Over the last week I gave a brief evaluation of the various season pass offerings, prices & benefits at ski resorts all across Michigan (Metro-Detroit, West Side, Northern Lower Peninsula, and Upper Peninsula). Well, it seems I missed a few, errr, eight, so I’m going to make up for that.
My opinion on this list of misfit ski areas is that Timber Ridge takes the cake, you don’t see very many 50-footers in Michigan, the park looks respectable and their season pass prices are awesome.
Anyways, here’s the ones I left out:
Apple Mountain
Located in central Michigan (Freeland), Apple Mountain is one of the smaller ski areas but daily lift tickets go for $25 or less. They haven’t posted season pass pricing for 2010-11 yet, but I would estimate something in the $300 range for early bird pricing (before October 31).
Challenge Mountain
Challenge Mountain in Boyne City is “a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the physically impaired, mentally challenged, and at risk youth achieve their maximum potential through adaptive outdoor recreation”. No season passes or general public admission, skiers/riders must make appointments in advance.
Hanson Hills Recreation Area
The first downhill ski area in Michigan, Hanson Hills is a public park in Grayling, Michigan. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Christmas week, it’s not a full-service area, but they run some good deals. On Fridays all season long beginning January 7, 2011 you can get $1 lift tickets and rentals . At that price, who needs a season pass? If you want to spring for the season pass, they are $125 or $85 for residents.
They have a small terrain park that occasionally hosts comps.
Hickory Hills
Located in Traverse City, Hickory Hills is only 240′ on 8 trails serviced by rope-tow only. Part of the Traverse City Parks & Rec, it’s a public hill. The TC website doesn’t say anything about it.
Mt Zion
At only 300 feet it’s small for the UP. Located in Ironwood, dirt cheap $18 lift tickets and $175 season passes were the going fare for 2009/2010 season. Local community college students and seniors ride or ski for free.
Mulligan’s Hollow ski Bowl
On the state’s West coast in Grand Haven, at only 150 vertical feet, Mulligan’s Hollow ski bowl is a tiny (even by Midwest standards) winter park. Open Thursday-Sunday, Tuesdays for 18+ only, school holidays and snow days, prices are low enough that you probably don’t need a season pass: $10 Tuesday, $12 Thursday/Friday, $14 Saturday/Sunday/Holiday. No season pass is available, but a season discount card is available for about $65, which entitles you to $5 lift tickets. Discount cards are only available before Christmas.
Pando Winter Sports Park
The smallest park in Michigan, Pando winter park in Rockford is only 125 feet top-to-bottom so it looks like an option if you want to take your kids out for some lessons or snow-tubing. Otherwise, there are several larger alpine facilities in the Grand Rapids vicinity. Lift tickets are cheap, season passes not an option.
Timber Ridge Ski area
Midway between K-zoo and South Haven you’ll find Timber Ridge Ski area is another one of those sub-300 vertical foot hills that you find scattered across the midwest. Season passes are available beginning at $239, with progressive discounts for multiple passes, so it’s an affordable option for you west-siders.
Like many of the smaller areas, Timbe Ridge seems focused on maintaining decent terrain parks, which include features like 50′ kickers, log-slides, quarterpipes and a brand-new 28′ double kink handrail.
