Rib Mountain Winter Sports Area (as it was called then) becomes the first major Midwest Ski Area to offer night skiing!Ģ8 large spotlights ranging from 500 to 1500 watts in capacity are mounted on seven poles on the lower open slopes. The new "machine-made" snow will take some time and years to perfect but it becomes one of the standards of ski operations across the country.ġ955 - NIGHT SKIING BEGINS AT RIB MOUNTAIN Snowmaking equipment was invented in the Catskills of New York at Hunter Mountain. New Technology Evolvesġ954 - SNOWMAKING CHANGES THE INDUSTRY FOREVER Some of the land was dedicated for ski area use but most of the land was added to the general use portion of the Park. Additional parcels were acquired by the State. The Chamber aggressively marketed the ski hill to Chicago, Milwaukee, and the surrounding towns in Wisconsin. Over the next two decades the Chamber, through the MCCC and the State, through the State Conservation Commission, and later the Department of Natural Resources, worked together to run the ski hill, finance projects, and develop it. “Snow Reporting” is started! Reports are dispatched are wired to Milwaulkee and Chicago and more by a local Camp Rib Mountain Youth.ġ941 - 40 MORE ACRES EXPANDS THE SKI AREA TO THE WEST A toboggan slide is also begun with water pipes installed to the top of the mountain in order to ice the slide over. Ski Trains are scheduled from Milwaulkee and Chicago through the season. The building which cost $32,000 to complete still stands and is the “Historic Chalet.”Īfter a number of lackluster snow seasons, 1940 breaks through providing snow-covered slopes from November through March. The shelter house, probably the finest structure of its kind in the midwest states,” as described in the Wausau Daily Record Herald, hosted members of the Wausau Ski Club for the first official function of the lodge featuring a dance, fashion show, and exhibition of winter sports equipment. Theatre tickets were sold for fundraising and in December 1938 the building construction began. The first function was to raise funds for a permanent ski lodge/chalet. The MCCC was “To operate exclusively for charitable, educational or recreational purposes and, in specific areas within the county and to handle all financial matters relating to, but not limited to the Rib Mountain State Park and Rib Mountain Winter Ski Area. The Marathon County Civic Corporation, a 501 (c) non-profit created by the Chamber of Commerce. (Yes he is related to the famous Pabst family, his Grandfather was the founder of Pabst Brewing Co of PBR Fame!)ġ938 - THE MARATHON COUNTY CIVIC CORPORATION Renowned for his creation of J-Bars and T-bars, he owned and operated 17 different ski areas at one time! In 1969 he was elected to the U.S. The area also had a very small 20' by 60' base chalet for skiers to warm up in.Īt the time, the new ski tow at Rib Mountain was the longest ski lift in the country.Ī local businessman, Fred Pabst, operated the ski area from inception through 1947.įred was a pioneer in the ski industry. The ski area opened with six runs and a half-mile long lift powered by an 85 horsepower Ford V-8 motor with a standard truck transmission. The Rib Mountain Ski Area opened in 1937 with 160 acres. Sun Valley in Idaho had become the nation's first ski area in the western states in 1936. Stowe in Vermont had opened a few years earlier in 1934. When the ski area opened on the slopes of Rib Mountain, it was one of the first ski areas in North America. WINTER 1937/1938 - SKIING BEGINS THE WINTER The Kiwanis Club raised funds for the purchase of an additional 40 acres for the ski area in 1937. The State subsequently acquired another 120 acres.ġ936 & 1937 - THE STATE DEDICATES A PORTION OF THE PARK TO EXPLORE SKI OPERATIONS. The Wausau Kiwanis Club donated a few acres of land to the State. The historical timeline of skiing on the side of Rib Mountain and at Granite Peak is below and we'll continue to add to it every year! The Early Years The passion of winter enthusiasts saw the opportunity to use this natural wonder in their backyard for fun, exercise, and business.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |