Sleeping Giant Ski Area has announced that the ski area will suspend its winter operations following this season.
The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon by Yellowstone Recreations Foundation manager Amy Woods.
“The support from the community has been remarkable; however, the number of skiers and snowboarders we currently attract does not make winter operations financially feasible as we run a deficit of over $200,000 per year,” Woods said. “The decision is agonizing but necessary.”
Sleeping Giant Ski Area is run as a nonprofit 501(c)3 but is still running a deficit of over $200,000 per year.
Sleeping Giant reopened in 2009 after it closed in 2004. It has roots dating back to the 1930s when it was known as the Red Star ski area and operated across the highway from the current location.
Unfortunately for the little ski hill, people are just not showing up to go skiing. According to James Patrick, head of ski patrol and interim general manager, skier visits have increased since reopening, with around 6,000 last season.
To put that in perspective, major national ski areas like Big Sky and Breckenridge see about 20,000 customers on a single busy day.