Ownership Remains Local at Michigan’s Big Powderhorn Resort

Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Bessinger, Michigan, has new owners, and they’re local. Incoming co-owners Alex Young and Brent Noren, the latter the son of former owner and General Manager Bruce Noren, will ensure the ownership transition is smooth. Brent grew up working on the mountain in an array of roles from grooming to lift operations and ultimately, resort management. His personal connections lend credence to the goal of preserving the mountain’s independence and community feel. Powderhorn is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, about eight miles from the Wisconsin border. Infrastructure upgrades are already in progress, with eight new snow guns added to the mountain’s existing system.

On the Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Facebook account, Alex Young said, “We don’t necessarily want to make a big splash, or have a bunch of trumpets about this transition, we are more interested in keeping our noses down and working hard – demonstrating our commitment to doing the absolute best we can for our Big Powderhorn family.” The small ski area consists of 45 runs, nine double chairlifts, and 253 skiable acres. The mountain also features two terrain parks and two restaurants. A unique part about the lift system is that all nine lifts are fixed-grip, and built by Riblet Tramway Company. The mountain’s newest chairlift was built and installed in 1993.

Riblet Tramway Company was founded in 1908 by Bryon Riblet in Spokane, Washington. As high-speed detachable lifts started taking over the industry, the company closed in 2003. Throughout its existence, Riblet was one of the largest lift manufacturers in the world, and built hundreds of fixed-grip double and triple lifts. Riblet’s debut chairlift was the monumental Magic Mile lift at Timberline Lodge, widely acclaimed for having the longest ski season on the continent. Riblet also built the world’s first triple chairlift at Boyne Highlands, Michigan, in the early 1960s.

The new ownership at Big Powderhorn marks the beginning of a new chapter for the local mountain, building upon the previous owners’ steady stewardship. Young and Noren will continue growing and running the Michigan ski area, while ensuring it maintains its local, independent character. Paired with its 204-inch average annual snowfall, the mountain’s snowmaking system provides solid, reliable snow coverage. Due to its location near Lake Superior in the upper peninsula of Michigan, the resort is optimally situated for heavy lake effect snowfall. Future resort plans remain to be determined as skiers await what new ownership has to offer at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort.