BOZEMAN, Mont. — This is the sort of story that’s likely to elicit either a huge grin or a deep groan, though many people may shrug it off as nothing new.
That’s because the engagement news heard ’round the world may have a local connection: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are rumored to be flirting with becoming Montanans, at least part-time.
To be fair, the rumor started a few months ago when the singer and footballer were spotted at the Yellowstone Club — a private, members-only community located in Big Sky about 50 miles from Bozeman.
The rumor mill has been fed by Kelce’s clothing choice of a club T-shirt and some summertime sightings of the duo there.
Now that they’ve announced their pending wedding, the gossip grinder is churning overtime about the pop culture power couple possibly settling down in the West.
Word on the street in Bozeman is that they’ve been shopping for real estate — or may have already bought property, said Kate Smith, co-founder of Bozeman Bach, which provides bachelorette planning services in the area.
But Smith reckons they haven't bought property yet, as that’s pretty juicy information that probably would’ve trickled out of the exclusive Yellowstone Club.
For Smith and her social circle of mostly female friends, the thought of Swift settling down nearby is exciting.
“I really hope that that’s true,” she said. “She’s been my favorite person since I was a kid.”
Why Bozeman Beckons
As a Swiftie sleuth of sorts who says she’s “crazy and a huge fan,” Smith has reason to be optimistic there’s some truth to the real estate rumors, based on the singer’s recent social media posts.
Swift shared photos over the summer with “tons” of pine trees and mountain backdrops, giving a decidedly Big Sky vibe, Smith said.
Not everyone is so excited about the prospect of a billionaire pop star busting into town, and there’s been plenty of snark from the peanut gallery on Reddit and beyond.
But it’s also nothing new. Montana has long attracted celebrities who may come to cosplay as cowboys and cowgirls.
While some people fit right in, others eventually depart for greener pastures elsewhere.
While Bill McDavid of Missoula-based Hall & Hall has no inside scoop to offer on the couple’s settling down plans, he understands why the Treasure State is so treasured by celebrities.
As a listing agent for high-end real estate throughout the state — including the $72 million private island for sale on Flathead Lake — McDavid said buyers of these sorts of properties want some breathing room and to live in a stunningly beautiful place.
What’s more, the state is often culturally appealing.
Montanans typically don’t give much of a hoot about the rich and famous they spot around town, which offers celebrities some hint of normalcy compared to other places where they may be bombarded with photo requests or gawked at.
“That’s an experience a celebrity can find themselves clinging to,” McDavid said.
The Club Life
The Yellowstone Club could be “the one” for Kelce and Swift because it offers a variety of appealing features: It’s secure, secluded, and chock full of amenities for year-round fun, including a private ski resort and golf course.
Club members who are skiers get all the benefits of nearby Big Sky Ski Resort — including ski-in access — but with a fraction of the crowds.
Though it’s been several years, McDavid has been invited to ski there in the past and was delighted to be making fresh tracks mid-day.
“That’s unheard of anywhere else,” he said.
Finally, there’s the community aspect of the club.
Its members include the likes of Tom Brady, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake and friends of the Kelce-Swift duo: Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, and his wife Brittany.
That personal connection is among the reasons why Smith “wouldn’t be surprised at all” if the couple ends up in Montana.
And while McDavid isn’t so attuned to the couple’s social circle, he said the membership roster is appealing to some buyers.
“A certain number of people are attracted by the idea of rubbing elbows with people of the same ilk,” he said.
Customized Experiences
Even if the Yellowstone Club offers a version of life in Montana, some of the rich and famous realize they want more of the real deal.
McDavid has found that many Yellowstone Club members eventually want to spend a bit more time outside of that bubble, so they bop back and forth between a ranch and their club home.
“Plenty of them eventually call us and want to find something outside of the gates,” he said.
Speaking of life outside of the gates, if Swift were interested in having her bachelorette party or wedding in the area, “I would simply just die,” Smith said.
Once recovered, however, Smith would have plenty of ideas for a bachelorette party for Swift and her squad, no matter the season.
Were they to celebrate the bride-to-be in the summertime, Smith would recommend outdoor activities like a trip to one of the local rodeos, a group horseback ride or a picnic. In the winter, she’d suggest a day of skiing or snowmobiling, followed by an apres event.
No matter the season, Smith has a roster of chefs to recommend for private dinners or can give the lowdown on reliably fun spots for nighttime that range from a private club with a no-phones policy to some bars in downtown Bozeman where the party could enjoy honkytonk, live music or swing dancing.
“We try to make it custom to what they’re interested in doing,” she said.
