Aviation View July 2023

29 AVIATION VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Bozeman, Montana, surrounded by six stunning mountain ranges, four significant rivers, two entrances to Yellowstone National Park, and two major ski areas, is a beacon for those who love the outdoors. With recent growth bringing additional restaurants, air service, and live entertainment, this traditionally quiet mountain town now rivals urban areas for cultural entertainment. For the sixth year in a row, Bozeman has ranked number one for having the strongest local micropolitan economy in the nation. (Polycom Corporation, 2023 Economic Strength Ratings.) With Yellowstone National Park just a stone’s throw away, along with world-class skiing and trout fishing, visitors flock to the area year- round, making tourism one of the largest industries in the region. Add a growing technology sector, a booming downtown, Montana’s biggest college, Montana State University, and you can understand why this mountain town is all the rage. Bozeman used to have the perceptions of being difficult to access, but throughout the years, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), along with Visit Bozeman and other local tourism stakeholders, partnered to expand air service to the Gallatin Valley. The success has been phenomenal. BZN now has non- stop service to twenty-two destinations throughout the United States, (9 which operate seasonally.) To lend perspective to the growth, in 1990, enplanements at the airport surpassed 125,000 passengers for the first time. In 2023, the airport projects their enplanements to be 1,188,050, up 4.7% over 2022. As a community, Bozeman has a strong non-profit sector, a rich arts community, and is quickly becoming a music hub with performances ranging from regional favorites to national headliners in venues such as the ELM, Rialto, Ellen Theatre, and Montana State University. The thriving downtown is a mix of great restaurants, unique shopping, and live entertainment, including Montana’s only comedy club, Last Best Comedy. Lodging accommodations continue to grow with a multitude of options ranging from boutique hotels like RSVP, to Bozeman’s first four-start hotel, Kimpton Armory Hotel, to national brands such as Residence Inn by Marriot, with more options on the horizon over the next five years. EVEN Hotel, located at the upcoming Airport Plaza, is scheduled to be complete in 2024. But what lies at the heart of Bozeman is the incredible natural beauty that sits in our backyard. The ability to explore the mountains and rivers, watch the wildlife, the wildflowers, and the turn of the seasons. It is the farmers, the entrepreneurs, the mountaineers, and the people who work together to proudly call this place home. .................................... For more information, please visit our website https://visitbozeman.com