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ARCHIVES
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Special Edition 10
December 10, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 10
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Issue 9
November 26, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 9
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Issue 8
October 29, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 8
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Issue 7
October 2, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 7
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Issue 6
September 5, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 6
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Special Edition 5
August 16, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 5
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Issue 4
July 29, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 4
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Issue 3
June 28, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 3
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Issue 2
May 23, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 2
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Introductory Issue
April 17, 2002
Vol. 1
Issue 1
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Winter Tourism in Michigan
By Carol Potter, Executive Director, Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau
 Back in the late thirties, farsighted local visionaries realized that a range of hills west of Cadillac in a natural snow belt and located in a highland had huge potential for the new Scandinavian sport of skiing that was sweeping the country as soldiers returned from mountain expeditions in Europe. Caberfae Peaks was the first ski resort to open in the Midwest, following the development of a few resorts in the East and West.
The beginning of skiing in Michigan turned sleepy tourist towns that were accustomed to attracting visitors only during the warm weather months into bustling big league destinations as ski trains and ski busses brought recreationalists from the major metropolitan areas during the winter months.
Today, if one just happens to be traveling north on either I-75 or M-131 he or she can experience the effect of winter tourism in Michigan. Cars, trucks and SUV’s form huge caravans with skiis and snowboards fastened on the top and trailers hauling snowmobiles on every second or third vehicle on these “snow corridors”. Occasionally, a truck with dogs and dog sleds are part of this winter parade, and new winter activities are being developed yearly as folks head to snow country to actively enjoy the beauty of winter.
Winter tourism is a very visible economic force throughout northern Michigan, first, by the equipment attached to the vehicles that bring the recreationalists to our towns, and once they are here, we see motel parking lots filled with cars, gas stations lined up with snowmobiles, waiting lists at restaurants, and lines at party stores, grocery stores and fast food restaurants.
Traveling on the back roads, one can often spot cross-country skiers skimming along trails that border the lakes and forests of Northern Michigan or be joined by a line of snowmobilers along the side of the road. Snowshoes transport users to parts of the forests and rivers that no other means of transportation can deliver, and their users enjoy a new/old winter sport that is experiencing renewed popularity. It is the lure of the pristine winters with the beautiful vistas of snowy fields, forests and lakes that attract winter lovers to northern Michigan with all these different forms of recreation.
Once these snow sports were well established in the winter towns, it became apparent that festivals attracted even more people. There are now festivals in almost every town, and they encompass every possible winter activity from ice fishing at Tip Up Town, snowmobiling at the North American Snowmobile Festival in Cadillac, dog sledding at Mackinaw City to the world famous Winter Carnival at Houghton. Activities and events abound almost every weekend and variations of the basic sports add even more visitors. New kids on the block to the winter scene are the Snowcross Racing circuits that bring hundreds of racers and even more spectators to towns all across the North. Ice Motorcycle Racing attracts downstaters, and snowboarders are shredding through competitions at every ski resort in the state. Even a relatively new winter activity like snowmobiling has gained legendary status as vintage snowmobile gatherings are held at resorts throughout the north.
So, we turtlenecked and sweatered tourism promoters are obsessively looking out the window from mid-November until the end of March, anxiously expecting the next winter snowfall. “Lake Effect Snow” are our favorite words, and we know that perfect blizzards start in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois on Wednesdays and dump snow all the way to Canada and bring visitors following along right behind the snowstorm. We watch every possible TV weatherman, we listen to every radio station, we scour the Internet for a positive forecast, and we do our snow dances in the streets. We are at our computers e-blasting our snow depths, ice depths, and trail conditions to snow lovers all across the Midwest. We are annually convincing weathermen that “Snow is Good,” and we dream of perfect winters when it snows all night and the sun is shining every day. We dream of having a White Thanksgiving and one our favorite lines is “So long, brown ground!”
We know that there are many different types of snow, such as “Stickin’ Snow” that is self explanatory; “Flaky Snow” that just blows around; and heavy, wet (concrete) snow that makes driving tough but wonderfully builds up the bases on the trails and ski hills. We know that there are “ White Outs”, Winter Storm Watches, Snow Advisories, Winter Snow Warnings and the dreaded “Wind Chill,” but there’s also “Snog” and “Snirt” which when translated mean “Snow and Fog” and “Snow and Dirt”.
Our collective moods depend on the snow and cold weather. Sometimes there is a depression hanging over us that only a good blizzard can cure. But when it does finally snow, the mood lifts, everyone is jumping for joy, the parade of the yellow snowplows heads out, and the visitors start pouring in. The pillows are softer when it snows, the food tastes better in the restaurants when it snows, the hills are groomed to perfection with a fresh snow, the trails are manicured, snow farming is under way and nothing can compare to a fine winter day in northern Michigan!
Yes, winter tourism has a significant impact on our economy. We’ve come a long way from wooden skis and ice-skating on our frozen lakes. Michigan has embraced this season and responded to the call of the active Midwestern residents with all our development and is definitely a significant player in the winter sports arena.
BRING ON THE SNOW!
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