The Missoula Destination Stewardship Plan is a 10-year strategic roadmap that includes a vision, goals and strategic initiatives. It is more than an idea—it is the result of a deep love and respect for this place by residents, businesses, the University of Montana, nonprofits and visitors who strive to keep Missoula vibrant, to inspire lasting and positive change and to nurture Missoula as a sustainable haven in our ever-changing world.
Since the completion of the plan in 2023, Destination Missoula has been hard at work garnering stewardship support from a number of stakeholders, government entities and community partners. It is our goal to support sustainable economic growth through action-oriented, responsible decision-making geared at protecting wild spaces, celebrating our cultural heritage and strengthening our community ties. Together, we can do so much to nurture and safeguard this place we all call home and continue to keep it a friendly, clean, sacred and protected place for future generations of locals, UM students and visitors to access and love responsibly.
Missoula’s Destination Stewardship Plan is about more than sustainable tourism—it’s about taking care of the place we call home (or home-away-from-home) and protecting it for generations to come. Learn more about Missoula’s Destination Stewardship plan–including our long-term goals and ways to get involved here.
When you have something this special, it’s worth protecting. We’re all in this together, in the best possible way. Caring for Missoula means taking actionable steps to support Missoula’s six best practices of stewardship. These best practices align with actionable steps to achieve the five strategic goals of Missoula's Destination Stewardship plan: elevate and enhance stewardship, support placemaking enhancements, improve transportation and connectivity, strengthen community alignment and advance destination development. Everyone has a role to play in preserving and bettering this place.
“Stewardship” is more than a buzzword—it’s a way to care, consistently, and it’s the key to keeping Missoula, well, Missoula. From daily decisions to long-term habits, how we move through this place matters. Whether you live here, love to visit here or are just getting to know it here, we all have a role to play in keeping Missoula wild, welcoming and wonderfully weird. Ready to do your part? Explore simple and thoughtful steps you can do to help take care of this place.
Download the final DSP PDF| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Amy Cilimburg | Climate Smart Missoula |
| Ben Horan | Five Valleys Land Trust |
| Brian Ellstad | Missoula Montana Airport |
| Chuck Maes | University of Montana |
| Dan Monahan | DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Missoula – Edgewater |
| David Herrera | Montana Gay Health Task Force |
| Donna Gaukler | Missoula Parks & Recreation |
| Dr. Melissa Weddell | Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research (UM) |
| Emily Brock | Missoula County Economic and Land Development/Fairgrounds |
| Heidi Wallace | Empower MT |
| Ian Ortlieb | Missoula Parking Commission |
| Jordan Hess | City of Missoula |
| Julie Lacey | Missoula Economic Partnership |
| Kim Sawyer | Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Missoula |
| Laura Henning | Glacier Ice Rink |
| Laura Millin | Missoula Art Museum |
| Linda McCarthy | Downtown Missoula Partnership |
| Lisa Tate | National Museum of Forest Service History |
| Loren Flynn | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks |
| Matt Lautzenheiser | Historical Museum at Fort Missoula |
| Mike Morelli | MCT, Inc. |
| Molly Stockdale | Travelers’ Rest Connection |
| Paige Livingston | One Eleven Boutique |
| Rachel Gregg | Big Sky Film Institute |
| Staci Nugent | Paradise Falls |
| Terri Raugland | Blackfoot River Outfitters |
| Tim O’Leary | Kettlehouse Brewery |
| Velda Shelby | Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes |
