Round House Ski and Sports Center: Five Decades on Main Street

Five decades on Bozeman's Main Street earns a certain kind of trust. Distinctly Montana readers voted Round House Ski and Sports Center Best Ski Shop in our 2025 Best of Montana awards, recognizing what generations of skiers already know: some shops just understand Montana winters better than others.

Larry Merkel was an MSU student working at the Round House when it opened. Within the first year, he bought in, eventually taking over the business with his wife Rita. Today, the Merkel family still runs both locations—the flagship store on West Main Street and The Mountain Round House at Bridger Bowl—with daughter Marinna and son Ryan handling daily operations while Larry and Rita remain active in the business they've built into one of Bozeman's longest-running ski shops.

What sets Round House apart isn't just longevity. It's their commitment to the gear they sell and the people they serve. The staff are skiers, bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts who live the lifestyle they outfit. Their expert boot fitters take time to ensure proper fit, not just quick sales. The full-service repair shop handles skis and bikes whether you bought them at Round House or not. When you need advice on Bridger Bowl's terrain or the Gallatin Valley's best trails, you're talking to people who know from experience.

The business operates year-round, shifting from winter's alpine and Nordic skiing equipment to summer's mountain bikes, rafts, and paddleboards. They handle rentals for visitors and sales for locals building their quiver, with inventory spanning technical outerwear to casual clothing. It's gear that performs when Montana conditions get serious and service that keeps equipment running through heavy use.

Walk into their Main Street location and you'll find over ten thousand square feet of carefully selected gear. The Mountain Round House at Bridger Bowl serves skiers needing quick rentals before heading up the mountain. Both locations maintain the same standard that's kept customers coming back for decades.

Located at 1422 West Main Street in Bozeman, Round House Ski and Sports Center continues serving the Gallatin Valley with the quality that Distinctly Montana readers clearly appreciate.