Granite Peak acquires Big Snow in the Upper Peninsula

[Inoffensive Nickname]

For us Midwesterners who ski the little hills, this is huge news. Big Snow resort in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a great place for families, but the infrastructure is ancient. The owners of Granite Peak have made vast improvements at Rib Mountain over the past couple of decades, so we're hoping for a high speed lift or two. Indianhead, which is part of Big Snow, has some nice long (for the Midwest) cruisers, and it would be nice to be able to have at least one high speed lift.

Welcome to the Family - Big Snow Resort - Granite Peak

Charles Skinner, owner of Minnesota’s Lutsen Mountains Ski Area and Wisconsin’s Granite Peak Ski Area, to acquire Michigan's Big Snow Resort.

www.skigranitepeak.com

 

[marzNC]

Since Stuart Winchester is from the midwest originally, he's been following the evolution of the Indy Pass in the region closely. Charles Skinner was an early adopter who has been operating ski resorts in the midwest for quite a while. He knows it takes major capital investment, but the potential is great. His father ran ski resorts in the midwest when he was growing up. Creating a small group of resorts in the same region where people are willing to drive over two hours for a ski weekend reminds me of what James Coleman has done successfully in the southwest.

This podcast is an interview with Charles Skinner from Sep 2021.

Podcast #52: Lutsen Mountains Co-President/Co-Owner & Granite Peak Owner Charles Skinner

Listen now (78 min) | These Midwest giants are nowhere near done growing

www.stormskiing.com

 

[Amie H]

Interesting. They certainly get terrific snow up there in the Lake Superior snow belt. Between this news and that Whitecap is back on track with lodge renovations and other capital improvements, sounds like Big Lake skiing is on the upswing.

 

[marzNC]

Interesting. They certainly get terrific snow up there in the Lake Superior snow belt. Between this news and that Whitecap is back on track with lodge renovations and other capital improvements, sounds like Big Lake skiing is on the upswing.

Does the season there go into late March on a regular basis?

 

[Amie H]

@marzNC Not sure about over by the UP, but Skinner has run GP and Lutsen with late seasons (weather dependent.)

That said, late season Lutsen can be crummy conditions and not worth wrecking your skis for, IMO.

 

[Inoffensive Nickname]

Does the season there go into late March on a regular basis?

South of Lake Superior (UP), you can usually ski into mid-March. We had some amazing Spring conditions St. Patrick's Day weekend at Big Powderhorn, and it's my understanding they actually closed a bit early this year (the following weekend) after a rainy week.