Northwest ski resorts to open early after heavy snow falls
NORTHWEST MICHIGAN — Ski resorts are looking forward to the start of a strong season, which will begin earlier than it did last year thanks to recent heavy snowfall.
According to Ben Doornbos, general manager of Nub’s Nob in Harbor Springs, the 10 popular front-side slopes will officially open on Thanksgiving Day. Nub’s Nob has 53 slopes in total and will eventually open all of them as the weather allows it.
This will be the first time since 2019 that Nub’s Nob has been able to open on Thanksgiving Day. Last year, the resort opened on Dec. 3.
In anticipation of the ski season, Doornbos said Nub’s Nob has had a record-breaking year for season pass sales.
“We know there's a lot of demand. During the last few years, I think a lot of people have rediscovered their love of skiing and how it’s such a wonderful family sport. People of all ages can enjoy skiing. It's just booming and things have been going great,” Doornbos said.
Also starting the season on Thanksgiving Day is Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls and The Highlands in Harbor Springs. Pass holders, resort lodging guests and employees of Boyne Mountain will have early access from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
“We’ve had ideal weather and Mother Nature and our snowmaking crews have really come together to capitalize and open early for the holiday weekend,” Boyne Resorts Director of Communications Erin Ernst said in an email.
“This weekend will offer fantastic conditions. The fresh snowfall really helps people get excited and looking forward to getting back out on the slopes for another season of skiing and riding.
More:World's longest timber-towered suspension bridge to open in Boyne Falls in October
More:Extreme snowfall in west, northern Michigan expected to last through weekend
For opening weekend, Boyne Mountain will have Victor, Hemlock, Deer Run, Boyneland and Aurora Park serviced by the Mountain Express and Boyneland lifts open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After opening weekend, the slopes will close midweek to make snow and then the daily season will open on Friday, Dec. 2. Night skiing will begin on Dec. 21.
The Highlands will have seven runs open this weekend — Heather, Camelot, Upper MacGully, K2, Olympic, Sendlhofer’s Legacy and Boardwalk. As well as the Funland Terrain Park and Renate’s Express conveyor. The Highlands' daily open date may vary from Boyne Mountain.
Similarly in Gaylord, Treetops Resort will be opening on Friday, Dec. 2, a week earlier than it did last year. In response to an increased demand, Treetops will now be open midweek, as opposed to the Thursday through Sunday schedule it had in previous years.
Because of this new schedule and interest in winter sports, media relations representative Susan Wilcox Olson said Treetops is expecting this year to be even busier than past seasons. Even as inflation drives up costs, Treetops is finding that its customers are still willing to spend money to get out onto the slopes.
“We're really proud that that midweek package is a true inflation buster. So in these times when people are a little more cautious, this is a great affordable family adventure,” Wilcox Olson said.
“Right now it appears that people are still eager to travel and get outside and that's the biggest draw of skiing, like all through the pandemic because everybody can be outside and be safe. So we've seen new skiers come into the industry, which is great.”
Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you
In addition to winter sports, Treetops will be holding events like its Skiable Feast, Spud-tacular SnowShoe Luncheon, the Winter Sleigh Ride Dinner and dogsledding. Last year, the resort doubled its extreme tubing park and added a magic carpet lift, which will be open every day of the season.
Boyne Mountain opened its SkyBridge in October, which will be open during the winter season. Also new this year is the Moonbike guided tour.
Boyne and The Highlands have other winter activities like Zipline Adventures, Sno-Go Bikes, Fat Tire Snow Bikes, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, winter horseback riding, ice skating and tubing.
“We cannot wait to welcome skiers back to the slopes. This is what we spend our entire year in anticipation of. We're off to a really, really good start, one of the best we've ever had, especially considering all of the natural snow,” Doornbos said.
“I think that skiers in Michigan, both downhill skiers and cross country skiers, should be super excited about the gift that has been given to us in the last week.”
— Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Tess_Petoskey.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northwest ski resorts to open early after heavy snow falls
