Demolition Begins At Abandoned Minnesota Ski Area

Hubbard County, Minnesota — As one era officially comes to an end at an abandoned Minnesota ski area, another is set to begin.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that demolition is underway on the old facilities that made up the Val Chatel ski area. The demolition is ongoing on the old ampitheatre. Later this year, the old base lodge will be demolished. Before the lodge can be taken down, though, workers will need to remove asbestos from the structure.

In 2022, it was announced that the old ski area would be converted into a public park. However, a few factors delayed its opening, which was originally scheduled to happen in 2024. The first was to check to see if there were any archaeological finds in the area, but nothing was found. The second factor was the discovery of asbestos in the base lodge.

An anonymous donor helped the Trust for Public Land buy the property in 2022 for $1.8 million. The individual proceeded to donate the land to Hubbard County.

Some of the planned activities at Deep Lake Regional Park include hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, and camping. The goal is to open the property by the end of this year for public usage. After that, the goal is to open more structures there. This will include a campground and cabins, which will allow for overnight guests to stay on the property. In addition, a fishing pier is palnned to be installed in the spring of 2026.

History Of Val Chatel Ski Area

Opened by the Petersen family in the mid-1950s, Val Chatel was home to one of the first chairlifts in Minnesota. While the ski runs were short, many still have fond memories of the ski area. It closed in 1984 due to inconsistent weather. Interestingly, its last usage was for a Viking-themed show on Deep Lake. The amphitheater would seat guests who watched reenactments with Viking ships. After that, it remained abandoned for decades. Now, it seems like a new generation will be able to create memories there.