Old Ski Hill at Potawatomi State Park in Door County, February 27, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Despite the lack of snow, an effort is underway to restore an old ski hill in Door County.
When Dana Wangerin strolls through the brush at the bottom of the hill, he says he sees possibilities all around.
“The more people I talked to, the more receptive it was. Sat down about three months ago, and said let’s make a conscious effort to get this hill back up and running. And I think all the pieces are there,” said Dana Wangerin, Restore Potawatomi State Park Ski Hill Chairman.
A non-profit group operated the Old Ski Hill at Potawatomi State Park from about the 1950s to the late 1990s. Now, Wangerin and others want to open the site again. He says the multi-phased project includes rope tows, portable tents called yurts, lights, snow making and snow grooming equipment.
“The first step is to get the DNR to look at our proposal for a feasibility, and then they have to okay that,” he said.
Potawatomi State Park owns the ski hill property, Superintendent Erin Brown Stender says the park’s Master Plan allows for winter use development there.
“We want to have some good information that the local area can support or have interest in a recreational opportunity like that. And then, we’re looking at an outside group to develop, operate, and maintain that sort of an operation,” said Erin Brown Stender, Potawatomi State Park Superintendent.
If the DNR approves the feasibility study, Dana Wangerin says a non-profit group will form, and fundraising will begin. The group plans to discuss any progress at its next meeting, on March 26.
“I’m very excited. Everybody’s positive about it. It’s an excellent thing for the community, and I think we need it,” he said.
The project is in its very early stages.
If all goes according to plan, organizers say they hope to be downhill skiing at Potawatomi State Park, in a couple of years.
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