One of the world's largest ski jumps to reopen in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Marina Johnson and Camille Fine, USA TODAY NETWORK
·2 min read

Copper Peak Ski Jump, located in Ironwood in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is set to reopen for the first time since 1994.

Copper Peak secured $20 million from the state of Michigan last year to help with renovations, according to the company. The resort plans to reopen as the only ski-flying hill in the world with a year-round surface and the only ski-flying location outside of Europe.

The largest ski jump in the Western Hemisphere, Copper Peak's 469-foot jump is larger than most ski jumping hills seen in the Olympics. For Olympic competitions, they range between 120 and 140 meters, while Copper Peak is 180.

Ski flying is like ski jumping, but involves larger hills, further jump distances, and increased speed.

After hosting 10 ski flying events between 1970 and 1994, the ski jump initially closed after the 1994 season to manage erosion and pay off outside debt, according to MLive.

The facility was only expected to be shuttered for a year, but the reopening never materialized.

Although no jumps have been taken for many years, visitors are able to take the chairlift up for views and mountain bike on the single-track trails that wind through the surrounding hills.

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Now, 28 years later, Copper Peak is about to make a comeback to the competition.

“Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula legislators worked together and across the aisle to include funding to transform Copper Peak into a world-class destination for ski jumping competitions and training for Olympic-level athletes from the U.S. and around the world,” said State Sen. Wayne Schmidt.

In a statement last year, Copper Peak reported that it should be finished by the end of summer 2024, with its first competition slated for winter of 2025.

Contributing: Detroit Free Press, part of USA Today Network

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Copper Peak: Western hemisphere's largest ski jump reopens in Michigan