Odawa donated funds to Petoskey Snowmobile Club to make the new trail possible
PETOSKEY, MI -- Before we know it, Northern Michigan is going to be transformed into a winter wonderland, and for snowmobilers, it can't happen soon enough.
New this year, a trail will lead them to a city that's been out of the loop for quite a while.
An investment was made that the community is hoping will reap awards.
"When people find out about it, I think it's going to be a moving thing, I really do, it's really going to help out the winter situation up here," said Petoskey Snowmobile Club member Jim Yell.
It’s known downstate as a summer destination, but Jim Yell, a member of the Petoskey Snowmobile Club hopes a new project will make Petoskey a year-round destination. It's been quite a while since a snowmobile trail led to Petoskey, and after a lot of hard work, and everything seeming to fall in place, this year, it's a go.
"We want to expand that, and capitalize in snow country, and be seasonal in the winter, and expand to the winter," said LTTB-Odawa Tribal Chairman Ken Harrington.
The Odawa tribe gave the Petoskey Snowmobile Club $23,000 to connect Petoskey with the State Trailhead, which is about five miles from the city. The new trailhead will start here, in the old Victories Casino, which has plenty of un-used parking spaces, will pass a gas station, and connect with Petoskey.
The hope is the new trail will revitalize snowmobiling in the Petoskey community, and with it, bring more people and more business during the winter months.
"Snow in Northern Michigan on its own is like white gold from God. We're thrilled when it snows. And the snowmobile trail is going to be an added incentive for people to come visit us in Northern Michigan," said Diane Dakins, Petoskey Area Visitor’s Bureau.
And the trail will be a gateway to the two-billion dollar snowmobiling industry.
The snowmobile club says it's been a community-wide collaboration to make the trail happen.
The five mile stretch crosses county, township, city, and private property.
