SAM Magazine—Leeland, Mich., July 21, 2025—The Leelanau Conservancy plans to acquire and revitalize the defunct Sugar Loaf ski area in northwest Michigan, transforming it into a year-round public recreation destination with a focus on ecological restoration and inclusive access, and without any ski lifts.

The conservancy has entered into a purchase agreement for 285 acres of the shuttered resort, which operated as a ski area from 1964 until it closed in 2000. The group must raise $8 million by Dec. 31, 2025, to complete the acquisition and fund planning, trail construction, and long-term stewardship of the site. As of mid-July, $6.4 million had already been committed, according to the Leelanau Ticker.

The property is being donated by its current owner, identified as SPV 45 LLC, contingent on the conservancy meeting its fundraising goal. “They didn’t come to ask us for anything—they came to offer us something incredible,” said Leelanau Conservancy executive director Tom Nelson in the Ticker.

The agreement is structured to ensure the conservancy has the financial capacity not only to take ownership, but also to manage and care for the land over time, Nelson added in Bridge Michigan.

The site will not reopen as a lift-served ski resort. Instead, it will be reimagined as a public park with four-season offerings, including cross-country skiing and uphill access for alpine and snowboard touring in winter. Plans also call for a summit trail with panoramic views, a network of hiking and biking paths, a sledding hill, seasonal ice rink, and accessible loop trails for users of all abilities. Other features include a nature-inspired play area, pollinator gardens and ecological restoration initiatives focused on slope stabilization and protection of the Good Harbor Bay watershed. No commercial activities are planned.

Additionally, the conservancy envisions the site as a “living classroom,” supporting outdoor learning partnerships with schools and scientific research.

SPV 45 purchased the property in 2020 and demolished the remaining ski area infrastructure in 2021. The land donation is the result of years-long conversations between the owner and the conservancy, who shared a vision for public access, according to the Detroit Free Press.

If fundraising is successful, trail construction could begin as early as spring 2026. Additional funds will be sought to support long-term operations and ecological work.

The adjacent Sugar Loaf airstrip and golf course are not included in the conservancy’s acquisition and remain under separate private ownership.

For more acquisition news, visit the SAM interactive ski area ownership timeline.