Traverse City’s nonprofit ski area Mt. Holiday has launched a summer fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $100,000 by August 23rd to help keep winter and year‑round recreation affordable and accessible for local families.
“Help us raise $100,000 to keep our hill thriving! For more than 75 years, Mt. Holiday has been a place for everyone—and we’re committed to keeping it that way. Today, we’re inviting you to learn more about how you can help keep Mt. Holiday affordable and accessible for generations to come.” – Mt. Holiday
Campaign aims to bridge rising costs
The fundraising effort comes as the organization says the true cost of operating a nonprofit, access focused hill continues to climb. Expenses for snowmaking, electricity, lift maintenance, insurance, equipment, staffing, programming and facility improvements are all increasing each year. At the same time, increasingly unpredictable winters are putting pressure on small ski areas nationwide, especially those built around community access rather than profit.
Organizers say the $100,000 target is intended to bridge the gap between what it actually costs to provide affordable, year‑round outdoor recreation and what the hill can charge while keeping experiences within reach for every family.
“For more than 75 years, generations of Northern Michigan families have learned to ski here, walked our trails, celebrated milestones, gathered with friends, and introduced their children to the outdoors. Mt. Holiday has always been more than a ski hill. It is a community hill where kids get off screens and into fresh air, where families build traditions, and where neighbors come together in every season.
We don’t believe those experiences should only belong to families who can afford expensive lift tickets, private club memberships, or exclusive recreation opportunities. That’s why Mt. Holiday has chosen a different path.
As a nonprofit, community-based recreation area, Mt. Holiday keeps prices intentionally affordable, offers deeply discounted youth programs, provides scholarships, and creates year-round opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature, recreation, and one another.” -Mt. Holiday
Recovery after a historic low‑snow winter
The push follows a stretch of volatile seasons that tested the hill’s finances. During the warm winter of 2023–24, Mt. Holiday was only able to open for just eight days of skiing, a situation that forced the nonprofit to take out a $480,000 low‑interest disaster relief loan from the Small Business Administration.
More consistent winter weather in 2024–25 and 2025–26 helped stabilize operations and improve revenues, but the organization says those stronger seasons have not erased the long‑term cost pressures facing the hill.
A community hub with deep local ties
For more than 75 years, Mt. Holiday has served as a place where children learn new skills, families make memories and the broader community gathers for outdoor recreation, the organization says in its campaign materials. As a nonprofit, it has committed to keeping those experiences affordable and accessible, relying on donor support to supplement ticket and program fees.
