Shadowcast, Missoula County close on $750K offer for remaining lots in tech park

The investors who once sought to build a film and television studio in Missoula County closed on the last remaining lots in the technology park, though no current plans have been announced.

Shadowcast Partners in December closed on a $1.5 million offer for several Missoula County lots in the technology park, where it plans to construct a distribution center for electric freight trucks.

On Tuesday, the firm closed on the remaining lots with the county for roughly $748,000.

“Unfortunately, Shadowcast isn't going to build a production studio as planned,” said Emily Brock, director of economic and land development for the county. “They were given permission to market the lots with the intention of selling them to another end user. I'm not aware of a user at this time.”

Shadowcast in 2020 announced its intention to construct and open a $20 million film and television studio on county land in the technology park near the airport. The facility would have created new jobs and given the film and television industry a foothold in Missoula.

But a legislative bill aimed at expanding the state’s film cap to aid and entice the industry’s growth failed to produce what proponents had sought. Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signature on the bill ultimately sank Shadowcast’s investment in Missoula.

But the company in June said it was still interested in the county's property, and it suggested it would search for other viable opportunities. The transaction agreed to in December will place a new business on the site after all.

Brock said she wasn't aware of any end-user for the remaining lots sold on Tuesday.