The Ridge Club opened Tuesday in the former First Security Bank building at 217 East Main. The three-story brick building sold in March for $3.8 million to Ridge Club LLC, a Delaware entity registered to a Jackson, Wyoming address.

Initiation is $10,000. Monthly dues are $450 for individuals, $750 for families. The club describes itself as “a home base for the people who make this valley run.” Amenities include a whiskey library, a cold-plunge room, a private dining room with a James Beard-nominated consultant, and a “gear concierge” who will wax skis and schedule fishing guides.

“We wanted to create a space that honors the authentic Bozeman lifestyle,” said founder Tad Whitmore, 34, who relocated from Austin in 2022. “The people who built this community deserve a place that reflects their values. No tourists. No weekenders. Just locals.”

Membership requires a referral from two current members and a brief essay on “what Bozeman means to you.” The application asks for employer, household income, and preferred ski terrain. As of Tuesday, 47 memberships had been approved. The waitlist stands at 112.

Longtime Belgrade resident Dale Haskins, 58, who owns a fencing company on Jackrabbit Lane, said he appreciated the concept. “It’s important to protect what we have,” Haskins said. “Ten thousand’s steep for a fencing contractor, but I’m glad somebody’s looking out for the locals. Maybe I’ll put in an application next year if business picks up.”

The Ridge Club occupies the ground floor and mezzanine. The upper floor remains vacant, listed at $42 per square foot triple-net. Whitmore said the space might become a “member-owned venture incubator” or a “curated alpine library.” He has not decided.

The building’s original vault door remains in the basement. The club uses it as a wine cellar.