As the snow continues to fall around northern michigan, ski season is about to begin. Starting Tuesday, resorts in the area will begin to open their doors.
"With the weather the way its been, we're very excited that we've had the opportunity to have some snow and get skiers and snow boarders back on the slopes," Boyne Highlands President and General Manager Brad Keen said.
Monday snow was blasted onto the hills here at Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs. Tuesday they will have the first open slope in Northern Michigan, which will kick off the snow sports season which generates nearly six billion dollars around the state each year.
"Once fall comes in and out, everyone's excited to get on the slopes. So It's very important for us to get the slopes open for people skiing and snow boarding and it also energizes reservations and gets people excited about making plans to come up here in December and January and the rest of winter," Keen said.
Last year, the industry saw a decent drop-off in skiers due to the mild winter. Resorts like Nub's Nob are looking to bounce back and get started early with this perfect winter weather.
"We're hopeful we get more snow than we had last year and a longer season. Folks will get lots of opportunity to come out and ski and snow board and get in the woods to cross country ski also," Nub's Nob General Manager Jim Bartlett said.
Ski season doesn't only effect the resorts. Local restaurants, hotels, and businesses will all see the benefit of an early season.
"It's a much better start than we had last year. We didn't get open last year until tenth of December so this is good for everybody in Northern Michigan," Bartlett said.
If you are already starting to plan your trip. Boyne Highlands will be open starting Tuesday. Boyne Mountain will open Friday and Nub's Nob on Saturday. Shanty Creek is holding off until December 14th, and Crystal Mountain has yet to announce their opening.
