SAM Magazine--Big Sky, Mont., February 24, 2004--Boyne USA, the owners of Big Sky resort, have filed a suit against neighboring newcomer, Moonlight Basin Ranch. According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the suit alleges that Moonlight Basin is trespassing on Big Sky property and endangering its employees and clients. The two areas share a boundary on the same peak--Lone Peak.

More specifically, Big Sky claims that Moonlight is using its Avalauncher "to fire explosives toward Big Sky Resort." In addition, other complaints include trespassing by Moonlight ski patrollers and groomers, putting up signs encouraging skiers to go to Moonlight and damaging earth removal work.

Because of the often confusing arrangement between Big Sky and Moonlight Basin, including a battle which includes a third party--the Yellowstone Club--for control of the summit of Lone Peak, real estate in the area could be jeoparized. Moonlight has built cabins and condos with ski-in/ski-out access to Boyne's lifts on its own neighboring land, but a lawsuit could end all reciprocal priveleges between the two areas. Indeed, the lawsuit asks for an immediate halt in the alleged trespass and safety violations and "the termination of all right of access for Moonlight" and its employees and guests "between the Moonlight terrain and the Boyne terrain," reports the Chronicle.