Moonlight Basin developed on the north side of Lone Mountain in southwestern Montana after Lee Poole, Joe Vujovich, and Keith Brown bought 25,000 acres in 1992 and created Moonlight Basin Ranch. The ski area opened independently in 2003 beside Big Sky Resort and became known for varied terrain, especially the north-face runs and Headwaters Bowl. After early years as a separate resort with its own ticketing, it linked more closely with Big Sky through a joint pass in 2005. Financial trouble led to bankruptcy proceedings, and in 2013 its assets were acquired and merged into Big Sky Resort, helping form one of the nation’s largest ski areas.