Mont Ripley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mont Ripley Ski Area |
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View looking east towards Michigan Tech and Portage Lake on a clear day
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 Mont Ripley Ski Area
Location in Michigan
Mont Ripley Ski Area
Location in the United States
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| Location | Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°08′N 88°34′W / 47.13°N 88.56°W |
| Vertical | 440 ft (134 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,140 ft (350 m) AMSL |
| Base elevation | 700 ft (210 m) AMSL |
| Skiable area | 112 acres (0.2 sq mi; 0.5 km2) |
| Runs | 24 21% easiest 29% more difficult 50% most difficult |
| Longest run | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) |
| Lift system | 2 chairlifts, 1 tow |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 275 inches (22.9 ft; 7.0 m) |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | Yes |
Mont Ripley Ski Area is a fun place to ski and snowboard in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. People often call it Mont Ripley or just Ripley. It's located near the towns of Hancock and Houghton.
This ski hill is owned by Michigan Technological University. It was started a long time ago in the early 1900s. Thanks to special machines that make snow, the ski season now lasts from late November until late March or early April.
Mont Ripley is known for its exciting slopes and amazing views. You can see Houghton, Portage Lake, and the Huron Mountains from the hill. It's also a popular spot for ski racers to practice and compete.
A Look at Mont Ripley's History
Mont Ripley first opened its slopes in 1934. A few years later, in 1944, Michigan Technological University took over ownership.
In 2006, a new building was added to help with crowds. This new chalet has a cozy fireplace and more places to sit. It also has extra lockers for your gear. This building is often used for special events like races and parties. That same year, Mont Ripley bought eight more snow-making machines. These helped them open all the ski runs earlier in the season.
Also in 2006, a second chairlift was bought. It was named the "Copper Hoist." This new lift was built on the east side of the hill in 2007. It made it much easier for skiers and snowboarders to reach those runs. This brought the total number of lifts to three: two chairlifts and one T-bar.
On June 17, 2018, a big flood caused damage to two ski runs on the eastern side. These runs were called Powderstash and Deer Track Trail. Workers repaired both runs during the summer of 2022. They were ready for skiers and snowboarders again the following winter.
How Mont Ripley Has Grown Over Time
Mont Ripley has been a part of Michigan Tech since the early 1940s. This makes it the oldest ski area in Michigan! It's a very important place for fun in the Houghton-Hancock area. The hill has changed and improved a lot over the years. It continues to be a modern place for skiing and snowboarding.
- 1936 - Mont Ripley started its own local Ski Patrol team.
- 1938 - Mont Ripley joined the National Ski Patrol.
- 1941 - Alpine skiing became a varsity sport at the Michigan College of Mining.
- 1945 - The Michigan College of Mining and Technology rented land from the Quincy Mining Company. This helped them make the ski area bigger.
- 1948 - Mont Ripley put up six bright lights. These lights helped people ski at night along the tow line.
- 1965 - A T-bar lift was installed. This lift is still used today!
- 1965 - A company was hired to build a main building, called a chalet, at the bottom of the hill.
- 1971 - The first chairlift was installed. It was placed west of the T-bar. This lift could carry 1100 skiers every hour. It is still working and is called the Husky Chair Lift.
- 1997 - A new lighting system was put in place. This allowed for night skiing across the entire hill.
- 2007 - The second two-seat chairlift was installed east of the T-bar. It was named the Copper Hoist. This chairlift was brought from a ski resort in California and fixed up.
