MWLSAP

mark@mwlsap.org

Midwest Lost Ski Areas Project

---

 

Comeback Ski Areas of the Midwest

With Norway Mountain, MI, reopening for the 2024-2025 season after being closed for six years, it made me think about other areas that have recently reopened after a closure.

Many ski areas over the years have closed and reopened years later. If they closed again and haven't reopened again, then they did not make this list. If they reopened many years ago, and were open in 2024 they propably are also not on this list (yet). This list will contain the most recently reopened, formerly lost, Midwest ski areas. What did I miss?

Midwest Lost Ski Areas Project Facebook Page - post about comeback ski areas

Formerly Lost, Then Reopened, and Were Operating in 2024:

Norway Mountain, MI

• closed in 2017. Reopened in 2024.
• http://www.mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#norwaymountain

Adventure Mountain, MI

• originally opened in 1971, closed around 1990. Reopened Jan. 22, 2021
• http://mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#adventuremountain

Tower Mountain, MI

• Reopened in 2022-2023
• https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/ten-new-ski-resorts-re-opened-in-22-23.27962/
• http://mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#towermountain

Ski Valley, IA

• closed in 1987. Reopened as Seven Oaks in 1997
• https://www.mwlsap.org/iowa/ia.htm#sevenoaks

Detroit Mountain, MN

• originally opened in 1958, closed in 2004, reopened 2014
• https://www.mwlsap.org/minnesota/mn.htm#detroit

Steeplechase, MN

• originally opened in 2000, closed in 2007, reopened Feb. 4, 2023.
• https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/ten-new-ski-resorts-re-opened-in-22-23.27962/
• https://www.mwlsap.org/minnesota/mn.htm#steeplechase

Bear’s Den / Fort Ransom / Thrill Hills, ND

• originally opened in 1962, closed around 2016, reopened as Thrill Hills in 2022
• https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/ten-new-ski-resorts-re-opened-in-22-23.27962/
• https://www.mwlsap.org/northdakota/nd.htm#thrillhills

Paul Bunyan, WI

• originally opened in 1962, closed in 1995, reopened in 2021
• https://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#paulbunyan

Little Switzerland, WI

• originally opened Dec. 7, 1941, closed in 2007, reopened in 2012
• https://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#littleswitzerland

Sleepy Hollow, IA

• originally opened in 1994, was closed 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, (maybe also 2023-2024) ,reopened 2024
• Year-round skiing on SnowFlex opened May 31, 2024
• https://sleepyhollowsportspark.com/park-info/
• http://www.mwlsap.org/iowa/ia.htm#sleepyhollow

Midwest Ski Areas Where There Is Talk Of Reopening:

Deer Mountain, SD

• originally opened in 1965, closed 2017. Was talk of reopening 2023, then 2024, as a private resort. Not open yet (Feb 2025).
• http://www.mwlsap.org/southdakota/sd.htm#deermountain
• Unofficial Networks
• Deer Mountain Village will be a private, members only, resort. They have finished refurbishing one of the chairlifts, but I can find no news that there was actual lift-served skiing during the 2023-2034 season. If anyone has further information please contact mark@mwlsap.org

Pinehurst, WI

• opened in 1951, closed in 1967. May have changed plans to sledding only.
• http://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#pinehurst

Nutt Hill, WI

• expected to reopen 2025-2026 season.
• https://www.plymouth-review.com/articles/plymouth-revitalizing-a-community-favorite-nutt-hill/
• Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Facebook Group
• https://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#nutthill

Potawatomi, WI

• originally opened in 1941, closed in 1998
• Restore Potawatomi State Park Ski Hill Facebook Page
• http://skipotawatomi.com/
• http://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#potawatomistatepark

Snowcrest / Ski-Mac, WI

• opened 1954, closed 1984
• Likely to reopen soon ?
• http://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#snowcrest

Deepwood, WI

• opened 1951, closed 1988
• may be reopening as Woodwind Park
• http://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#deepwood

Formerly Lost, Then Reopened, and Were Operating in 2024:

Norway Mountain, MI - closed in 2017. Reopened in 2024.

Adventure Mountain, MI - originally opened in 1971, closed around 1990. Reopened Jan. 22, 2021

Tower Mountain, MI - Reopened in 2022-2023

Ski Valley, IA - closed in 1987. Reopened as Seven Oaks in 1997

Detroit Mountain, MN - originally opened in 1958, closed in 2004, reopened 2014

Steeplechase, MN - originally opened in 2000, closed in 2007, reopened Feb. 4, 2023.

Bear’s Den / Fort Ransom / Thrill Hills, ND - originally opened in 1962, closed around 2016, reopened as Thrill Hills in 2022

Paul Bunyan, WI - originally opened in 1962, closed in 1995, reopened in 2021

Little Switzerland, WI - originally opened Dec. 7, 1941, closed in 2007, reopened in 2012

Sleepy Hollow, IA - originally opened in 1994, was closed 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, (maybe also 2023-2024) ,reopened 2024

---

MWLSAP.org - http://mwlsap.org is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.