TEMP
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Trails
60
The Granite Peak Blog
Find out what’s happening at Wisconsin’s Legendary Resort
October Update – It’s almost snowmaking time.
Posted: Oct 10, 2022
Snowmaking is on the Horizon
It’s October and we are focusing in on finishing up our capital projects before the snow starts the fly! The Ghidorzi Team along with local contractors PGA and Hurtis Heating and Cooling have been hard at work in the lower Historic Chalet as our bathrooms are getting a complete overhaul. The Admin Building has also received a huge expansion giving us a brand new Alpine Learning Center desk and entrance along with additional office space and one more bathroom! I know that doesn’t sound sexy to you but to those of us who share this small office space it’s a blessing in disguise as nearly 30 people can be working out of this small building in the middle of the ski season.
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WE WANT FALL FUN WEATHER!
Posted: Sep 26, 2022
Mother Nature finally will cooperate this weekend! (HOPEFULLY)
Once the calendar flipped from August to September it seems that the work weeks have been great while the weekends have been less than desirable. Nothing we can do about it but I truly enjoy fall and all that it brings – football, apples, autumnal colors, and yes I do enjoy a good ole Pumpkin Spiced Latte as well. I also do enjoy a Pumpkin Beer, Donut, Pie…. Don’t hate on the gourd.
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A New Era in the U.P. – Snowriver Mountain Resort
Posted: Aug 30, 2022
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). (more…)
Countdowns
Posted: Aug 22, 2022
We are less than 100 days to go from our opening day target (November 23)
We are less than 75 days away from our anticipated snowmaking start up (Nov 1)
We are less than 40 days away from our fall season pass deadline of (September 30)
We are less than 20 days away from the start of scenic chairlift rides (September 10)
And for those of us who have youngsters and in the Wausau region – school starts next week.
A Mid-Summer Hello
Posted: Jul 18, 2022
We are over halfway through July, and August is in view! I hope this post finds you and your family enjoying the summer months. Maybe you are looking forward to our 85th winter season of skiing and riding on Rib Mountain!
The Wisconsin DNR Seeks Input on Non-Ski Activities within RMSP
Posted: Jun 9, 2022
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has made a draft document available for public comment on the future of the Rib Mountain State Park. This time around, as opposed to last year’s study, the written draft is 100% the efforts of Wisconsin from the DNR staff.
My goal is to present the highlights and offer direct links to what I found to be the most compelling and informative parts of the draft. What I am sharing is influenced by my point of view, and to fully understand the draft, I encourage you to read the whole thing. I had the luxury of being on a family vacation to Ohio when this came out. Thanks to Grandma, I enjoyed sever al peaceful mornings over coffee as I read it. 😉 (more…)
Welcome to the Family – Big Snow Resort
Posted: May 25, 2022
Owner of Granite Peak & Lutsen Mountains to Purchase Michigan’s Big Snow Resort
Charles Skinner, agrees to acquire the largest ski area in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Lutsen, MN, and Wausau, WI (May 25, 2022) – Charles Skinner, the owner of Minnesota’s Lutsen Mountains Ski Area and Wisconsin’s Granite Peak Ski Area, has a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Big Snow Resort, which consists of Indianhead and Blackjack ski areas, from Art Dumke. Skinner’s family has owned and operated vacation destination ski areas catering to Midwest families for 60 years. (more…)
Celebrating the Season
Posted: May 19, 2022
National Ski Areas Association & Granite Peak celebrate amazing seasons!
Last week the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) celebrated its 60th season with a convention in one of the coolest cities I’ve ever been to – Nashville, TN. After a three-year break from in-person conventions, more than 800 industry leaders descended upon the world’s country music capital for four days packed with education, networking, and celebratory events. (more…)
Onto the 85th Season!
Posted: Apr 1, 2022
While we still have three more weekends to go I wanted to write and express my gratitude to our guests, passholders, our staff, ski patrol volunteers, GPST program participants and the local community for another fantastic season here at Granite Peak. (more…)
Spring Operations
Posted: Mar 24, 2022
Spring can be awesome. It also can be finicky. It can also be wintery. The saying goes March comes in like a Lion and out like a lamb. April showers bring May flowers. Etc. It all can happen once we hit that Spring Equinox. (more…)