MICHIGAN

               		
               
                  
162

                  lost

                  areas

               		
            

         

          
         
         

         
         MWLSAP
         Homepage
         

         
         
Any information or assistance on the
         lost ski areas of Michigan would be greatly appreciated:
         mark@mwlsap.org
         

         
         
For more information and pictures on
         most of these lost ski areas go to the Michigan
         Lost Ski Areas Project. or
         Michigan's
         Forgotten S  ki Areas

         
         
| lost
         | working
         on | never
         opened | still
         open |

      		
      
         

      		
   








   

      
         
 LOST
         AREAS 

         
         
Adventure Mountain+ -
         REOPENED
         1/22/2021

         
         
Al
         and Stevie's Ski Village*
         (see Ski
         Village)

         
         
Al
         Quaal    

         
         
Allegan
         Winter Sports Area

         
         
         
         
Alpena
         Ski Slope*
         (see Manning
         Hill)

         
         
Apple
         Mountain (also called
         Bintz Apple Mountain) 

         
         
AuSable Ski Bowl* See Oscoda Ski Bowl
    
         

         
         
AuSable
         Ski Ranch*
         - See Michaywe
         Slopes

         
         
Avalanche
         Peak - also called Barn
         Mountain

         
         
         
         
Bahle
         Park Ski Hill

         
         
         
         
Bald
         Eagle Ski Hill (may also
         have been called Herringbone Ridge)

         
         
         
         
Bald
         Mountain State Recreation Area

         
         
Ball's Bump *  also called Chainsaw Mountain     
    
         

         
         
Barn
         Mountain*
         - See Avalanche
         Peak

         
         
Barton
         Hills Country Club

         
         
         
         
Bear
         Hills 

         
         
         
         
Bear
         Mountain+
         (formerly Grayling Winter Sports Park, still open as
         Hanson
         Hills)

         
         
         
         
Big-M
         Ski Area*
         (see Manistee
         Ski Area)

         
         
Binder
         Park

         
         
         
         
Bintz
         Apple Mountain*
         (see Apple
         Mountain)

         
         
Birch
         Hills Ski Area

         
         
         
         
Birchwood
         Farm Lodge

         
         
         
         
Black
         Forest

         
         
         
         
 Black Mountain  - may be the same as Mt Onaway    

         
         
         
         
Bloomfield
         Hills Country Club

         
         
         
         
Brady's
         Hills (later called
         Winterskol)

         
         
         
         
Braman
         Hill Recreation Area
         

         
         
         
         
Bremer's
         Hill

         
         
         
         
Briar
         Hill Ski Area

         
         
         
         
Briar
         Mountain*-
         (See Norway
         Mountain)

         
         
Brice's Hill* (see
         Bryce's
         Hill)

         
         
Brock
         Park

         
         
         
         
Brule
         Mountain+
         (currently open as Ski
         Brule)

         
         
Bryce's
         Hill (Brice's
         Hill)

         
         
         
         
Buck
         Hills+
         - still open as Crystal
         Mountain

         
         
         
         
Calvin
         College

         
         
         
         
Canadian
         Lakes Club

         
         
         
         
Carousel
         Mountain

         
         
         
         
Cascades
         Ski Tow

         
         
         
         
Caspian
         Ski Hill
         * - see Spring
         Valley

         
         
         
         
Chainsaw
         Mountain also called Ball's Bump  

         
         
Chelsea
         Ski Hollow

         
         
         
         
Chimney
         Corners Resort

         
         
         
         
Chipmunk
         Bluff

         
         
         
         
Ci-Bo
         Ski Hill

         
         
         
         
Circle
         TNT Ski Area and Campground
         (previously called Jack Pine Valley)

         
         
         
         
Cliff's
         Ridge+
         - currently operating as Marquette
         Mountain

         
         
         
         
Cole
         Creek*
         - see Fonro Ski
         Resort

         
         
Danforth
         Ski Area (Escanaba
         Winter Sports Park)

         
         
         
         
Diggins
         Hill Park

         
         
         
         
Dryden
         Ski Area

         
         
         
         
Duke's
         Ski Slope / Duke's Lake Hill
         

         
         
         
         
East
         Bay+ (probably
         Mt.
         Holiday - still
         open

         
         
         
         
Echo
         Valley

         
         
         
         
Elberta
         Mountan Winter Sports Park

         
         
         
         
Escanaba
         Winter Sports Park*
         (see Danforth
         Ski Area)

         
         
Eskar
         Hills (Esker?) - reopened
         as Middleville
         Ski Area 1978-1982

         
         
         
         
Fettig Hill *  became Petoskey Winter Sports Park    

         
         
Fonro
         Ski Resort - later called
         Cole Creek

         
         
         
         
Ford
         Mountain^

         
         
         
         
Forest
         Hill Ski Resort
         ^- looks like ski jump only

         
         
         
         
Franklin
         Hill

         
         
         
         
Fry's
         Winter Sports Park

         
         
         
         
Fulton
         Lake Snow Bowl*
         Probably Snow
         Bowl

         
         
         
         
Fun
         Valley

         
         
    
            
  • Mio, MI - north central Michigan
            (Oscoda County) - 5 mi. N of Mio on county rd. 612, 2 mi
            from Muscrat lake, 1454 County Highway 610, Mio, Michigan
            ??? / maybe Autumn Hills Resort, 295 W Miller Rd. Mio, MI
            48647
    • 
            
            
  • o: 1971  c: 1973 (last mention on ski reports fall 1972)
  • on 1972 map, not on 1973 maps 
    • 
            
            
  • operated by the city of
            Mio and Circle TNT
    • 
            
            
  • Google
            Maps / Google
            Earth      
    44.72440733770693, -84.14206048681342
    • 
            
            
  • Michigan
            Winter is 'Red Hot' Fun Season
            - Livingston County Daily Press and Argus (Howell,
            Michigan) · Wed, Dec 1, 1971
    • 
            
            
  • Snow!
            To the Slopes! - Lansing
            State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Sat, Jan 8, 1972
            (important paragraph also at Michigan
            Ski Area History Facebook Page)
    • 
            
            
  • Michigan Ski Area History Facebook
            Page - Search:
            Fun Valley
    • 
         

         
         
Galaxy
         Hills

         
         
         
         
Gay-El-Rancho

         
         
         
         
Glacier
         Hills

         
         
         
         
Goshorn
         Hills

         
         
         
         
Grand
         Beach Ski Club ??

         
         
         
         
Grand
         Haven Ski Bowl
         / Snow Bowl + - currently
         operating as Mulligan's
         Hollow    (on Five Mile Hill)  

    
         

      		
      
         
 MAPS

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         
   
1950 - 1951
The Bay City Times (Bay City, Michigan) · Sun, Jan 21, 1951

 1951 map

         
         
1952 - 1953

         
         
Detroit Free
            Press, Feb. 6, 1953
            
            

         
         
 
         
         

         
         1954 - 1955

         
         
The Kalamazoo Gazette (Kalamazoo, Michigan) · Tue, Feb 22, 1955
 1955 map
 

         
         1956

         
         
Lost
            Wisconsin Ski Areas Facebook Page
            - omissions noted
            
            

         
         

         
         

         
         1957 - 1958

         
         
Detroit Free Press,
         December 27, 1957

         
         

         
         
 

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         
1958 - 1959
         - Upper Peninsula

         
         
Detroit Free Press, Fri,
         Dec 26, 1958

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         1960 - 1961

         
         
Detroit Free Press, Fri.
         Jan. 6, 1961

         
         
PDF (Full Newspaper Page
         with additional articles):

         http://www.mwlsap.org/michigan/map1961plusDetroit_Free_Press_Fri__Jan_6__1961_.pdf

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         1961

         
         
From Michigan's
         Forgotten Ski Areas

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         1962 - 1963

         
         
Detroit Free Press, Dec.
         9, 1962 (from Michigan
         Ski Area History Facebook Page)

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         
1963 - 1964

         
         
Detroit Free Press, Dec.
         8, 1963 (from Michigan
         Ski Area History Facebook Page)

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         1963 - 1964
Battle Creek Enquirer, Narch 1, 19641
1964 map


      
 
1965 - 1966
 
Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan) · Sun, Dec 12, 1965
1975 map

  
 1965 - 1966

 The Kalamazoo Gazette (Kalamazoo, Michigan) · Sun, Feb 6, 1966

1966 map


         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         
1966-1967
         

         
         
Traverse City Record
         Eagle, Sat. Dec. 24, 1966

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         

         
         
1967 - 1968
         

         
         
Chicago Tribune -
            Dec. 3, 1967
            
            

            
            

         
         
 
         
         

         
         1968 - 1969

         
         
Chicago Tribune,
                        Sunday, December 01, 1968  

         
         

         
         
#78, Frontier
            Mountain, had toboggan runs only, with a rope tow. No
            skiing.
MORE MAPS BELOW - KEEP SCROLLING

Grand Rapids Ski Club (2)

Grand River Park Ski Area ^ - PLANNED BUT NEVER INSTALLED  TOW ???

Grand Valley State College Ski Hill

Granview Orchards (Peabody's Apple Orchard)

Grayling Winter Sports Park+ - (see Bear Mountain, still open as Hanson Hills)

Greenbush Inn ^

  • NO MENTION OF A TOW
  • Greenbush, MI - north east Michigan - Inn located at 2411 S. State Street - skiing and tobogganing hills were approximately 2 miles N – on the W side of US 23. beyond the Greenbush Golf Course - Everett Road; 2411 S. State Street; plot of land bordered by US 23 to the east, State Street/Cedar Lake Road to the west, Main Street to the north and Campbell Street to the south;    
  • Google Maps / Google Earth ???
    44.6117782627895, -83.32454621482518
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project

Griswold Mountain Ski Area (probably originally called Hill View)

Harbor Highlands Ski Resort+ - (Boyne Highlands) currently open as The Highlands

Harbor Springs Kiwanis Park

Hawk Island Snow Park

  • Lansing, MI - 1601 E. Cavanaugh Road, Lansing, MI 48910
  • o: 2012, c: 2014 
  • magic carpet for tubing added in 2016, no mention of skiing after 2014. Still open for tubing.
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    42.697190292483675, -84.52797132591499
  • Despite delay in opening, park will be "worth the wait" - Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Sat, Jan 28, 2012 page 1 / page 2
  • Snow lovers flock to Hawk Island - Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Sun, Dec 30, 2012
  • Picture - Lansing_State_Journal_Sunday, February 02, 2014 - handle tow and snowboarders

Herringbone Hill (Saginaw Ski Club /Waterworks?)

Herringbone Ridge* - see Bald Eagle Ski Hill

Hidden Valley* - see Ostego Ski Club - Still open

Highland Recreation Area *- see Teeple Hill

Hill View * - see Griswold Mountain

Hilton Shanty Creek* - see Shanty Creek

Holiday Hills+ - currently open as Mt. Holiday

Houghton Lake* (see Snow Bowl)

Hu-Lu Heights (Hulu Heights Winter Sports Area)

Indian Hills Ski Park

Indian Hills

Irish Hills Sports Park - renamed Shamrock Valley in 1979

Iroquois Mountain Lodge (originally called Mission Hill Ski Resort)

Ishpeming Winter Sports Park

Jack Pine Valley* - see Circle TNT

Kalamazoo Country Club

Kalamazoo Ski Club

  • Plainwell, MI - southwest Michigan - 3471 W. AB Avenue between Douglas and N 12th Street; slopes may have faced east and been accessed by a driveway running west from Douglas, directions 
  • Original location on Douglas Avenue at business 131; S. of the state hospital farms 
  • o: 1948   at Blue Goose Hill, Douglas Avenue; Moved to AB avenue in 1960 faced north ?? still open 1979  1982   c:  last mention 1986   
  • v: 150 ft.
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    42.40934638748117, -85.62956820043195
  • Downhill club's 30-year history is no uphill story - The Kalamazoo Gazette (Kalamazoo, Michigan) · Sun, Jan 7, 1979
  • Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project

Kandahar (formerly Summit Ski Club) - private

Kenyon's Resort /Sages Lake^ -   see Lost Lake Ski Park

Kiwanis Winter Sports Park * - see Harbor Springs Kiwanis Park

Kirlin Hill Ski Jump* - see Mt Mesnard

Kolb Field     

Lake Shore Ski Club^

Lake Valley Resort (Lake Valley Ski Area)

Lansing Ski Club / Lansing Ski Area

Lee Tow Winter Sports Park

Leelanau Schools Ski Hill +

Les Cheneaux

Little Switzerland Ski Area +  currently operating as Swiss Valley

Limestone Mountain       

  • Jacob Emerick's Blog and Comments:
    • Pictures of car wheels, etc,  for rope tow
    • "They had an active ski lift there for several years, until the latter part of the 60's "
    • Steve VanBuren  - "   learned to ski there and spent quite a few winter Sat/Sunday's there between 1964 to 1968. There were three rope tows, a small snack bar (warming up house) and a parking lot. On a good weekend there may have been 100 or more people skiing - that is a guess."
    • Picture of skiing: http://www.baragacountyhistoricalmuseum.com/photohistory/picture_pelkie_1960s_limestonemtn1.JPG
    • Pat Kamppainen -  "Ski lift was toward the SE side of the hill South on Horoscope Rd. When you take a hard right the pit is about 1/2 mile on the right."
    • "They had an active ski lift there for several years, until the latter part of the 60's" . .  ."I mentioned in the comment earlier that it was the latter part of the 60s when it was no longer active. Well, actually it was 1962 and then in 1963 a ski club was organized and it was on the east side of the mountain then, that a more elaborate downhill ski area was developed, and the chalet was moved to the new site. . An oversized snowmobile with a roller was used to pack the hill. The skiing was enjoyed on the new site for possibly not more than six seasons."
    • Linda Kinnuneun -  "The biggest decision that my brother and I had to make once we arrived at "The Hill " was whether we were going to ski on "this hill" (the one with the rope tow and on the left as you entered the HUGE parking lot that was usually almost filled) or "the other hill" (the one with another rope tow and the T-Bar. These were to the right of the parking lot)."
  • jump there early - late 30s - 40s
  • rope tows 60s , later?
Limestone Mountain Skiing

from https://www.baragacountyhistoricalmuseum.com/photohistory/picture_pelkie_1960s_limestonemtn1.JPG

Lions Club Ski Hill

Lookout Hills Ski Park / Lookout Inn

Lost Lake Woods Club

  • Lincoln, MI - northeast Michigan - 4243 Lost Lake Trail Lincoln, MI 48742
  • tow on S. side of lodge, ski down to Badger Lake
  • o:  c:   Mt. Maria which is close by opened in 1965 club members would ski there
  • v: looks like 25 ft. on Google Earth Pro 
  • upside down (lodge at the top)
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    44.77851011051117, -83.43395307379751
  • Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project (MILSAP)
    • I could find no newspaper articles that mention a rope tow, but the MILSAP website
  • Lost Lake Woods Club - current website

Lost Lake Ski Park -  also called Kenyon's Resort

Lost Pines Lodge

Lovells Winter Playground

Ludington Ski Area (earlier called Riverton Ski Area)

Ludington State Park ^ - most likely no  tow

Mackinac College Ski Slope (also called: Rex Humbard College Ski Slope, Stonecliffe, Mt Humbard)

Madcap Winter Sports Park

Major Mountain

Manistee Ski Area (later called Big-M Ski Area, also called Udell Hills)

Manistique Central Park    

Manning Ski Hill / Alpena Ski Slope ???

Maple Mountain

Maplehurst

McGuires Ski Resort

Michaywe Slopes (formerly called AuSable Ski Ranch)

Middleville Ski Area (was Eskar Hills from 1961 - 1969)

Miles Kimmerly Recreation Area

Mineral Hills

  • Iron River, MI (old village of Mineral Hills), - Upper Peninsula, 1905 Crose St., at the end of Chalet Street.
  • o: 1940 ??   c:  1970s 
  • upside down, faces west
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    46.122959, -88.649947
  • Thank you to Dennis Nelson of Denmark, MI who sent me the following email:
    • Hello, Thought you would be interested in an old abandoned ski area that was in Mineral Hills just north of Iron River MI.


      Longitude = 46.122959
      Latitude = -88.649947

      The chalet building is still there at 1905 Crose St. It had a rope for tobogganing and I think It had 2 ropes for skiing. I think it closed in the 70s. I used to snowboard and toboggan there in the mid 80s well after it was shut down.

      Dennis Nelson
      Denmark, WI

  • Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project
    • Lancer says:

      April 16, 2020 at 9:33 am

      Mineral Hills ski area, located just outside of Iron River. The former Chalet is now a house and is situated at the top of the slope, which has a western exposure. There are portions of the rope tow still in place, with the top terminal building now used as a garden shed. Not sure on timelines of when it opened, operated, and closed.

     

Minneapolis Woods Ski Area + - still open as Sault Seal Recreation Area

Mio Mountain

Mission Hill Ski Resort *- see Iroquois Mountain Lodge

Mont Brier * - see Norway Mountain

Moon Ridge

Moonshine Mountain * - see Ward Hills

Mott Camp Ski Tow

Mott Mountain (later called Silver Ridge, maybe Black Mountain, maybe also called Jasper Ski Resort)

Mt. Christie

Mt. Frederick- reopened as Twin Peaks in 1973

Mt. Gabriel

Mt. Grampian

Mt. Humbard *- See Mackinac College Ski Slope

Mt. Joy

Mt. Judah

Mt. Kimberly

Mt. Mancelona

Mt. Maria (Mt. Mariah)

Mt. Mesnard - formerly Kirlin Hill Ski Jump

Mt. Onaway Ski Run  see Black Mountain  

MTU-Soo Ski Area (MTU Sault Branch Hill)

Muskegon State Park / Muskegon Winter Sports Complex

Mussatti Ski Hill

  • Bessemer, MI - upper peninsula - south side of Blackjack right along US2, E of Bessemer and N of road that leads to Anvil Location (mine?)
  • built and operated by the 4-H on the George Mussatti farm
  • o: 1960  c: 1967    
  • Google Maps / Google Earth ???
    46.48591044013235, -90.02085500589538
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • Ski Meet Set at Bessemer - Ironwood Daily Globe (Ironwood, Michigan) · Thu, Mar 10, 1960
  • Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page
  • 4-H Sports Day - The Bessemer Herald , Feb 17, 1966

Newaygo County Sports Park

Norway Mountain +- formerly Briar Mountain , Mont Briern - REOPENED 2024 - for more information see: Norway - STILL OPEN

Oakland University Ski Tow

Ogemaw Hills

Ole Tyrol +

Ortonville State Recreation Area

  Oscoda Ski Bowl - also called AuSable Ski Bowl 

Oxbow Club and Ski Area ????

  • Luzerne, MI - northeast Michigan - "west [should be east] bank of the South Branch of the Au Sable River, just north of Smith’s Bridge".  airport landing strip across from ski area
  • o: ???  c:  ???
  • Google Maps / Google Earth    
    44.638358016176525, -84.46784912407671
  • Michigan Lost Ski Area Project
  • I can't find any information in newspapers.

Pando Ski Center (also called Pando Park)

Paradise Valley

Peabody Apple Orchard* - see Granview Orchards

Peek-A-Boo Hill

Pere Marquette Ski Club  ^ N0 TOW

 
     

1968 - 1969
The Ludington Daily News, Jan 14, 1969   

1969 map 
1969 - 1970
Traverse City Record Eagle, Jan. 22 ,1970  

1970 map

1971 - 1972

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Sat, Jan 8, 1972 (jpg)


 1972 - 1973

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Mon, Jan 8, 1973

1973 nap

1973 map ski area names

1973 - 1974

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Thu, Nov 29, 1973

1973 map

Link to ski area names

 1974 - 1975

Lansing State Journal, Nov 21, 1974


1975 - 1976

The Ann Arbor News (Ann Arbor, Michigan) · Thu, Nov 6, 1975

1975 map



1976-1977

Edwardsburg Argus (Edwardsburg, Michigan) · Thu, Nov 25, 1976

1976 map

1976 map list

1977 - 1978

The Flint Journal (Flint, Michigan) · Thu, Oct 27, 1977 · Page 47

ski area names

1978 - 1979

The Bay City Times (Bay City, Michigan) · Tue, Oct 24, 1978

1981 - 1982

The Ann Arbor News (Ann Arbor, Michigan) · Thu, Dec 3, 1981

1981 map

1982 - 1983

The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, Michigan) · Sun, Dec 5, 1982

1982 map


1983 - 1984

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan) · Fri, Oct 14, 1983

1893 map


1984 - 1985

The Bay City Times (Bay City, Michigan) · Sun, Nov 4, 1984

1984 map

1987 - 1988

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan) · Thu, Oct 22, 1987
   
1957- 1958 List


1988 - 1989

The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, Michigan) · Sun, Nov 27, 1988

  1988 map 

1989 - 1990

Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan) · Sun, Dec 17, 1989

1989 map

1992 - 1993

The Flint Journal (Flint, Michigan) · Thu, Dec 17, 1992   

1992 map


1996 - 1997

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Mon, Dec 16, 1996

1996 map


1999 - 2000

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Sun, Nov 28, 1999

1999 map

2001 - 2002

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) · Thu, Dec 27, 2001 

2001 map

2002 - 2003

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Sun, Dec 1, 2002   

2002 map


2003 - 2004

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Sun, Nov 30, 2003

2003 map

2008 - 2009

Detroit Free Press, Sun. Nov. 2, 2008


Pinckney State Recreation Area

Pinnacles (The)* - later called Tyrolean

Pleasant Valley Ski Area

Pioneer Hills Winter Sports Park

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area

  • Pontiac, MI - southeasrt Michigan - 10 mi. W of Pontiac, on Orr Rd off M-59, "adjoining recreation area" - private,"members and guests only of the Kandahar Ski Club". This part of Orr Rd is now Maceday Rd. 
  • operated by the Kandahar Ski Club until 1964 when they bought the Summit Ski Area
  • o:  1958  c:   1967   ???
  • Dec. 1964  Also on 1958, 1961, and 1964 maps, not 1957
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    42.686430371172534, -83.47274590542223
    • Email - Sandra Wood: " When we were kids in the late 50s and early 60s, we used to hike in that area all the time. I remember seeing what was left of the ski area then. The only thing I can remember seeing at the time where the old cable pulleys on posts on the hill. The pulleys were actually old vehicle tire rims.

      Many years later while bike riding out there, I found nothing left of the ski area. I am very sure the area was what is now the camping area of the park which is off Maceday Road on the north side of the park. There are two very nice hills there that I am sure are the old ski area. I did quite a bit of bike riding out there and I am sure I would have seen anything that was left.

      The names of the roads out there have changed a bit in the last 50 years and I think that section of Maceday Road was at one time Orr Road.

      Based on what I saw, the ski area was gone before the early 60s. "

    • Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • Eastern Lower Peninsula Map 1958 - Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page
  • Caberfae Opening for Skiing - Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan) · Fri, Nov 20, 1959 (Kandahar)
  • The American Ski Directory, by William Pain, Permabook, 1961

Prospect Hill - also called Valley Farm

Quaal (Quall, City Hall) * - see Al Quaal

Ramblewood Apartments

Rex Humbard College Ski Slope* - See Mackinac College Ski Slope

Riverbank Golf Club

Riverton Ski Area * - see Ludington Ski Area

Riverview Highlands (Mt. Trashmore)

Rockland Ski Hill / Rockland Winter Sports Club

Roundtops

Royal Valley* (later called Ski World)

Russell's Ridge

Schussaway

Shamrock Valley * (Shamrock Valley Sports Park) - see Irish Hills Sports Park

Shanty Creek (original, without Schuss Mt.) - later Summit Mountain / Summit Mountain at Shanty Creek

Sheridan Valley

Silver Beach Ski Resort

Silver Mountain - also called Doc Holle's Silver Mountain Ski and Tubing Hill 

Silver Ridge Resort* (See Mott Mountain)

Silver Valley

Silverbell Village Ski Area (Silver Bell Village)

Ski-A-Way + - see Petoskey Winter Sports Park    

Ski Homestead+ - now part of Ski Brule (still open)

Ski Village (also called Waters Ski Club, Waters Ski Village; Al and Steve's Ski Village)

Ski World (formerly called Royal Valley)

Skyline Ski Area (also Sky Line)

Snow Bowl (Houghton Lake Snow Bowl)

Snow Bowl (2)

Snow Valley Ski Club

Spring Valley - also called Caspian Ski Hill

Stonecliffe* - See Mackinac College Ski Slope

Sugar Loaf

Summit Mountain / Summit Mountain at Shanty Creek * - see Shanty Creek

Summit Ski Area / Summit Ski Club * - became Kandahar

Superior Hills

Swartz Creek Ski Area

Sylvan Resort / Sylvan Knob) + - still operating as Treetops

Tee and Ski

Teeple Hill

Thunder Bowl

Thunder Mountain

Timberlee Hills

Timberline - Alpena

Timberline - Rose City

Twin Peaks - location of former Mt. Frederick,

Tyrolean (Tyrolean Hills; previously called Pinnacles Ski Resort)

Udell Hills* - see Manistee Ski Area

Valley Farm* - probably the same as Prospect Hills

Vanderbilt Ski Club

Vernier Hill

Village Inn - also called Big Rock Candy Mountain Ski Area,  Boyne Valley Lodge, and Elvyn Lea Lodge

Vulcan U.S.A.

Walloon Hills Ski Area +- currently home to Challenge Mountain

Ward Hill(s) Ski Area -

Waters Ski Club / Waters Ski Village* see Ski Village

Western Michigan University

Whiskey Creek (Whiskey Creek Recreations Inc.)

Winterskoll* (see Brady's Hills)

Woodbridge Ski Area

MWLSAP Homepage

* renamed; closed
+ renamed; open
^ never opened

 PLANNED, BUT NEVER DEVELOPED

Superior Land - NEVER OPENED

  • Marquette, MI
  • Big Resort Is Planned - The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, Michigan) · Sun, Dec 9, 1962



Bergland Hill - See Holiday Mountain - NEVER OPENED

Big Burn - NEVER OPENED

Cheboygan Sawdust Pile - NEVER OPENED

Copper Harbor- NEVER OPENED

Deertrack Village Resort - NO TOW INSTALLED

  • Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page (also: Marquette Has New Ski Area - The Escanaba Daily Press (Escanaba, Michigan) · 13 Dec 1949)
  • From Marquette Regional History Center:

    Mark,

    We don't have any record of skiing or a rope tow at Deertrack Village, although we have records of it operating as a summer resort. If you would like to continue looking, we have the original local newspapers, the Mining Journal, available for research.

    Please let me know if you have any other questions.

    Beth Gruber, Research Librarian
    John M. Longyear Research Library
    Marquette Regional History Center
    145 W. Spring St.
    Marquette, MI 49855
    906-226-3571

Holiday Mountain^ - NEVER OPENED (also called Bergland Hill, White Pine Ridge, and Tower Hill)

Jordan Valley Lodge - NEVER OPENED

Michigan State University Ski Hill - NEVER OPENED

Ortonville (Bald Eagle Lake) - NEVER OPENED

Perryville Rd ndd Grant Rd

  • Ortonville, MI - just west
  • Google Maps / google Earth
    42.85048380499532, -83.47260879639126

Rapid River Ski Park - NEVER OPENED

Rouge Park - NEVER OPENED

Salem Township Landfill - NEVER OPENED

Saugatuck- NEVER OPENED

St. Ignace - NEVER OPENED

Tower Mountain (High Tower Ski Mountain) - NEVER OPENED

Tyrone Hills - NEVER OPENED



WORKING ON:

Is Al Quaal the same as Ishpeming Winter Sports Park and Suicide hill ski jump ?
Yes - Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page  

Ontonagon - WORKING ON

Lake Gogebic Hill 1951 near Marenisco  Mt. Kimberly, ??? but opened in 1954

Silver Valley East Tawas

Lake Shore ski club

Probably Caberfae = Rope tow in Cadillac in 1940

new tows 1940   Ironwood, Iron Mountain, The Gateway, Hancock, Ishpeming  


Rope tows in Leelanau County 

  • Friends of Sugarloaf FB
  • Ball's Bump same Miller Hill
  • Pathfinder School
  • This is Bremers hill = Lou Okma - Hilltop Rd Suttons Bay - N side top of hill by the barn

Lost Mountain - WORKING ON Probably XC Only

WaterWorks Hill - Saginaw, MI , South Washington Ave. - TOW? WORKING ON

Fox Valley Ski Center - WORKING ON


Herringbone Ridge - WORKING ON

  • Ortonville, MI - on State Park Rd. N. of town
  • This could possibly be Ortonville State Recreation Area  (1948-51) which is also N of Ortonville but on Hadley Rd. 
  • see comments below from  MILSAP for Bald Eagle Ski Hill
  • At MILSAP Kyle V says:

    I currently live in Ortonville off State Park Rd just north of the village. Across the street is the state park land with the trails and cabin. I have been told by neighbors who have lived in Ortonville for many years that the very large hill behind my house use to be a ski hill with a tow rope? I was also told by one of my neighbors that my home use to be the ski lodge and was converted into a house?

  • At MILSAP Rex replys:

    My family was one of several that owned a ski lodge and two slopes with rope tows in Ortonville. It was called Harringbone Ridge. Would this be the same place? Rex
When we “owned” the Harringbone Ridge”, it was back in the 60s. I still have the bobsled with steerable skis up front and a brake bar underneath. Anybody interested in purchasing it? I can send pictures."

Miller Hill near Maple City, MI - 

  •    

George Young Golf Course - WORKING ON

 

George N. Brady Scout Reservation - WORKING ON

  • Waterford MI / Green Lake MI, 6970 Andersonville Road
  • Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page (picture of skiing, but no tow)
  • Boy Scouts
  • Operated from 1921 to 1946. Sold in 1946, the site is now occupied by Bay Court Park in Independence Charter Township.

Village Inn Walloon Lake ?? - WORKING ON

Kensington Park (Kensington Metropolitan Park) - NO TOW

Hollow Springs - PROBABLY TEEPLE HILL

  • Pontiac, MI (Oakland County) - Hwy M-59, 10 mi. W
  • o: 1950
  • note: Oakland County MI is the current home of Mt. Holly, Pine Knob, and Alpine Valley ski areas, and home to the former Teeple Hill ski area
  • New Ski Area Set For Opening - Detroit Free Press, 31 Dec 1950 (also found at Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page) - this is the only mention that I can find
  • I asked Dave Decker of the Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society about the existance of Hollow Springs mentioned in the newpaper article. Here is his response:
    • "I’m sure it confused people when it was printed because there is no, absolutely no, evidence anywhere in land records, maps, aerial photos, or our other more secret sources that there was ever a ski area named “Hollow Springs” located ten miles west of Pontiac.

      I’m led to conclude, then that the newspaper reporter somehow conflated “Teeple Hill” with “Hollow Springs” but as far as the evidence goes, I have found nothing ."       

Whiteface - WORKING ON

Is Homestead located at the Leelanau Schools ski hill?

Hidden Valley

  • same as Otsego??
  • location


STILL OPEN (MI) (45 listed)

https://www.michigan.org/article/trip-idea/comprehensive-guide-ski-resorts-michigan

https://skidaup.com/vertical-drops-of-up-ski-hills/

Adventure Mountain - REOPENED 1/22/2021

Alpine Valley Ski Area

Big Powderhorn Mountain Resortn

Big Valley Ski and Tube

Bittersweet

Black River Basin - Snowriver Mountain Resort (formerly Blackjack - Big Snow Resort

Boyne Highlands (see The Highlands)

Boyne Mountain

Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort

Cannonsburg Ski Area

Challenge Mountain - formerly Walloon Hills

Chatham Ski Hill (Officially called Hiawatha Slopes)

Covington Ski Hill

  • still OPEN
  • L'Anse, MI - upper peninsula
  • o: 1945
  • 46.54424968290146, -88.55804147782582
  • v: 115 ft.
  • website
  • skimap.org (0 maps)

Crystal Mountain (formerly Buck Hills)

Crystella Ski Hill

Gladstone Sports Park (John and Melissa Besse Sports Park)

Hanson Hills

Hiawatha Slopes * - See Chatham Hill

  • STILL OPEN

Hickory Hills

The Highlands (The Highlands at Harbor Springs) -formerly Boyne Highlands, Harbor Highlands)

The Homestead

Jackson Creek Summit - Snowriver Mountain Resort (formerly Indianhead Mountain - Big Snow Resort

John and Melissa Besse Sports Park* (see Gladstone Sports Park)

Marquette Mountain (formerly Cliff's Ridge)

Missaukee Mountain

Mont Ripley - Ripley Hills 

Mt. Bohemia

Mt Brighton

Mt Holiday Ski Area - formerly Holiday Hills

Mt Holly

Mt. McSauba

Mt. Zion

Mulligan's Hollow Ski Bowl - formerly Grand Haven Ski Bowl

Norway Mountain - formerly Norvul, Briar Mountain , Mont Brier, and Vulcan USA - REOPENED 2024

Nub's Knob

Ostego Ski Club (formerly Hidden Valley)


Petoskey Winter Sports Park  -  previously called Fettig Hill; also called Ski-A-Way   

Pine Knob

Pine Mountain

Porcupine Mountain (Porkies)

Sault Seal Recreation Area - also called Minneapolis Woods Ski Hill

Schuss Mountain at Shanty Creek

Ski Brule - combined with Ski Homestead

Snow Snake Mountain

Swiss Valley Ski Lodge - formerly Little Switzerland Ski area

Timber Ridge Ski Area

Tower Mountain

Treetops (Sylvan) Resort

 

MWSAP Homepage

 

                                                                                                 
 


* renamed; closed
+ renamed; open
^ never opened

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