Big Timber and Red Lodge Communities Hit the Ground Running!

Big Timber and Red Lodge were both awarded Tourism Pilot Community Grant Awards by the Department of Commerce in February 2025 and have been aggressively moving to get plans in place and projects underway for the first two years of funding. Both communities have steering committees made up of leaders working together for the common goal. Their diligence is paying off.

Sherry Weamer, Executive Director of the Red Lodge Chamber, explained their upcoming priorities, which focus on product development projects that would expand their offerings. There are six main projects the community plans to focus on:

• Adding cooling coils to the ice rink to keep the ice more consistent and extending the time the rink can be used.
• Creating a sledding hill, potentially with lighting for night sledding.
• Adding a kitchen to the Roosevelt Center, which would allow for small and medium-sized meetings and conventions.
• Purchasing additional grooming equipment to maintain their cross-country trail system.
• Commission an architectural review and rendering for updating the Visitor’s Center.
• A master study of the Arts Guild, including the history of the old train depot.

In Big Timber, Christine Bakke, Sweet Grass County Chamber Membership and Administrative Coordinator, said the Crazy Mountain Collective meets every other week to continue their work. While the group members focus on their individual projects, they keep one another apprised of the progress. Current projects include:

• An East entrance welcome sign, currently in the design phase.
• The planned trails network is moving forward.
• Crazy Mountain Museum is expanding.
• Sheepherder Square, an all-season gathering space, is set to move to Phase 2 this fall.
• Clear-coating murals for preservation purposes.
• Completion of the Roger Brooks Master Tourism Plan with a marketing campaign set for spring.

Congratulations on this first wave of work. We look forward to seeing it all come to life!