Industry News
The following words are from a press release shared by Big Sky Resort that was updated with additional details.
Big Sky, Montana – Taylor Middleton, former President and Chief Operating Officer of Big Sky Resort and a leader in the Big Sky community and Montana state tourism for over three decades, died at home in Big Sky on Friday, February 20 after a long battle with a neurological disease. He was 68 years old. “Taylor Middleton was one of the most impactful leaders in the history of the American ski industry,” Stephen Kircher said, CEO and President of Boyne Resorts, who announced his death. “In 1998, he embraced the goal of making Big Sky the number one resort in North America when many people thought it was impossible. He never wavered. Over 26 years, we watched him will that vision into reality.”
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Middleton began his career at the front desk of the Huntley Lodge before moving into sales and marketing, where he dramatically grew visitation nationwide over the course of a decade. He ascended to the role of General Manager in 1998. During his 45 years with Boyne, he oversaw the construction of more than 20 lifts, two trams, and two hotels; he also hosted both Presidential and Vice-Presidential visits.
A steady steward through periods of both economic uncertainty and unparalleled growth, he “ran the business like he owned it—with an eye on the long-term,” Kircher said. “Our family always trusted his judgment; he hand-signed every check for years.” Under his leadership, Big Sky transformed from a regional destination into North America’s top-ranked ski resort—a distinction that Taylor was instrumental in achieving.
He led the resort through the 2008 financial crisis, during which Big Sky uniquely avoided closure or ownership changes, and oversaw the integration of Moonlight Basin—a terrain acquisition that officially cemented Big Sky as the “Biggest Skiing in America.” His successor, current President and COO Troy Nedved, added: “Big Sky would not be what it is without Taylor Middleton. His fingerprints are on everything good about this place—and they always will be.”
As the leader, Middleton mentored generations of team members within and beyond the organization, across the region. “My career was shaped by the goals he set for me,” Nick Herrin said, who started as a ski instructor and now oversees snowsports across Boyne’s 13 resorts nationwide. Taylor was not one for empty words–he led by example. “He was someone I deeply looked up to,” Cameron Sholly said, current superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. “His poise, integrity, and authentic care for people are qualities I have long tried to emulate.”
In Southwest Montana, Middleton played a key role in the development of Big Sky’s first hospital and bank, the Resort Tax District, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Transportation District, serving on these boards and many others over the years. “He believed deeply that Big Sky could not truly thrive without access to healthcare, and his tireless advocacy helped make the Big Sky Medical Center a reality,” Kathryn Bertany said, Bozeman Health CEO. Middleton’s deep care for the people of Big Sky drove each of his community initiatives. “He fought tirelessly for things that had nothing to do with skiing: a hospital so our neighbors wouldn’t have to drive hours in an emergency, a high school so our kids could grow up and stay rooted here. He always put people first,” Nedved said.
He was also a dedicated competitor and supporter of the now iconic Big Sky races The Rut and The Biggie, competing in both annually through 2025. “When someone like Taylor crosses the finish line, it’s for the whole community,” Biggie founder Natalie Osborne said. “Everyone in town told me I’d never be able to put together a bike race like I was envisioning…but I never heard that from him.”
The mountains were much more than a career for Middleton. He had a deep love for the outdoors—on skis, on a bike, and on foot. “Some of my best adventures were with Taylor,” Christine Baker said, Vice President of Mountain Sports at Big Sky. “It was never about keeping up or proving yourself. He had a rare way of making people feel at ease and making it about the experience, the people you were with, and truly enjoying this place.”
He will be remembered for his big smile, his generous heart, and most of all for the joy and gratitude that defined his life. Herrin said it best: “I will always love the way he helped me understand life, and how to live it joyfully—by pouring everything you have into something you love, and more importantly, with the people you love alongside you.”
