Community
Crazy Mountain Ranch shared plans for summer operations, community investment, and resource stewardship
On Tuesday, April 28th, community members gathered at Shields Valley High School for an open house hosted by Shields Valley Schools, the town of Clyde Park, and Crazy Mountain Ranch (CMR). The event combined presentations with small-group discussions, giving residents the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with project leaders.
Approximately 150 people from across the Shields Valley and Livingston attended, including ranchers, business owners, school families, longtime residents, and community leaders.
“Last night was exactly the kind of evening we hoped for,” said David Hardwick, general manager of Crazy Mountain Ranch. “Seeing 150 of our neighbors take a Tuesday evening to sit down together, ask thoughtful questions, and share what matters to them about this valley meant a great deal to our team. The level of engagement at every conversation corner is what good community looks like, and it’s the standard we want to set as we move forward.”
The meeting included updates on school projects, municipal priorities, and operations at Crazy Mountain Ranch, with an emphasis on transparency, community impact, and long-term stewardship in Shields Valley. John Cech, a Park County native and former president of Carroll College, served as facilitator.
Clyde Park Mayor Sydney Wiley opened the event, thanking residents for showing up on a Tuesday evening and underscoring the value of partnerships among the town, schools, and Crazy Mountain Ranch. She introduced the town’s new logo and shared updates on several infrastructure and community projects. A recently completed, grant-funded engineering report identified weaknesses in the town’s water system, and officials are now pursuing additional funding for needed upgrades. Wiley also announced that high-speed fiber optic lines are being installed in the area through a federal grant aimed at improving connectivity in underserved communities. She closed with an update on improvements to Holiday Park, including planned basketball and pickleball courts. The project, partially funded by a Park County Community Foundation grant, will require additional donations to be completed.
Shields Valley Schools Superintendent Dan Johnson said enrollment has remained steady, bucking the statewide trend of declining public-school enrollment. He noted that 2024–2025 academic assessments show Shields Valley students performing well above the Montana average in both mathematics and English language arts.
School Board Chair Jon Croston outlined priority projects planned through the district’s capital campaign, including replacing the high school roof, improving water pressure across campus, updating refrigeration systems, and enhancing ADA accessibility. He also raised the potential of exploring a resort area tax to help offset financial pressures tied to growth and resort-related impacts in the region.
Crazy Mountain Ranch provided an overview of current operations and future plans, emphasizing its role as both a working ranch and a long-term presence in the community. This summer, 174 employees will work on-site, with housing provided for 116, helping reduce pressure on the local housing market. The ranch spans 18,000 acres, including 10,000 acres of grazing land supporting 430 mother cows and yearlings. Looking ahead, CMR detailed plans for its 200-acre golf course by Coore & Crenshaw, designed to blend into the landscape.
The ranch highlighted community contributions, including $250,000 donated to more than 30 nonprofit organizations in 2025 and a $500,000, 10-year commitment to the Shields Valley Schools capital campaign.
Construction activity planned for summer 2026 includes the golf course, cabins, and amenities such as a performance barn, comfort station, and observatory. These projects are expected to bring a temporary increase in truck traffic from late May through August, with efforts to coordinate routing and timing to reduce impacts.
Water use was also addressed. CMR reported that a temporary lease has been approved by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) without objection. The ranch does not plan to operate irrigation pivots this season and expects to divert less water than in previous years. All usage will be measured, monitored, and reported to the DNRC.
Following the presentations, attendees moved into eight “Conversation Corners” set up around the gymnasium, hosted by the town, school district, and CMR. Topics included the Wilsall Elementary addition and renovation, the 2026 capital campaign, and a potential resort area tax. CMR’s stations covered agriculture, community giving, operations and construction, and a dedicated water update station—where Jay Bothwick of CrossHarbor Capital Partners answered detailed questions about water rights and the DNRC process. Staff at each station answered questions and recorded follow-up items.
CMR also announced a free community barbecue for Shields Valley residents on Sunday, May 17th from 12 to 3 pm at the ranch. The event will include family-friendly activities with donations benefiting the Wilsall Rodeo Association. CMR will match all donations.
The open house was part of an ongoing effort to engage residents and provide updates as projects move forward.
“Tonight was about being neighbors together for a couple of hours — listening, learning, and asking real questions,” said Cech. “That’s the conversation this valley deserves, and it’s the one I saw happening at every table in the room.”
About Lone Mountain Land Company
Lone Mountain Land Company (LMLC) was formed in 2014 by CrossHarbor Capital Partners to manage the planning, entitlement, building, marketing, operations, and the sale of premier real estate in and around Big Sky, Montana. LMLC has primarily focused on the world-class hospitality, residential, and ski and golf communities of Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and Moonlight Basin . The company is also responsible for the development, sales, and marketing of Montage Big Sky and One&Only Moonlight Basin. Alongside our private and public partners, LMLC strives to develop communities with enduring qualities that resonate with future generations, while meaningfully protecting and enhancing the surrounding natural environment. Additionally, LMLC is dedicated to the advancement of Big Sky’s Town Center, through future planning, fostering non-profit collaborations, and developing affordable housing. Please visit: www.lonemountainland.com
About the Town of Clyde Park
Incorporated in 1913 and nestled in the Shields River Valley between the Crazy and Bridger Mountain Ranges, the Town of Clyde Park is a small Montana community of roughly 350 residents with a long ranching heritage and a strong civic spirit. Governed by a Mayor and a five-member Town Council, Clyde Park is defined less by boundaries on a map than by a set of shared values: small-town character, guided growth, and the preservation of the area’s historical, cultural, and natural heritage. The Town works in close partnership with neighboring communities, schools, and local organizations to provide essential services, steward public resources, and create opportunities for residents to engage in shaping the future of their community. More information is available at www.clydeparkmt.net.
About Shields Valley Public Schools
Shields Valley Public Schools serves students and families across the Shields Valley from campuses in Wilsall and Clyde Park, with Shields Valley Elementary (K–6) in Wilsall and Shields Valley Junior High and High School in Clyde Park. Formed in the late 1980s through the consolidation of the Clyde Park and Wilsall school communities, the District is dedicated to developing a community of lifelong learners by challenging students to achieve their full potential and become productive global citizens. Sporting the school colors of Columbia blue, silver, and black, the Rebels have built a strong academic and activity tradition that reflects the dedication of students, staff, families, and the broader Shields Valley community. More information is available at www.svalleyk12.org.