Beloved Michigan Ski Resort to Reopen as Public Parkland

A beloved Michigan resort is finally set to reopen as a public parkland. 

After years of waiting, the newly refurbished Sugar Loaf Scenic Area in Cedar, Michigan, will finally open to the public on October 9. Sugar Loaf had formerly been a popular winter destination in the Mitten State, but had sat dormant for over two decades following its closure. Now, owned by the Leelanau Conservancy, the mountain is finding new life as a hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and backcountry skiing area.

The scenic area’s grand opening will take place on October 9 from 5 p.m. until dusk. 

“Explore the new Summit Trail, take in the views, chat with Conservancy staff and spend an autumn evening experiencing Sugar Loaf together,” the Leelanau Conservancy wrote in its grand opening announcement. 

• Related: Leelanau Conservancy Seeks to Revitalize Michigan’s Abandoned Sugar Loaf Ski Area for Public Access

Sugar Loaf first opened as a ski resort in 1947 as the Sugar Loaf Winter Sports Club. It was founded by three Leelanau County locals — Stanley Ball, Hans Teichner, and Art Huey — who operated the resort’s tow ropes and warming hut. The resort was later forced to close in 1950 and remained closed until 1962.

When Jim and Pat Ganter purchased the resort in 1962, its transformation began. They reopened it as the Sugar Loaf Resort and added a hotel, indoor tennis, a golf course, a 3,500-foot paved airstrip, 72 townhouses, and a wastewater treatment plant. Its upgrades made it a modern ski resort, and the 1970s were the resort’s heyday. Thousands of skiers flocked to the resort each year, enjoying its Lake Michigan views, extensive terrain, and elite lodging offerings. But after the ’70s passed, the resort was passed from one owner to the next, and it began to decline.

In 1981, the resort was taken over by Empire Bank after high interest rates and poor winter weather forced the Ganters to default on a loan. Later that year, an investment group acquired Sugar Loaf for $ 7.5 million, including the lodge and hotel, one golf course, the airstrip, wastewater treatment plant, and 1,600 acres. The bank reacquired the resort in 1997, but the investment group retained the golf course and the wastewater treatment facility. Remo Polselli purchased the resort later that year, before eventually shutting it down in 2000 due to financial neglect, poor management, and consecutive warm winters that led to mounting debts.

• Related: Mount Bohemia, MI, to Open New Backcountry Terrain

Following the resort’s closure in 2000, it continued to hop from owner to owner. Its lodging building, along with all outbuildings and amenities, including all skiing facilities, were torn down between 2021 and 2022. The resort was nearly fully returned to its natural state, with the only thing left standing being the runway.

Importantly, the resort had been acquired in 2020 by an LLC called SPV 445, whose owners were anonymous for multiple years. According to The Leelanau Ticker, the LLC turned out to be a subsidiary of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation. The Ball family has ties to Sugar Loaf that date back to the ski resort’s earliest days and funded the demolition of the resort’s infrastructure.

Last summer, the Leelanau Conservancy announced SPV 445’s plan to gift the Sugar Loaf property to the conservancy, under the requirement that it raise $8 million for its plan. The Conservancy reached that goal in September, and the ownership was transferred.

“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation, donors, partners, and supporters, the mountain will now be stewarded for the benefit of the community and the natural environment forever,” the Conservancy wrote. 

With ownership acquired and $8 million raised, the Conservancy transformed the land into a mecca of Michigan’s natural environment. The Conservancy’s plan for the land included:

• A publicly accessible trail network for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
• Universal access features include a universal access loop trail for people with restricted mobility.
• A summit pavilion for scenic views.
• Family-friendly features include a sledding hill, a nature play area, and an outdoor gathering space.
• Ecological restoration to protect native species, reduce erosion, and improve water quality in the Good Harbor Bay Watershed.

With the plan now complete and a grand opening date set, northern Michiganders can celebrate the rebirth of Sugar Loaf as an area full of scenic views, recreation, and conservation. Visitors to the scenic area on October 9 can enjoy the mountain’s views, trails, as well as take the opportunity to chat with staff. Michigan’s fall is in full swing. Soon, the leaves will begin to change, turning the area into a beautiful, painting-like panorama of vibrant color. So, for Michiganders looking for a place to spend a fall day taking in incredible views, the Sugar Loaf Scenic Area’s grand opening could not be a better option.