Photo: Kevin Daily

For the second summer in a row, Big Sky Resort received a phone call from the White House for a place to stay and play while visiting Yellowstone National Park.   Vice President Joe Biden and his family stayed at the Summit Hotel and took part in many of the activities available in the Big Sky area over the weekend.

Just last August, Big Sky and the Summit Hotel hosted President Barack Obama and his family as he made a National Parks tour that included Yellowstone National Park.

“The feedback from the White House staff with last year’s visit was that we offer the right facilities, professional team and plenty of outdoor activities so we were a natural choice for the Vice President to visit as well,” said General Manager Taylor Middleton.   “We take great pride in providing memorable vacations for all our visitors, and we’re truly honored to have that opportunity with the White House two summers in a row.”

According to a press statement released by the White House, Vice President Biden is visiting National Parks highlighting the Recovery Act funding.

“As part of Recovery Summer, on Monday and Tuesday the Vice President will visit Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks, where $25 million in Recovery Act funding is creating jobs and jump-starting previously-deferred construction and maintenance projects.   More than 1,000 workers have already been part of the seventeen Recovery Act projects at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.   Overall, there are 800 Recovery Act projects underway at National Parks across the country this summer — eight times as many as there were last summer.”

The Summit Hotel is a 10 story hotel with three levels of underground parking.   It serves as a ski-in, ski-out property in the winter and the cornerstone of the Big Sky Mountain Village Basecamp activities in the summer.   Big Sky Resort also serves as a meetings location both summer and winter.

Over the weekend in Big Sky, the Vice President and his family hiked Beehive Basin, guided by the Big Sky Institute, went whitewater rafting and golfed.   The Big Sky Resort food and beverage team worked closely with the White House culinary staff to prepare several meals including a barbecue and s ‘mores for the family on the Summit Plaza.

“Once again, I’m so impressed with our team and their ability to shine when we have these opportunities to showcase our facilities to national leaders,” said Middleton.   “Team work is key in being successful to simultaneously serving both hospitality and security needs with the White House, yet I always reminded our staff, ‘have fun!”