Michigan has the second-most ski resorts of any state in the country, just behind New York. Many of them are located in the U.P. and in northern lower Michigan, where, typically, winter white-out conditions lay the groundwork for successful ski seasons.
Mother Nature, however, can be finicky – remember last winter? And although this winter seems more promising, shifting weather patterns because of climate change are a concern for ski resorts across the U.P., Michigan and the country.
Many ski resorts in cold-weather tourist towns are looking internally, shifting operations, adding additional programming and expanding, and finding new, creative ways to increase visitors and dollars year-round.
The Marquette Mountain Resort is among them. The 170-acre resort has long been a winter destination with daytime and nighttime skiing, snowboarding, rope tows, and multiple ski trails. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report named Marquette Mountain Resort as
one of the top 15 ski resorts in the state.
Formerly known as Cliffs Ridge, the resort has had multiple owners since opening in the late 1950s. The current owner is Eric Jorgensen, who is also the CEO and president of JX Enterprises, a distributor of heavy-duty trucks.
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Marquette Mountain ResortCasualty Shack on the Ridge, one of the resort's easier trails.Jorgensen has made improvements to the resort, with the most recent upgrades focused on snowmaking infrastructure. Those efforts began in the summer of 2021 and have continued the past few years.
“The current owners, the Jorgensen family, have invested large amounts of money in our snowmaking systems and equipment, which continues to this day,” says Kaet Johnson, the resort’s general manager. “We’re investing in things that most people don’t see, but it’s upgrades to power, water, pumps, and guns.”
Upgrades have also been made to the bar, retail shop, and there are plans to renovate other structures. Last year, the resort purchased “a whole new rental fleet, and equipment like snowmobiles, vehicles and just different things needed for mountain transportation too,” she says.
But it’s not just about skiing at Marquette Mountain. The resort is a four-season destination offering mountain biking, hiking, and volleyball in the other seasons.
Every year since Johnson has been at Marquette Mountain, more and more activities have been added to the lineup of programming for residents and visitors.
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Marquette Mountain ResortMarquette Mountain has expanded programming throughout the year, including an inaugural Cheese Roll last fall.Other activities include lift rides, guided kayak tours, disc golf, endurance runs, live music events, art fairs, and other events in the summer. The resort also serves as a “basecamp” for local races, award parties, fundraisers, as well as weddings and private events.
“The hill does bring in a lot of tourists to the area. Local lodging establishments count on Marquette Mountain to bring in people to the area,” she says. “If our winter is slow and there’s less snow in the area, it really affects all of these businesses — lodging, retail shops, etc.”
Investing in snowmaking
To help combat the potentially dampening effects of dry winters, Marquette Mountain is working hard behind-the-scenes.
“Just about everything we do here is somehow affected by the weather. Poor weather or the perception of poor weather is frustrating,” she says, noting that the perception of poor weather can deter skiers from traveling to resorts.
With minimal natural snow and warmer temperatures last winter, Marquette Mountain was forced to use more snowmaking machines to help bring in visitors.
“We were one of the few resorts in the Midwest that did not have to cancel any races or anything like that because of conditions,” she says. “We were able to pull those off with our snowmaking.”
Across Michigan, ski areas are expanding and investing in snowmaking machines, snowmaking pipes and groomers to improve slope conditions and expand opportunities for skiing.
Mike Panich, executive director of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association, anticipates more ski resorts will focus on aging infrastructure over the next several years.
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Marquette Mountain ResortMarquette Mountain boasts three chairlifts and a rope tow serving 25 trails.“Last year kind of caught everybody a little bit by surprise, and it showed operationally what weaknesses and strengths each area has,” he says. “I see a lot of investment in infrastructure, replacing chairlifts, updating snowmaking systems, offering expanded services and events trying to capitalize on a shorter winter.”
Historically, Marquette Mountain Resort used to be able to open up by Thanksgiving, but that hasn't been the case in recent years. Last year the resort opened January 6. The season typically lasts around 120 days, but last year’s season was around 80-90 days.
Fortunately, this season Marquette Mountain began making snow in late November and was able to open December 14. The weather has been mostly winter-like and cooperative since then.
"Our runs are in great shape, the snow is amazing, and we continue to add skiing terrain almost daily. We've even been able to open a couple of our natural snow runs and the glades are not far behind if the natural snow keeps falling," she says.
With natural snow a question mark in recent years, focusing on making more man-made snow has been crucial to seasonal success.
To make snow, there needs to be a wet bulb temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit with low humidity. The snowmaking technology forces water through small nozzles of compressed air, making very small water particles. These particles freeze once they hit the air and fall down, Johnson says.
There are misconceptions about the science of snowmaking and the costly management of a ski resort, she says. Marquette Mountain employs 10-14 full-time employees and adds an additional 130 seasonal workers from December through April.
“There’s a lot of risk out here that we manage, the average person has no idea of the expenses and things we’re doing every day,” she says. “For snowmaking, even if it was 25 degrees last night, if it was only that temperature for two hours, what it takes to ramp up a snowmaking system for two hours is not cost-effective. We need a six-hour to eight-hour-window to make snow.”
Although there are machines that shave ice and blow it out of pipes even in warmer weather, Johnson says it would cost millions of dollars to do that on an entire hillside.
What's ahead
Johnson says everyone has their fingers crossed for a better winter this year but worries a couple of winters like last year could take many ski resorts off the map.
Forecasts are calling for more snow, or normal to cooler temperatures, but Johnson says the only forecast she can really trust is a 10-day forecast, rather than a full-season foreshadowing.
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Marquette Mountain ResortCar-related events like the Lake Superior Performance Rally have drawn visitors to Marquette Mountain Resort in other seasons.Looking ahead, Marquette Mountain aims to evolve but keep close to its goal of providing unparalleled outdoor experiences, celebrating the adventure and beauty found within nature.
“Our wish in the ski industry is that if people like skiing and snowboarding, and want those things available to them, they need to do it even if they think conditions aren’t perfect,” she says. “These are very expensive businesses to run, so if this is a sport or activity they want to continue, they need to come do it.”
There is optimism about the season.
“Hopefully this year, we’ll buck that trend, but you just never know what Mother Nature is going to throw our way,” The ski association’s Panich says. “We’re encouraged to see that the industry is growing and strong, and even if winters are shrinking a little bit in duration, that the strength of the winter is actually still strong enough that business is good.”
Sarah Spohn is a Lansing native, but every day finds a new interesting person, place, or thing in towns all over Michigan, leaving her truly smitten with the mitten. She received her degrees in journalism and professional communications and provides coverage for various publications locally, regionally, and nationally — writing stories on small businesses, arts and culture, dining, community, and anything Michigan-made. You can find her in a record shop, a local concert, or eating one too many desserts at a bakery. If by chance, she’s not at any of those places, you can contact her at sarahspohn@issuemediagroup.com.