BUSINESS

SECTION 3:

BUSINESS , ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH DINING AND FUN

Wrap Shack continues to serve up tradition pg. 35 Dead Sky at Tips Up pg. 36 Spicy coconut peanut butter ramen pg. 39

After nearly two decades, Wrap Shack continues to serve up tradition

BY TUCKER HARRIS

BIG SKY – The aromas of freshly cooked lime rice and pulled pork waft from the Wrap Shack kitchen in the West Fork Plaza in Big Sky. Bright, beachy décor inside the restaurant is a welcoming escape from the wintery scene outside the door. Through several iterations of ownership, this vibrant pocket of Big Sky has remained steadfast in its tradition of serving casual grab-and-go food.

In early July of last year, peak season in Big Sky, locals Alison Adams and Shane Hammitt left their manager positions at Bucks T-4 and Beehive Basin Brewery, respectively, to re-open the doors to Wrap Shack after its former owner closed up shop in February 2021. Adams and Hammitt are the restaurant’s fourth owners since it opened in 2004.

The Wrap Shack has been a go-to lunch and dinner spot for quick, fresh eats for nearly two decades, but it’s also provided entrepreneurial opportunities for locals since its inception.

Adams and Hammitt both have many years under their belt working in the service industry, but this is their first time owning a business in the industry.

Hammitt admits that working for himself has been a welcomed change.

“It’s a lot more gratifying,” he said as he finished setting up the colorful, stickered chairs for opening. “All the effort that you’re putting in is going towards something that’s your own deal. So you just feel you get a lot more gratification out of it.”

The best part for Hammitt is seeing returning customers who not only compliment the food and business but keep coming back for more, he said.

Adams and Hammitt are currently the sole full-time employees of Wrap Shack with one part-time employee who works one day per week.

To help streamline their work and to cater to more guests’ diet preferences, Adams and Hammitt have updated the old menu, which had a list of specific burrito options, to a build-your-own concept.

Adams and Hammitt have maintained the same ingredients from the old menu, they said, assuring fans of Wrap Shack classics like the Smoking Gringo or The Man that old menu items can still be bowled or rolled up using the buildyour-own concept.

“The recipes are from the original owners still so some of the traditions we’re trying to hold onto so that way it’s not a huge shock to people coming in,” Adams said.

“[The build-your-own option] gives people the freedom to pick exactly what they want,” Hammitt added. It also gives more options for those who may have dietary restrictions with gluten free and vegetarian options available, he said.

Another change to the menu is the option to make your burrito or burrito bowl into a combo meal, dubbed the “Shack Tour,” adding chips, salsa and a fountain drink for an additional $3.

Hammitt and Adams pride themselves on being one of the only lunch and dinner spots in town with casual food that is quick and easy. Acknowledging that there are many casual dining spots in town, Wrap Shack’s efficiency is what stands them apart, they said.

“For us, somebody can come in and get out in less than five minutes and have their meal ready for them,” Adams said.

Wrap Shack also offers online ordering.

“Somebody leaving the ski hill and is headed to their job or even on their way back to Bozeman can put in an order [online] so that way it’s ready to just come in and grab on their way through the meadow,” Adams said.

From the menu, Hammitt recommends the pork or steak burrito. The pesto mayo sauce always pleasantly surprises customers, he said, though mexi ranch and creamy chipotle are the two most popular.

“When you get people coming in here two or three times a week to eat your food, it’s like ‘This is awesome,” Hammitt said. “We must be doing something right.”

For the winter season, Wrap Shack is open Fridays through Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. for lunch and dinner. After a month-long break for the off-season, Adams and Hammitt hope to be open six days a week this summer if they are able to find an additional employee.

Shane Hammitt and Alison Adams pride themselves on being one of the only lunch and dinner spots in town with casual food that is quick and easy. PHOTO BY TUCKER HARRIS

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Making it in Big Sky: Rotary Club of Big Sky

BY MIRA BRODY

BIG SKY – When Ryan Wilson and his wife Erica Perlman moved to Big Sky, they knew they wanted to give back to their community, and the Rotary Club of Big Sky seemed like the perfect chance to do so. The club, which has been in the local community since 2004, voted Wilson in as president last year and since then he has been working to expand its reach.

Whether you’re driving the canyon and have seen the two bright blue emergency call boxes available to those in need, or watching your kids play on the new playground structures at Ophir School, the Rotary Club of Big Sky has touched the lives of every Big Sky resident. We spoke with Wilson about the club’s efforts and “ how to get involved. One of his favorite rotary events? Wearing a Santa Claus hat and delivering presents to excited kids for the annual Giving Tree.

This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Our community is a rapidly changing place and our Rotary Club prides itself on seeking out issues in the community and doing what we can to help address those issues. –Ryan Wilson, president, Rotary Club of Big Sky. ”

Explore Big Sky: I’d like to start with a little background information on you, when and what brought you to Big Sky? Ryan Wilson: After graduating from Purdue University, I moved to Boston and started working with Suffolk Construction, where I still work as a Senior Project Manager. I really enjoyed living in Boston and vacationing to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the vast wildernesses of Maine on the weekends. My wife, Erica Perlman, grew up going to Montana every summer with her family. We visited several times, falling in love with the rivers, mountains and wildlife of the area. So, when Suffolk said they were looking for people to move to Montana to build the Montage, we jumped at the chance to relocate permanently.

EBS: Tell me about the history of the Rotary Club of Big Sky. When did it start? How/when did you become involved? R.W.: Rotary has been around for over 100 years with 1.4 million members and 33,000 clubs worldwide so it’s not surprising to see a club in Big Sky. The club was founded in 2004 by community leaders like Barb Maves and Kirk Dige, who wanted to bring their past Rotary experiences to Big Sky. When my wife and I first moved to Big Sky we wanted to become involved with the community—giving back and getting to know people. We were quickly impressed by the club’s amazing work in the community and welcoming atmosphere. I found myself volunteering for many community service projects, including building the bridge at Kircher Park, staining at the community park dugouts and cooking for Eagle Mount campers. My passion for the club grew, as did my role in its leadership. I was honored to be voted in as Rotary president last year and have worked hard to expand our club’s reach in the community. EBS: How has it grown or changed over the years, particularly to accommodate the area’s growth? R.W.: Our rotary club is constantly changing to accommodate the different challenges facing our community. When we saw that it was difficult for some families to deal with the overwhelming costs of the holidays, we started the Big Sky Giving Tree. When accidents in the canyon increased due to the traffic, we installed emergency call boxes. Last year we were notified that West Yellowstone public schools had not had a formal school vision screening in over 12 years, so we sent an optometrist and several rotary members to do a full day of screening. When a few Ophir teachers and counselors brought it to our attention that they needed more playground equipment and special ed tools in the classroom, we purchased what was needed to make sure that our local kids were starting school on the right foot. Our club not only initiates its own projects, but also works with other community organizations such as Gallatin River Task Force, Habitat for Humanity and Big Sky SNO, to help them on their missions. Our community is a rapidly changing place and our Rotary Club prides itself on seeking out issues in the community and doing what we can to help address those issues.

EBS: How big is your team? R.W.: We currently have 26 active members who each play a key role in the club, as committee chairs or spearheading recurring projects. We welcome all levels of participation depending on member’s individual interest and schedules. Most of our members live in Big Sky year-round but we also have members that live here part-time and stay active with our virtual meetings.

EBS: What is the best part about working with the people in the Rotary Club? Is there a specific memory or event that stands out to you? R.W.: One of the major reasons I love our club is how diverse we are. We have many impressive members with varying backgrounds, passions and expertise. The thing that unites all of us is that we want to be active members of our community and do what we can to make Big Sky a better place. One of my favorite events is wearing a Santa Claus hat and delivering presents to excited kids for our annual Giving Tree. EBS: How can the community get involved in Rotary Club activities or support your efforts? R.W.: A great way to get involved with the Rotary Club is to come to one of our meetings and learn more about what we are doing. We Ryan Wilson and his wife fell in love with the Big Sky area as soon as they moved here and have since worked to give back to the community. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN WILSON meet the first and third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Center conference room (above The Rocks). We welcome all levels of participation depending on your interests and availability. If membership isn’t what you are looking for, our annual Gold Auction is a great way to show your support. EBS: What is the best business advice you have ever received? R.W.: Be humble. Admit that you are not the best at everything and strive to learn from people who are better than you at something.