Yellowstone Club World
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Launched as the most extravagant luxury destination club in history, Yellowstone Club World would give their limited 150 members anytime access to a collection of world renowned properties around the globe.

Founder Tim Blixseth had created the Yellowstone Club late in the 90s as a "neighborhood of millionaires" where Bill Gates, Dan Quayle, and other notable figures could golf and ski outside of the public eye. The community would even go so far as hiring former Secret Service agents to protect club members' privacy.

Hugely successful, Blixseth would envision a global expansion for the Montana community and underwent a lengthy process to find the club's signature properties. Likening the search to an "Easter egg hunt," Blixseth would acquire some of the most expensive properties in the history of the destination club industry. Paying as much as $40 million each, Yellowstone Club World would include a golf club near the storied St. Andrews, a Mexican resort, and a private Island in the Caribbean.

To purchase these properties, Blixseth would obtain a loan from Credit Suisse for $375 million, using the Yellowstone Club as collateral.

Current members of the Yellowstone Club would receive a 50% discount on their membership if they wished to upgrade, but new members would pay $3 million to join the exclusive club with prices climbing to $10 million as the club approached their 150 member goal.

Members would have unlimited annual access to the club's properties, paying a per night cost of roughly $300. Unlike other destination clubs who typically purchase single family homes, the properties within the Yellowstone Club World collection could house multiple members at once, allowing for superb availability options.

Unfortunately, the grandiose club never reached any of their lofty goals and had one of the most difficult times that any destination club had. Not only were Tim and his wife Edra going through a public divorce with the ownership of Yellowstone Club World and the Yellowstone Club unknown. In addition, legal issues began to mount against the Yellowstone Club and real estate prices began to decline, all leading to the club being unable to repay the Credit Suisse loan.

With the ownership of the Yellowstone Club World properties in doubt, four creditors would force the club into involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

"We're concerned the assets they do have are no longer in control of the Yellowstone Club World," said John Amsden, a lawyer representing the creditors. "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."

"The members of the Yellowstone Club World were promised access to very specific and significant properties in return for their significant membership dues. They anticipate that their interests to those properties will be respected," Amsden would go on to say.

The unlimited travel option was a popular membership structure during Yellowstone Club World's time in the destination club industry with leading players like Private Escapes and The LUSSO Collection operating under similar models.