Eagle Mount Billings

Eagle Mount began with a dream to create an opportunity where people with disabilities could participate in recreational activities. In 1982, General Robert C. Mathis and his wife, Greta, retired from a 34 year career in the Air Force to bring this dream to reality. They moved to Bozeman and established the I Am Third Foundation to build Eagle Mount.

In the fall of 1983, with the help of the founders’ son Harry Mathis and Cyndi Fonda-Dabney, the Eagle Mount ski program began to take form. The idea was to start with a modest program of 20 to 30 people, teaching them either Alpine or Nordic skiing. Very quickly, it became necessary to put people on the waiting list after reaching 94 skiers and almost 100 volunteer instructor. Bob and Greta never turned away anyone who could not pay Eagle Mount’s modest program fees, and they never sought government funds. To this day, Eagle Mount is funded entirely through private dollars.

Eagle Mount expanded to Billings in 1989 with 49 skiers taking part in that first year. Since that time, hundreds of participants have enjoyed such activities as swimming, golf, day camps, bicycling, horseback riding, and special activities. Currently there are three Eagle Mount organizations in Montana (Bozeman, Billings and Great Falls). Although fiscally separate these three organizations continue to uphold the original idea of the Mathis’s dream.

Eagle Mount Billings’ mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities through recreation and create opportunities for our participants to “Embrace Life without Limits”.