The division of the Houston-based real estate firm, Hines, is tackling the project on behalf of Winter Sports Inc. Dirt will fly this summer on Glacier Village at Big Mountain, which will serve as the base village to Big Mountain Ski & Summer Resort. The development will include 700 lodging units, one or more hotels, condominiums, town homes, employee housing and 80,000 sf of commercial space with a conference center.

The resort is positioned close to Glacier International Airport, Glacier National Park, 10 golf courses and several lakes. "With the combination of skiing, lakes, golf and history, Big Mountain, Whitefish and Flathead Valley are completely unique to anywhere in North America," says Hines founder and chairman Gerald Hines. "The architecture and design will preserve and perpetuate Big Mountain's culture and values."

Design Workshop, an Aspen-based design firm will develop the master plan, which will include a pedestrian-scale village with numerous retail and restaurant spaces on the main streets. According to project planners, the architecture will mimic the feeling of Glacier National Park as well as Montana's ranches and historic towns. The current resort, Big Mountain Ski & Summer Resorts currently has 1,600 beds. The expansion will add 3,800 beds.