"Secret" Ski Town Discovered in Montana

"Eighteen miles up the Pintler Scenic Highway is one of the best under-the-radar ski areas in the Northern Rockies — Discovery, or Disco to the locals,” reads the article. “The only thing missing — in town, the surrounding mountains, or the wide ranching valleys sprawling out below — are crowds.

At Disco, Ciche Pitcher, vice president of operations, said he thinks it’s great that Philipsburg and the ski area are getting national attention.

“We love seeing Philipsburg talked about in that vein, as a ski town, describing it as a recreational community, getting that stuff out about it to people who don’t know about it,” he told The Montana Standard in a phone interview Tuesday.

But Pitcher doesn’t think Disco is discovered.

“We’ve found over the years, nothing that comes out in those publications is ever going to be significant to change what’s going on here,” he said. “It’s nice when you see it written up like that: people are noticing it’s a good experience to ski here.”

For Philipsburg, like so many small towns around the nation enduring declining populations and trying to diversify and attract young families, any news is good news, however.

“It’s totally awesome, phenomenal and great to be featured in National Geographic. It’s the real deal,” said Bill Dirkis, president of the Philipsburg Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Sunshine Station restaurant.

“Any time you get publicity like that it’ll be good for the town,” he said. “I really wish we had better snow right now, but I think (National Geographic readers) will plan their vacations for next year.”

Articles like this are coming fast and furious for the area. Discovery was recently featured by the Los Angeles Times as one of the most family-friendly and affordable ski areas in the West. Food Network Magazine recognized the Sweet Palace’s dark chocolate Moose Drool truffle in its November 2013 issue.

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