{{Short description|Ski area in Michigan, United States}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox ski area | name = Mont Ripley Ski Area | image = Ripley_bluebird.jpg | image_alt = Bluebird day at Mont Ripley | caption = View looking east towards Michigan Tech and Portage Lake on a clear day | location = [[Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan]], United States | pushpin_map = Michigan#United States | coordinates = {{coord|47.13|N|88.56|W|type:landmark_region:US-MI_scale:20000|display=inline,title}} | status = Operating | map_caption = Location in [[Michigan]]##Location in the [[United States]] | pushpin_relief = 1 | owner = [[Michigan Technological University]] | vertical = {{convert|440|ft|0|abbr=on}} | top_elevation = {{convert|1140|ft|abbr=on}} [[Height above mean sea level|AMSL]] | base_elevation = {{convert|700|ft|abbr=on}} [[Height above mean sea level|AMSL]] | skiable_area = {{convert|112|acre|sqmi km2|1|abbr=on}} | number_trails = 31<br>[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg|13px]] 16% easiest <br>[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg|13px]] 35% more difficult <br>[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg|13px]] 42% most difficult <br>[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg|13px]] 6% expert only | longest_run = {{convert|0.7|mi|1|abbr=on}} | liftsystem = 2 [[chairlift]]s, 1 [[Ski tow|tow]]<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://liftblog.com/mont-ripley-mi/ |title = Mont Ripley, MI |date = May 18, 2021 }}</ref> | terrainparks = 2 | snowfall = {{convert|275|in|ft m|1}} | snowmaking = Yes | nightskiing = Yes | website = {{URL|www.mtu.edu/mont-ripley}} }}
'''Mont Ripley Ski Area''' (Often shortened to '''Mont Ripley''', or simply '''Ripley''') is a ski hill located in [[Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan|Franklin Township]], Houghton County, in Michigan's [[Upper Peninsula]]. The site is just outside the cities of [[Hancock, Michigan|Hancock]] and [[Houghton, Michigan|Houghton]]. It is owned by [[Michigan Technological University]]. It was founded in the early 1900s by Fred Pabst Jr. (and managed by Fred Lonsdorf<ref>{{cite book |first1 = Bob |last1 = Bishop |last2 = Whitlock |first2 = Flint |name-list-style = amp |title = Soldiers on Skis: A Pictorial History of the 10th Mountain Division |publisher = Paladin Press |isbn = 0-87364-676-2 |page = 191 |year = 1993 }}</ref>). With the addition of [[snow making]] in 2000, the season has been extended from late November to late March or early April.
Mont Ripley is known for its challenging terrain and views of [[Houghton, Michigan|Houghton]] and [[Portage Lake (Keweenaw)|Portage Lake]]. It is also commonly used by racers.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
==History== [[File:Mont Ripley in Winter.jpg|thumb|left|Whole of Mont Ripley in January 2012, with the [[Quincy Smelter]] in the foreground]] Mont Ripley opened in 1934. In 1944 it was taken over by Michigan Technological University.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Mont Ripley, Michigan |magazine = Ski |date = November 1974 |page = 59 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UTTr2R42Yd8C&pg=PA51 |language = en }}</ref>
In 2006, a new building was built to ease congestion in the main chalet. The new chalet has a gas fireplace and added seating, as well as more lockers. It is mainly used for special events such as races and parties. Mont Ripley also purchased eight more snow making guns to add to their capability to get all the runs open earlier in the season.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
Also in 2006, a second chair lift, dubbed the "Copper Hoist", was purchased and was built on the east side of the hill in 2007, making it easier for skiers and snowboarders to use those runs, raising the lift count to three (2 chair lifts and one t-bar)
A flood on June 17, 2018, significantly damaged the two easternmost ski runs on the hill (Powderstash and Deer Track Trail).<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.mininggazette.com/news/2018/07/eastern-runs-out-at-ripley/ |title = Eastern runs out at Ripley |work = The Daily Mining Gazette |location = Houghton, Michigan |last = Katerberg |first = Kali |date = July 31, 2018 |access-date = August 1, 2018 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20180801184946/http://www.mininggazette.com/news/2018/07/eastern-runs-out-at-ripley/ |archive-date = August 1, 2018 |url-status = live }}</ref> Both runs were repaired during the summer of 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title = Mont Ripley |url = https://m.facebook.com/login.php?next=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2FMontRipley%2Fposts%2F5407895779253467%2F&refsrc=deprecated&_rdr |access-date = March 18, 2024 |via = Facebook |language = en }}</ref> and reopened the following winter.
== Hill modifications through the years == Mont Ripley has been a part of Michigan Tech since the early 1940s giving it the distinction as the oldest ski area in Michigan and becoming an important recreational feature of the Houghton-Hancock area.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} The hill has experienced a series of evolutionary modifications since its creation, and continues to operate as a modern ski facility. [[File:Mont Ripley.jpg|thumb|Western portion of Mont Ripley Ski Area in autumn|left]] [[File:View of the Portage River from Mont Ripley.png|thumb|View of the [[Keweenaw Waterway|Portage Canal]] from Mont Ripley during Autumn|left]] * 1936 - Mont Ripley Forms local Ski Patrol * 1938 - Mont Ripley becomes a Member of the [[National Ski Patrol]]. * 1941 - Alpine becomes a varsity sport at the Michigan College of Mining. * 1945 - The Michigan College of Mining and Technology leases land from the [[Quincy Mine|Quincy Mining Company]] for $1.00 per year to expand the operational area. * 1948 - Mont Ripley installs six 1500 watt lights to illuminate the tow line for night skiing. * 1965 - A T-bar lift is installed, continuing operation today. * 1965 - W. F. Milford & Son are contracted to build a chalet at the base of the hill. * 1971 - The first chairlift is installed at Mont Ripley west of the T-bar, with a capacity of 1100 skiers per hour. This lift is still operational and is named the Husky Chair Lift. * 1997 - An all hill illumination system is installed, allowing for full night skiing capabilities. * 2007 - The second two-seat chairlift is installed east of the T-bar, which is named the Copper Hoist. This chairlift was purchased from Big Bear ski resort in California, and refurbished by Superior Tramway.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Call |first1 = S. Michael |title = Ski Area Safety Board Board Meeting Minutes |url = http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcsc/forms/ski/100507.pdf |publisher = Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Bureau of Commercial Services – Licensing Division |access-date = December 9, 2014 |ref = 3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first = Erik |last = Nordberg |title = Mont Ripley Ski Hill Chronology |isbn = <!--MTU V.F.--> |year = 1999 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.skimontripley.com Mont Ripley] - Official site * [http://patrol.students.mtu.edu/ Mont Ripley Ski Patrol] - Official site
{{Michigan Technological University}} {{Mountains of Michigan}}
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Houghton County, Michigan]] [[Category:Michigan Technological University]] [[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Michigan]] [[Category:Sports venues in Michigan]] [[Category:Mountains of Michigan|Ripley]] [[Category:Landforms of Houghton County, Michigan]]