Just found out that Steeplechase Ski Resort in Minnesota is non-operational and has been for sometime.
I was checking out the map for that very reason and when I clicked the Steeplechase star the page that opened up was a default page indicating the website was down. When I followed up on the whois data one number was not in service and contacting the technical contact led me to discover this information.
When I look at Steeplechase’s location it is no wonder why it closed. That part of Minnesota is flat and sparsely populated and the population that is there is probably older too.
So, in order to deal with this situation the Steeplechase star on the map directs you back to the Wisconsin Skier map. I will have to look into blanking the star out.
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2 Comments
Actually, Steeplechase was a nice little ski resort. Good hills for the area, close to Rochester, MN.
The reason they closed was really 2 fold. There are (by my count) 4 other more established (and larger) ski areas within 45 miles of them; competition was pretty steep. However, they were still busy their first 2 years.
The 3rd year was exceptionally warm, and if memory serves, they were maybe open 2 months, and missed all of Christmas break for the schools. The larger area can weather a warm winter, but being they were so new, and a mom & pop shop…I just don’t think they could carry the debt load and went under.
Anyway…it wasn’t an ‘older population’ thing, or flat, the Zumbro River gave them some (granted) smaller, but nice hills for the price.
Using the church as their lodge was cool too.
Dor,
Thanks for the perspective and the comment, really appreciate it.
Still, it is a sad thing. Blackjack in the UP of Michigan nearly went away, fortunately, another group of ski hill owners picked it up and is keeping it going. Again, there is a lot of ski resort choice in the area.
Hope you become a regular here!
Thanks again, The Wisconsin Skier.