Yellowstone Club World
Membership Plans

Described as an international version of the Yellowstone Club, a Montana based ski and golf community, Yellowstone Club World would bring a similar philosophy to the design of their exclusive destination club.

"From majestic European Estates to private tropical islands, endless beaches, luxurious desert spas, private ski mountains, and renowned golf resorts, Yellowstone Club World is a collection of awe-inspiring properties in the world's most coveted settings," the club wrote. "It is the only destination club in the world where the destinations themselves, whether an island, a mountain, or private swath of a country - are reserved for the exclusive pleasure of its members. Yellowstone Club World draws its heritage from Yellowstone Club in Montana - a place where families gather to enjoy the world's only private ski and golf community. It is the worldwide extension of an unprecedented idea, first made real in Montana, and now available to 150 ultra-discriminating members."

Comparing the club's intial property search to an "Easter egg hunt," club founder Tim Blixseth would scour the globe looking for properties to "wow" members. Included in the club's portfolio would be a private Caribbean island, a French castle, and a resort in Mexico. Paying as much as $40 million per property, Blixseth would obtain a $375 million loan from Credit Suisse with the Yellowstone Club used as collateral.

Members would pay $3 million to join with prices increasing to $10 million once the club grew. For the early adopters and current members of the Yellowstone Club, memberships were available for $1.5 million.

Like other destination clubs, members would pay annual dues to access the club's amenities. Members would pay between $37,500 and $75,000 per year in addition to a per night cost of approximately $300.

Unfortunately, several obstacles slowed the club's growth. Tim and his wife Edra would file for divorce, causing the future and ownership of the club to be unknown, real estate values dropped, and ultimately, the Credit Suisse loan was defaulted on.

In early 2009, three members and another individual forced Yellowstone Club World into involuntary bankruptcy, seeking over $4.5 million in membership deposits.

"The members of the Yellowstone Club World were promised access to very specific and significant properties in return for their significant membership dues," said John Amsden, the lawyer representing the four creditors. "They anticipate that their interests to those properties will be respected."

At the heart of the matter was control of the ownership of the Yellowstone Club World residences and if they were being used as part of the Yellowstone Club bankruptcy.

"We're concerned the assets they do have are no longer in control of the Yellowstone Club World," Amsden would also say. "The involuntary bankruptcy was necessary because it appears that there is no one minding the club's business. We hope that the matter can be resolved with a minimum of expense."