well. Bozeman is one of the best places to live, retire, go to school, start a family and thrive. People come to Bozeman for ONE reason, because they WANT TO! That makes my job, and everyone elses job, so much nicer!

We love Bozeman, Montana and you should too! I’ve been collecting articles and publications on Bozeman and what a great city it has always been and will continue to be. Below are a few more articles that you REALLY should read.

• The Aging West – Forget Retiring to Florida, Arizona – More Boomers are Heading to the Rockies!
• All Alone in ‘the last best place’ – Even cowboys like soft pillows!

When you finally decide to come up and visit, don’t forget to give us a call and we can give you tons of information on the best places to stay, eat and have a blast! There is no end to the amount of fun and relaxation you can find in our great city. We have an amazing hiking system, unbelievable fly-fishing, great skiing & snowboarding, don’t forget snow-mobiling, Yellowstone National Park is only 88 miles from Bozeman, the hunting is fantastic and the people are warm and welcoming.

You’ll love it here!

Best Place To Retire – Bozeman, Montana

By Alison Go

Posted 9/20/07

The people of Bozeman, Mont., don’t want this story to be published. They want the writers and photographers out, and they want the media to forget that their beautiful, once little town exists. “There’s the idea that ‘foreigners,’ as we call them, are going to destroy old-time Montana,” says Connie Lord, a longtime Bozeman resident and native of the state. When Lord returned to Big Sky Country after moving away for work, she discovered a transformed city. “What happened to my sleepy little town?” she wondered.

Bozeman—an outdoorsy sanctuary tucked within the Rocky Mountains, just 93 miles north of Yellowstone National Park—anchors Montana’s fastest-growing county. Bozeman is home to Montana State University, but it has also become a mecca to vacationers and tech-industry workers, along with retirees looking for peace, quiet, culture, community, and the great outdoors.

Winters in Bozeman offer excellent skiing at the nearby glitzy Big Sky Ski Resort and local favorite Bridger Bowl Ski Area. For the warmer months, hiking trails snake through the foothills and canyons in every direction, while the Gallatin, Yellowstone, and Madison rivers, less than an hour’s drive away, are teeming with avid fly fishers (fish, too).

A historic downtown boasts cafes and boutiques and serves as the venue for a seemingly endless number of art fairs and music festivals. Opportunities abound for horseback riding, and dude ranches outside town attract tourists and sometimes even locals. The university, the Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, and the Museum of the Rockies add their own energy, culture, and academic pedigree to the scene.

For Lord, who works at the university as a research technician, life revolves around ballroom dancing and the active two-step scene in Bozeman. She meets with her partner and other dancers from all over the county several times a week to practice, a time when sprightly senior citizens can mambo with 14-year-olds.

Outsiders have found the area hard to resist, and fewer and fewer do. Bozeman has attracted plenty of wealthy retirees who gravitate toward pricey real estate on the outskirts of the city. And the influx of all those well-heeled seniors has made living in what some have jokingly renamed “Boz Angeles” nearly unaffordable. New, reasonably priced housing does exist—a three-bedroom house could go for $275,000—but for natives whose wages have not increased to match, the transformation is often startling.

Change at the Bozeman Hot Springs mirrors the town’s metamorphosis. The once dingy gathering spot has recently been transformed into a ritzy spa featuring nine pools filled with hot springs water, a fitness center, and a sauna.

Yet as corners of the town are upgraded and re-imagined to the chagrin of some locals, Bozeman’s core appeal remains the same: a sense of community that’s obvious in the city’s many groups and meet ups dedicated to skiing, hiking, painting, and knitting, to name a few. And as long as newcomers respect Bozeman’s natural beauty and small-town feel, they’re sure to feel welcome. The locals are a very nice bunch, really. Just don’t tell them you’re a reporter.

ABOUT BOZEMAN, MONTANA

Population: 33,535

Median home price: $279,300

January average temperatures (high/low): 33/14

July temperatures: 82/52

Read More Stats on Bozeman – Go to: City-Data.com

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Also on the list:

• Hillsboro, Oregon – Special Thanks to Alison Go
• San Francisco, California – Special Thanks to Justin Ewers
• Prescott, Arizona – Special Thanks to Alex Markels
• Lawrence, Kansas – Special Thanks to David LaGesse
• Fayetteville, Arkansas – Special Thanks to David LaGesse
• Concord, New Hampshire – Special Thanks to Paul J. Lim
• Smyrna, Tennessee – Special Thanks to Emily Brandon
• Peachtree City, Georgia – Special Thanks to Renuka Rayasam
• Venice, Florida – Special Thanks to David LaGesse

Source: OnBoard LLC

Thanks to www.USNews.com for the information above.

 

Bozeman Ranked #1 Dream Town by BizJournals.com

This is just fantastic!

Bozeman has been named the #1 ‘Dreamtown’ by Bizjournals.com for its quality of life and business growth, edging out Jackson Hole and Durango, Colorado. Bozeman is a small college town with a sophisticated and cultured atmosphere. Despite its size, Bozeman boasts amenities that larger urban cities would envy. No matter what the season, there are a full range of activities to enjoy, from world-class fly fishing to the thrill of skiing to attending a wonderful symphonic concert.

Whether you are starting up a business, relocating a family, or just wishing to retire or own a second home here: an investment in Bozeman real estate is a sound decision.

Click here to go to BizJournal.com for the America’s Dreamtowns: Quality of Life Rankings!