Sleeping Giant Ski Area, the once-defunct hill just outside of Yellowstone's east entrance, has raised enough money to open for the winter of 2009-10.
Yellowstone Recreations Foundation, the nonprofit entity that governs the hill, received a $500,000 grant from the Wyoming Business Council at the end of 2008 - if the group could raise $800,000 by May 1 to match it.
It was a seemingly impossible task, especially in the current economy, but the community - individuals, service organizations, businesses, etc. - really stepped up.
I have signed up to take ski patrol classes this fall. The hill will have an all-volunteer patrol, and I figure it's a good way to contribute to its success, learn a lot, get to know the hill's management and get a lot of (free) days in next winter.
The ski area opened in 1936 and was closed in 2004 when the Forest Service revoked its special-use permit. For a pretty good recount of the history of the hill, see
www.coloradoskihistory.com(I know it's
Colorado ski history, but it is a good synopsis of Sleeping Giant).
Here are interesting articles about small, community ski areas:
Small ski resorts struggling
Profitability a slippery slope for small resorts
Hometown ski hills have family-friendly appeal
Following the saga of Sleeping Giant:
Billings Gazette
Sleeping Giant ski area won't open this winter
Multiple problems force shutdown of Cody area ski resort
Ski area under contract
Sleeping Giant sale hits snag
Sleeping Giant ski area's permit revoked
Ski area appeals loss of permit
Group hopes to reopen Sleeping Giant ski area
Plan aims to reawaken Sleeping Giant ski area
Objective: Open ski area by Thanksgiving
Group raising funds for ski area
Slow fundraising pace may delay ski area opening
Sleeping Giant to stay asleep
State approves ski area grant
Slumbering resort nears its funding goal
County proposes forest funds for ski area
Sleeping Giant backers closing in on goal
Sleeping Giant meets funding goal
Cody Enterprise
Sleeping Giant 'sold' to Cody group
Ski area foundation raising $3M for upgrade, operations
Sleeping Giant Ski Area won't reopen this winter
Ski area closes gap
Should county back ski area?
Powell Tribune
Investors plan to revive Wyo. ski area (Powell Tribune story on RMN Web site)
Sleeping Giant hoping to open Thanksgiving
Sleeping Giant hits snooze
County votes to fund Sleeping Giant ski area
Sleeping Giant: $18,000 to go
Sleeping Giant reaches goal