Legacy Meets Transformation as Montana's Premier Resort Partners with Global Culinary Collective for Landmark Four-Month Residency
In a milestone moment for Big Sky's continuing evolution, The Alinea Group has selected Big Sky Resort as a partner for their 20th Anniversary World Tour, drawn by the resort's innovative heritage. This winter, the collaboration will bring M by The Alinea Group to Montana's majestic landscape for a four-month restaurant residency, uniting two pioneering legacies that have redefined their respective frontiers.
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Big Sky Resort
For nearly five decades, the Kircher family’s Boyne Resorts has steered Big Sky with an enduring spirit of innovation, transforming both the ski industry and what many called "a crazy idea" into one of America's premier mountain destinations. The Alinea Group has challenged culinary boundaries since 2005, earning numerous awards through their signature approach of creating magical dining experiences. Together, they're creating something that can only happen where visionary thinking meets untamed terrain: a culinary adventure where Montana's elemental forces of sky, stone, and snow become integral to revolutionary artistry.
"We've always believed in both preserving the past and keeping the fire lit with a view towards the future," said Stephen Kircher, CEO of Boyne Resorts and son of its founder, Everett Kircher. "When The Alinea Group told us they wanted to create something transformational in a place that matched their own spirit of innovation, we knew they understood what Big Sky represents. This isn't just a residency; it's two pioneering legacies built on innovation coming together to redefine what's possible when you're bold enough to venture into uncharted territory."
Led by Chef Grant Achatz, The Alinea Group has spent two decades reshaping fine dining through innovation, storytelling, and immersive experiences. As part of the anniversary tour, M joins a short list of global stops, including Brooklyn, Miami Beach, Beverly Hills, and Tokyo, that reflect The Alinea Group’s interest in unique settings and meaningful collaborations. For Big Sky, it’s an opportunity to be part of a broader cultural conversation, where mountain culture meets one of the most influential voices in food.
M by The Alinea Group presents a seasonal menu that fuses European culinary precision with the elemental character of Montana’s landscape. Every dish is a reflection of place, crafted with intention, inspired by the winter terrain, and rooted in locally sourced ingredients.
"True luxury is finding the extraordinary in remote places – where a meal isn’t just served, it’s discovered,” said Chef Grant Achatz. “That’s what we’re building here in Big Sky: something rare, fleeting, and deeply connected to nature."
Beyond the plate, M by The Alinea Group sets a new benchmark for design and hospitality in the region. Conceived by the award-winning studio Fettle, the space embodies the pioneering spirit of discovery that defines Big Sky, channeling the same audacious vision that drove the Kircher Family to invest and build something unprecedented in the wilderness and now inspires Alinea's multisensory alpine dining experience. The design transcends mere reflection of nature, instead creating interiors that evoke the sublime moment of discovery — like finding unexpected luxury in the wild. Natural materials and refined finishes capture that sense of civilized indulgence emerging from untamed beauty, where every detail celebrates the joy of uncovering nature's hidden treasures.
“M by The Alinea Group creates a space that embodies the pioneering spirit of discovery elevated to its highest form," said Tom Parker, Director and Co-Founder of Fettle. "We imagined Lewis and Clark discovering a hidden hot spring and pausing to savor wild bitterroot, golden currant, native herbs that revealed new flavors and possibilities. The interiors capture that same sense of revelation, where every detail creates an atmosphere of refined indulgence born from the land itself. We're excited to bring the Kircher family's vision to life in this culinary milestone at Big Sky — that moment when exploration becomes extraordinary.”
Opening for a limited four-month engagement during the 2025/2026 winter season, M by The Alinea Group is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that signals a bold new chapter for Big Sky Resort, where thoughtful service, intimate pacing, and unexpected pairings meet the untamed spirit of the American West. For a resort that has always thrived at the intersection of wild terrain and world-class innovation, this residency isn't just an addition to Big Sky, it's a declaration of where the next 50 years of mountain hospitality begins.
For more details, visit The Alinea Group’s Tour website. For press inquiries or image requests, contact bigsky@tcpr.co.
About The Alinea Group
Founded in 2005 in Chicago, The Alinea Group is a trailblazer in modernist cuisine and hospitality. Its venues include the three Michelin-starred Alinea, the shapeshifting Next (one Michelin-starred), and award-winning cocktail bars The Aviary and The Office. For more information, please visit https://www.thealineagroup.com/.
About Grant Achatz
Chef Grant Achatz is one of the world’s most celebrated and influential chefs, renowned for pushing the boundaries of modernist cuisine. Named Best Chef in the United States by the James Beard Foundation and honored by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, his culinary journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Co-founder of the iconic Alinea, Grant has redefined fine dining, earning 14 consecutive years of 3 Michelin stars.
His story of overcoming Stage IV tongue cancer, as told in his bestselling memoir Life, On the Line and Netflix’s Chef’s Table, is a testament to his relentless pursuit of innovation and resilience.
About The Alinea Group’s 20th Anniversary Tour:
When Chef Achatz and the team at Alinea set out 20 years ago, their goal was simple: to create one of the best restaurants in the world. Today, The Alinea Group is a consistent powerhouse of accolades, including a total of 4 Michelin Stars and numerous James Beard Awards. As the restaurant group reflects on its remarkable journey, it is now turning to its next chapter – one that celebrates not only its success, but the community, partners, alumni, and guests who made it possible.
This anniversary tour is a rare opportunity for guests to experience The Alinea Group’s extraordinary cuisine in different settings, highlighting the influence of each host city’s unique ingredients and culinary traditions. Chef Achatz and his team will work alongside local chefs and purveyors to create dishes that reflect The Alinea Group’s innovative spirit while celebrating the flavors of each city.
“Over the years, we have had the privilege of working with an incredible team, building strong relationships with farmers, purveyors, and wine makers, and forging lasting friendships with industry peers around the world,” said Chef Grant Achatz. “We are grateful for the journey, and what better way to celebrate than by bringing The Alinea Group experience to new cities and sharing it with our loyal guests, while also inspiring our team and reconnecting with industry friends and partners.”
Chef Achatz sees this anniversary tour as a chance to give back to the restaurant industry at large. “If we do this right, this celebration will also serve as a love letter to the entire restaurant and hospitality industry. We are grateful for the opportunities and relationships that have shaped us, and we want to share that gratitude with the broader community that continues to inspire us.”
The exclusive residency in Big Sky, Montana is one of five disclosed destinations in The Alinea Group’s 20th Anniversary Tour, alongside Brooklyn, Miami Beach, Beverly Hills, and Tokyo.
For more information and to stay updated on the 20th anniversary tour, please visit The Alinea Group’s Tour website.
About Big Sky Resort
Big Sky Resort is a world-class mountain resort, home to North America’s most technologically advanced lift network, including the iconic 75-passenger Lone Peak Tram. With 5,850 acres of terrain across 40 lifts and more than 300 trails, Big Sky offers an unforgettable mountain experience. Established in 1973, Big Sky Resort is located in the Northern Rockies of southwest Montana between Bozeman, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park. Big Sky Resort is owned by the Kircher Family’s Boyne Resorts, the largest family-run, four-season resort company in North America.
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