Telemark Lodge facts for kids

The Telemark Lodge is a special resort located in the beautiful lakes area of Bayfield County, Wisconsin. It's just two miles east of the town of Cable, Wisconsin. This resort is currently owned by a company called Mount Telemark Properties.

A Look Back: Telemark's History

Telemark Lodge started as a place for downhill skiing way back in 1947. It was one of the first ski areas of its kind in the United States! A man named Tony Wise founded it.

A very large lodge building was constructed in 1972. However, the resort faced financial challenges as more ski resorts opened up and air travel became cheaper, allowing people to visit bigger mountains.

In December 1980, Telemark added a huge building called the Colosseum. This new area offered indoor tennis and improved facilities for both downhill and cross-country skiing. By 1998, some of the cross-country ski areas were no longer used.

Through the 1980s, the lodge was a popular spot for cross-country skiing. But over time, the popularity of cross-country skiing in the U.S. decreased, and Telemark faced more difficulties.

The lodge went through tough financial times, leading to it closing and reopening several times. It closed on May 5, 2010, but reopened in January 2011 after a new owner bought it. This new owner started a big renovation project. However, on April 2, 2013, the Telemark Lodge closed again due to more financial problems.

In October 2013, a company from Colorado called Newco (now known as Mount Telemark Properties LLC) bought the lodge. They found that fixing up the lodge was very expensive, so it stayed closed for the 2014 winter season.

Mount Telemark Properties has offered to give part of the property, including the lodge, to the Central Cross Country Ski Association ("CXC"). This is to help make sure the starting point for the famous American Birkebeiner ski race is saved.

The American Birkebeiner Ski Race

Telemark is famous for being the home of the American Birkebeiner! This huge cross-country skiing event was started by Tony Wise in 1973. Tony got the idea for this race from a similar event in Norway called the Birkebeiner.

Each year, thousands of skiers and spectators come to the resort for this race. It's one of the biggest yearly events for the area!

Famous Chef at Telemark

Did you know that a very famous chef, Emeril Lagasse, worked at Telemark Lodge? He was there from 1978 to 1980, before he became a well-known TV personality!

Telemark Ski Hill Facts

Here are some interesting facts about the ski hill at Telemark Resort:

• The bottom of the hill (Base) is 1,320 feet (402 meters) high.
• The top of the hill (Summit) is 1,700 feet (518 meters) high.
• The difference in height from the bottom to the top (Vertical Rise) is 380 feet (115 meters).