I’ve long been accustomed to people outside the American west knowing next to nothing about my home state of Montana. Real things people have said to me over the years: is it part of Canada? Overrun with nothing but meth? A mythical place with big skies and nobody but macho cowfolk?

Of course, none of those statements are true. But in the last couple of years, Montana has become a destination among both the traveling and remote-work class – and my home is changing as fast as in any previous western land rush.

Take a walk in Bozeman, and you are now more likely to find outdoorsy and stylish visitors wearing Lululemon than anything resembling the old wild west.

On Main Street, visitors can find upscale Thai food and new, high-end hotels – gone are the ski bums and cowboys of yesteryear. A building that houses the funky old record store is up for sale, as is one of the city’s last legendary dive bars. An hour up the road, millionaires hide away at the Big Sky resort and the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club, where membership costs hundreds of thousands – plus the purchase of a multimillion-dollar home.