Where To Go And What To See in April 2026 / Tour One&Only Moonlight Basin, A New Alpine Luxury Retreat in Big Sky / By Lindsay Cohn

Big Sky may not have the spritz-fuelled aprés ski scene of the USA’s high-altitude heavy hitters like Aspen, but its western-tinged charm and natural beauty make it a dream year-round escape for outdoorsy types visiting the American West.

The opening of One&Only Moonlight Basin – the brand’s first stateside debut – puts Montana’s premier mountain destination on the interior design map.

Set on 240 acres of unbridled wilderness, the resort blends elevated alpine minimalism and cowboy core into a refined retreat, complete with chic cabins, ranch-inspired dining and a standout spa.

Wallpaper* checks in at One&Only Moonlight Basin

What’s on your doorstep?

Ensconced amid peaks and the Gallatin National Forest, One&Only Moonlight Basin gives guests an all-access pass to the natural wonders of Big Sky, from starry skies to 5,850 skiable acres.

There’s a dedicated One&Only Gondola – it’s heated and takes just five minutes – from the Sky Lodge to the Madison Base ski area for world-class skiing and snowboarding. Adventurous spirits can also try out activities ranging from snowshoeing and sledging in the winter to hiking, fly fishing and fat-tyre biking in the warmer months.

The property sits an hour from the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park for even more eco thrills and wildlife sightings.

Who is behind the design?

Big Sky is best known for the great outdoors. One&Only Moonlight Basin brings that beauty inside. Seattle-based firm Olson Kundig translates the rugged landscape into sleek, luxurious spaces.

Clean lines and black steel contrast with plush rugs in muted earth tones, a gallery-worthy contemporary art collection – nearly 80 per cent of it created by artists living in the region – and natural materials.

Stone, wood and leather, alongside windows that frame mountains and lodgepole pines, imbue the interiors with a sense of place and reflect Montana’s western sensibility. The overall effect is streamlined yet full of character.

The lobby living room features a rounded fireplace that nods to grain silos, with a pattern inspired by the starry night sky.

Nearby are colourful ceramic and metal magpies by Alessandro Gallo and a crown-down bronze cowboy hat by Paul Harris.

Montana-based female artist Tracy Linder created Vortex, a site-specific commission made of bovine, bison, elk and horse ribs from her Molt ranch, to float above the spiral staircase in the Main Lodge.

In the West Lodge, the entertainment and family zone, rope lights add a touch of Western whimsy.

The room to book

One&Only Moonlight Basin offers 73 guest rooms and suites, plus 19 freestanding cabins. Our favourite party pad, the Big Sky Suite in the Main Lodge, boasts a wraparound terrace and an expansive living area.

A striking live-edge black walnut table anchors the dining space, complemented by a full kitchen made for easy entertaining. In the primary bathroom, the soaking tub sits beside a window that cantilevers open to the terrace hot tub.