The early inclusion of tourism, especially skiing, in the economy of Whitefish, Montana, set it on a different path from many other Western towns that relied only on the boom-and-bust cycles associated with extractive industries. Towns that stayed committed to logging or mining relegated themselves to economic oblivion or increasingly severe natural resource degradation. Whitefish, a place that gradually increased tourist business in response to the decline of traditional industries, fared much better both economically and environmentally. Whitefish's history provides insight into the impacts of a place selecting tourism in order to sustain community development. Whitefish's choices produced some problems; minimum wage jobs prevailed and the town's growth led to increased real estate prices. Overall, however, the millions of dollars that poured into local businesses, the solid economy that grew as the number of visitors increased, and the quality of life in Whitefish proved that the incorporation of tourism had positive impacts on the community. Understanding how tourism has developed differently across the Rocky Mountain region will be an important component in thoughtful planning for the future.