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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE SKINNER FAMILY CLOSES ON ACQUISITION OF BIG SNOW RESORT, MICHIGAN
Big Snow Resort, Indianhead & Blackjack Names to be Phased Out
Duluth, Minnesota (August 29, 2022) – Charles Skinner, Jr. has completed the acquisition of the Big Snow Resort from Art Dumke. The purchase includes the two historic UP ski areas of Indianhead and Blackjack, plus restaurants, a hotel, and numerous guest service buildings.
The resort name will transition to a new resort brand of Snowriver Mountain Resort, and the Blackjack and Indianhead base areas will be named after the two rivers flowing through the resort, Black River Basin (Blackjack) and Jackson Creek Summit (Indianhead).
A Break in the Press Release
The Granite Peak team is super excited to work with the team members in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Over the last few months we have been working behind the scenes to get to this point and now the real work begins. Over the next few weeks you’ll see a transition of brand, tactics, products and a social media approach as we lead into the season. I know this is exciting for not only our staff but for our season passholders and guests as the synergies are endless.
It’s easier just to post the full press release and of course I’m always happy to answer any questions you may have within the comment field. Just know today is all about welcoming our new team and it might take me a few days as I’ll be on site in the U.P until Thursday.
Greg – Granite Peak GM / Midwest Family Ski Resorts CMO
Press Release Continued:
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“There are two motivating factors for the coming name changes”, stated Skinner. “The first is a sensitivity to co-opting Native American culture. And the second is to eliminate confusion as the name Big Snow is used by another ski operation. We also feel the name changes help signal a new era of capital investment at Snowriver.
“Our mission is to provide healthy, outdoor recreation of the highest quality to Midwesterners, especially families,” added Skinner. “Indianhead was the first ski area in the UP, and staff and previous ownership did a great job combining two ski areas into one and improving operations. Our team is excited to welcome the resort’s staff to our family of resorts.”
Snowriver will continue to offer a single lift ticket for the entire resort, and to provide shuttle transportation until a connecting lift is constructed.
With the acquisition, Skinner and his daughter Charlotte Skinner have created a cross-company team of managers called Midwest Family Ski Resorts, which will manage the properties under their ownership. Charlotte, with an MBA from Columbia University and finance experience at public technology companies, will take on the Chief of Staff and Chief Financial Officer role and report to her father, the President, and CEO.
Jim Vick, current GM & Marketing Director at Lutsen, will take on the Chief of Ski Terrain role. Vick will ensure excellence in grooming, snow quality, and varied terrain across the resorts. Greg Fisher, current GM & Marketing Director at Granite Peak, has been named Chief Marketing Officer. Fisher will direct all marketing, communications, and advertising for the properties. Vick and Fisher will maintain their General Manager roles and be based at Lutsen Mountains and Granite Peak, respectively.
In addition, Amanda Plummer has been named Chief Data Officer, and Caitlin Eisch, Chief Employee Experience Officer, and several other key managers have been named to cross-company roles.
“By adding the Michigan resort to our team, we identified programming, policy, and direction efficiencies. In addition, elevating veterans from each property will help our company perform better for our customers and employees,” stated Chief of Staff Charlotte Skinner.
One of the first tasks of the new multi-mountain team will be to transition the new property to a new point of sales system as well as pass structure. The Midwest Family Ski Resorts’ Legendary Pass product that includes unlimited skiing and riding to Granite Peak as well as Lutsen Mountains will ow include Snowriver Mountain Resort for the 22-23 season. Sales of the product have been paused across all properties while the resorts transition to this new product. Legendary Pass sales are slated to resume on September 9th the opportunity to upgrade from our gold or silver passes to the legendary pass prior to the end of our fall pass sale.
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Wow this is really exciting news. Time for trip north this winter.
Hey, Congrats on completing the purchase of Big Snow!
In March of 2022 I purchased a Big Snow Season Pass for the 2022-23 ski season. Am wondering if Snowriver plans on honoring those passes.
And sure hope you keep NASTAR. Love running the gates and a big reason I’ve purchased a season pass at Indianhead/Big Snow over the years.
Will prior lodging reservations through Big Snow be honored? If we want to make future lodging reservations, how do we make those?
yes they are honored and a new lodging program will be available shortly for bookings.
Last year you allowed ski bikes at Granite peak and I have already purchased a pass for this coming winter at Granite Peak. I’m hoping ski bikes will be allowed at your Snow River Mountain Resort in the UP? If so I’ll be upgrading to the Legendary pass and so will the rest of my family who do traditional downhill skiing. Please let me know if ski bikes will be allowed at Snow River.
Allen I will inquire for you if they have and if they will allow Snowbikes. I was pleased with the use last year and I appreciate you reaching out.
Greg
Are you upgrading the lifts in the UP from the ancient, slow 2 place chairs? If so when, as I plan two trips from the lower peninsula with my son-in-law and his brother? Also, I’m 76 , will you have super senior prices?
We are working on a ton of new updates in the UP for the upcoming season but a lift is not one of them for the 22-23 season as it is way too late to try to accomplish that. But I’ll direct you to an article in which I addressed that question!
https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/2022/09/06/granite-peak-owner-buys-indianhead-blackjack-ski-resorts-michigan/7958831001/
For those who have already purchased non-legendary passes prior to the announcement of acquisition, is there a path to upgrading to a legendary pass at the $699 rates prior to the May 22 cutoff?
No, the current rate is what you can upgrade to a Legendary Pass by contacting us at the office here at Granite Peak. 715-845-2846
Is it true that snowmobile trail number two that passes thru the property is to be closed? To stop interstate travel by trail #2? To harm businesses that depend on trail #2 to make it thru the year? To close a route that has been a main stay in the UP? If true I sure hope you change your minds on this closing of UP trail system that connects Wisconsin and the whole state of Michigan.
The team up north along with the ownership team is exploring options to find a solution in which a snowmobile trail between the east and west of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan can still travel through the communities of the surrounding area while continuing to ensure the safety and wellbeing the lodging and other guests in the area.
Curious as new ownership has not replied to the many questions posed…Did the prior owners have a big problem with injuries caused by snowmobiles. I’ve ridden through there many times and the snowmobile trail is nowhere near the ski activities…while it’s little skin off Skinner’s back, it will have a huge impact the already struggling surrounding communities. Not the PR you want when you’re new to town.
I also frequent Granite Peak, but it’ll be hard to continue to do so knowing that my money ultimately goes to a guy who could care less about winter supports and the communities he does business.
I’m confident that there will be a solution found here for all.
I’m sorry for all the negative remarks people have been making, I’m sure that makes it harder to feel motivated to work towards a solution when dealing with people who are that rude.
We will find a solution.
This is exciting, I hope the new ownership places value in lift and hill upgrades as well. Hope to see the MI High School Finals there in a few years!
are you honoring reciprocity agreements that were included in advertising for current 22 23 season pass holders purchased before the sale?
I’m not sure what you are referring to? GP? or Snowriver? What were the advertised agreements?