MWLSAP

mark@mwlsap.org

Midwest Lost Ski Areas Project

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Unique Ski Lifts of the Midwest

Down and Up Chairlifts One lift going up both sides of a valley Snowcrest - Somerset, WI (see trail map below) Birch Park, Houlton, WI (see trail map below) Ski World / Royal Valley, Buchanan, MI (see trail map below) Mt. Brighton, Brighton, MI (still open, but down and up lift has been removed) - more information below Mt. Telemark, ??????   Cable, WI (MWLSAP Facebook Page)  Snowcrest - Somerset, WI http://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#snowcrest Chair No. 1 and Chair No. 2 (map courtesy of skimap.org)   Birch Park, Houlton, WI - http://www.mwlsap.org/wisconsin/wi.htm#birchpark Map courtesy of skimap.org)   Ski World / Royal Valley, Buchanan, MI - https://www.mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#skiworld Map courtesy of skimap.org     Mt. Brighton, Brighton, MI Thank you to Tom from Truckee, CA who sent me this email: Mt. Brighton had a up and down chair. Backstory: I started skiing late in life either during either the '69-70 or possibly '70-71. Starting at age 9 or 10, I will never be a good skier. Sigh. At the time, Mt. Brighton had two double chairs, the blue chair on looker's left and green chair on looker's right, that ran up the big hill (Big Riskey, etc.). When I started skiing at Mt. Bright and through '75, maybe '76, a chair ran up the big hill (north facing) and then returned to go up a small south facing beginner hill. Looking at the layout on skimap.org, am thinking it was the blue chair that went up and down and up and down because of the parking lot position (expanded when the south facing hill was removed) and the beginner terrain was closer to the lodge. About this time, my family started skiing Alpine Valley. Got bored of Alpine in a couple of years so went back to Mt. Brighton (even though apparently it does have less vertical). Since we had left, Mt. Brighton had put the yellow chair in (most western of the lifts) and made the blue chair lift "normal" with the south facing hill having been leveled. To quote my father, I would be a warm beer if part of the south facing hill was used to build the smaller hill for intermediates on the east side of Mt. Brighton. Hope this is of some interest. ~Tom Overheard in Michigan Ski Resorts Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1485307128340098/permalink/2285360648334738

Up and Over Chairlifts One lift going up both sides of a hill LOST: Lansing Ski Club, East Lansing, MI http://www.mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#lansingskiclub MWLSAP Facebook Page Lansing Ski Club Adds Lift - Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) · Thu, Dec 3, 1970 STILL OPEN: One at Little Switzerland, Swinger, WI, Anothr replaced with two lifts, summer 2026 Whitecap Mountains, Upson, WI Buena Vista, Bemidji, MN  Buena Vista (map courtesy of skimap.org) Whitecap Mountains (map courtesy of skimap.org)

Double-Double Chairlift      Two double chairlifts sharing the same lift towers.  Ski Starlite - Memphis IN (near Louisville, KY) The_Indianapolis_News, Jan. 27, 1982 Ski Snowstar - Andalusia, IL snowstar_doubledouble_The_Rock_Island_Argus_1998_11_08_13.pdf      2004 Trail Map - skimap.org Trolllhaugen - Dresser, WI, has half of a double-double.  The lift towers are capable of carrying two double chairlifts, but only one has been installed.

Tracked Chairlifts No hanging cable Caberfae Peaks , Cadillac, MI Chestnut Mountain, Galena, IL Caberfae Resort still open Tracked Chair ran for one season, 1959-60 ??? Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Facebook Group   9/23/2023  Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Facebook Group   8/19/2025  Michigan's Ski Area History Facebook Group      trackedlift_caberfae_The_Grand_Rapids_Press_1957_12_17_33.jpg  Chestnut Mountain Resort still open The extremely rare, tracked chair lift at Chestnut Mountain Resort. - Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Facebook Group - SEVERAL PICTURES Thank you to Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Facebook Group and Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page

SINGLE CHAIRLIFTS Boyne Mountain, Hemlock Chair Val Chatel, Park Rapids, MN Boyne Mountain (still open), Boyne Falls, MI Installed at Boyne in 1948, began operating Jan. 9, 1949 . Hemlock Chair, single, changed to double three years later. Moved from Sun Valley, ID. Was the world's first chairlift when installed on Dollar Mountain at Sun Valley in 1936. Designed by James Curran of Omaha Nebraska. First chairlift in the Midwest [First chairlift in each Midwest state] The Birth of the Chairlift and It's Tie to the Midwest - video - MidwestSkiers.com (5:12) 5 Unique, Historic, & Interesting Ski Lifts In the Midwest - video - MidwestSkiers.com (9:01) Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Facebook Group - Sept. 2023   Val Chatel (lost), Park Rapids, MN - https://www.mwlsap.org/minnesota/mn.htm#valchatel Second chairlift installed in Minnesota. Ran from 1964 to 1971.

Sitz Lift What is a Sitzlift? It might be most somewhat analogous to today's conveyor lifts, except the skier would sit on a bicycle-type seat rather than stand. It had two elevated tracks for your skis, but only the seat would move as your skis would slide along these tracks. The tracks were elevated so that the seats could return to the bottom of the hill underneath the contraption. To load, "a bike seat emerges from an opening in the 'floor' and idles while you, with your skis on, straddle it. You pull a lever and the seat takes you topside." (from Minnesota's Winter Resorts: Skiing Plus - Chicago Tribune · Sun, Dec 21, 1969) Ski Tonka Ski Area, Minnetonka, MN - first Sitz Lift, 1968 from: Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Sun, Dec 21, 1969 Lutsen, MN, (1969) - Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Sun, Dec 21, 1969 The_Minneapolis_Star_1970_11_12_Page_34.pd Buffalo Valley, MN, (1969) - Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Sun, Dec 21, 1969 The_Minneapolis_Star_1970_11_12_Page_34.pdf Devils Head, WI https://books.google.com/books 1 . . . . https://books.google.com/books 2 . . . . - explanation of a sitzlift Trollhaugen, WI, (1969) Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Sun, Dec 21, 1969 Tribune_1971_01_15_Page_11.pdf Mt. Holly, MI (1972) The_Bay_City_Times_1972_11_16_23.pdf The_Saginaw_News_1973_01_07_75.pdf (picture, explains Sitzlift) Snowcrest, WI (1969) sitz_snowcrest_Star_Tribune_1969_11_16_Page_102-1.pdf sitz_snowcrest_ad_Star_Tribune_1969_11_16_Page_104.pdf sitz_snowcrest_Star_Tribune_1970_11_15_Page_78.pdf not in 1971 The Sitz Lift did not appear to catch on as these are the only installations that could be found and it appears as though none operated long. No information could be found as to how the skier would unload. Hopefully, the bike seat did not just drop under the track as it began its trip to the bottom. If so, Warren Miller could have had a heyday.

Poma Lifts Also called platter, disc, or button lifts and, unfortunately, sometimes sitzlift The only known poma lift that is still in use in the Midwest in 2024 is at Mt. Itasca in Coleraine, MN. I thought I would add poma lifts after seeing this post in the Overheard in Michigan Ski Resorts Facebook Group. If you know of a midwest ski area that had, or has, a poma lift, please let me know - mark@mwlsap.org Illinois Gander Mountain - skimap.org Indiana Paoli Peaks - ../indiana/many_paoliplatter_The_Daily_Journal_1980_12_19_Page_3-1.pdf Iowa Mt Crescent - liftblog.com / Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Thu, Jan 11, 1973 Dayton Dell - Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) · Thu, Jan 9, 1986 Sunset, IA - Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) · Thu, Jan 9, 1986 Michigan - still open Challenge Mountain (formerly Walloon Hills) The American Ski Directory, by William Pain, Permabook, 1961 Walloon Lake Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 The Highlands (Harbor Highlands) - liftblog.com / Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 Nubs Nob - liftblog.com / Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 Shanty Creek (2) liftblog.com originally at Shanty Creek, moved to Schuss Jackson Creek Summit at Snow River (formerly Indianhead) - liftblog.com Swiss Valey - liftblog.com Timber Ridge - liftblog.com Treetops (formerly Sylvan Knob) (3) - liftblog.com First poma in the midwest 1954 / Overheard in MI Ski Resorts FB Crystal Mountain (formerly Buck Hills) - Overheard in MI Ski Resorts FB / Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 Michigan - Lost Avalanche Ski Area (2) - The American Ski Directory, by William Pain, Permabook, 1961 Brady's Hills - The Brady's Bunch - The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, Michigan) · Sun, Jan 19, 1975 Glacier Hills - Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project   Mt. Mancelona - Overheard in MI Ski Resorts FB / Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 Mt .Maria - Overheard in MI Ski Resorts FB / Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967_1 Thunder Mountain - Overheard in MI Ski Resorts FB / Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 Michaywe Slopes / Au Sable Ski Ranch (2) - Overheard in MI Ski Resorts FB  /  Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967_1   /   Michigan ski Area History Facebook Page       Village Inn Overheard in MI Ski Resorts FB Mt. Christie - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967_1 Mt. Grampian - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967_1 Sheridan Valley - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967_1 Snow Valley - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967_1 Timberlee - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 Kandahar - https://www.mwlsap.org/michigan/Livingston_County_Daily_Press_and_Argus_Wed__Dec_6__1967_kandaharsummit.pdf Riverview Highlands - Riverview, MI - Jackson Citizen Patriot (Jackson, Michigan) · Fri, Nov 28, 1986 Minnesota - still open Mt. Normandale MN (now Hyland Hills) - SI 1958 Coffee Mill - liftblog.com Lutsen - liftblog.com / Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Mt. Itasca - STILL OPERATING 2023 - liftblog.com Mt. Ski Gull - liftblog.com Giant's Ridge - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Afton Alps - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Ski Haven (now Mt. Kato) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Minnesota - lost Inver Hills (NorSki) Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Singing Hills (2) Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Breezy Point, MN - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec 12, 1965 Pine Bend, MN (2) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec 12, 1965 Eagle Mountain - eagle_mountain_Star_Tribune_1976_12_05_Page_122.pdf Moon Valley, MN (lost) - called a Sitzlift - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec 13, 1964 Mt. Normandale (now Hyland Hills) . called a Sitzlift, moved to Moon Valley - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 16, 1975 Nebraska Devils Nest (lost) skimap.org Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Thu, Jan 11, 1973 coloradoskiinghistory.com North Dakota Trestle Valley - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 20, 1977 South Dakota Deer Mountain (2) (lost) - liftblog.com Terry Peak (3) - liftblog.com / Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 20, 1977 Wisconsin Nordic Mountain (still open)- liftblog.com Mt. LaCrosse (still open)- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec 12, 1965 Hiawatha Hills (lost) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Sheltered Valley (lost) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Mus-Ski, WI (lost) - called a Sitzlift Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec 12, 1965 Lost Wisconsin Ski Areas Facebook Page - like a platter / poma lift

J-Bars Only known J-bar that is still in use in 2026 is at Powder Ridge Ski Area in Kimball, MN. Savanna Valley Sports Area, Savanna, IL - Chicago Tribune 1966 12 09 91-2.pdf    Rib Mountain, Wausau, WI - 1937, Wikipedia Surface Lift Lodi See and Ski, Lodi, WI - (moved to Norway Basin) - MWLSAP Facebook post, see comment by Peter Brooks Norway Basin, Mount Horeb, WI (currently open as Tryrol Basin) - MWLSAP Facebook post, see comment by Peter Brooks Wintergreen, WI - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Nov 20, 1983 Alpine Valley, Chesterfield, OH - liftblog.com Brandywine, Peninsula, OH - liftblog.com Clear Fork (2), Butler, OH - The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) · Sat, Dec 18, 1976 Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls, MI -installed 1956 Petoskey News-Review, Fri, Nov .16, 1956 Lansing_State Journal_Sun, Nov._28, 1965 Carousel Mountain, MI - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Nov 29, 1973 Sugar Loaf, MI - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Nov 29, 1973 Mt. Brighton, MI - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Nov 29, 1973 Mt. Grampian, MI - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Nov 29, 1973 Shanty Creek, MI - Lansing State Journal, Thu, Dec 7, 1967 Englewood, WI - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec 12, 1965 Bottineau Winter Park, ND - The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota) · Sat, Feb 11, 1989 Skykine Skiway, ND - The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota) · Tue, Oct 30, 1990 Hidden Valley, MN - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 20, 1977 / Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec 12, 1965 Spirit Mountain, MN - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 10, 1974 Buck Hill, Burnsville, MN - liftblog.com Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN - liftblog.com Powder Ridge Ski Area, Kimball, MN - J-bar is still in use! - liftblog.com 5 Unique, Historic, & Interesting Ski Lifts In the Midwest - Midwestskiers.com More Pictures - liftblog.com Picture from Midwest Skier - The Viewers' 5 Must-Visit Midwest Ski Areas!

The Snow Valley Ski Club, Michigan, "Train" Lift ? There appears that there was some sort of "train" at Snow Valley Ski Club, in Gaylord Michigan. I don't believe that it was used in the winter to haul skiers.  It was just a summer attraction. Michigan Ski Area History Facebook Page - see comment by Casey Buckleitner "They had some kind of cog-wheel train ski lift, I cant find the pic " https://www.facebook.com/michigansforgottenskiareas/posts/1670375403886729   Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project Barb Kent comment on June 26, 2018 at 4:34 pm ".... Remember Snow Valley and the train." https://milsap.wordpress.com/regions/northeast-lower-peninsula-areas/gaylord/snow-valley-gaylord/ MWLSAP https://www.mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#snowvalley