North Dakota
North Dakota Ski Area Saved For At Least One More Year
Mandan, North Dakota —Just when it seemed like Huff Hills would be heading towards becoming an abandoned ski area, the management team has decided to operate for at least one more winter of skiing and riding.
Last Friday, Huff Hills Ski Area announced that it will open for the 2024-25 season. Back in May, Huff Hills announced that it would be closing for good due to its inability to secure a long-term lease with the individuals who own the land.
This upcoming year was already part of their lease with the landowners. In May, Huff Hills said that they were initially planning to use the time to remove the infrastructure from the land. However, Andy Beck, the Mountain Operations Manager at Huff Hills, told us their revised plan is based on a renewed confidence that they can agree to a long-term lease with the landowners. Another option being considered is relocation, but they are hoping to remain at their current spot. With the reopening, Huff Hills started season pass sales this past weekend.
“We are still hopeful that a solution can be reached to allow us to continue to provide outdoor recreation at our current location for years to come.” said Andrew Beck. “In the meantime, we owe it to our local community to operate if it’s possible to do so.”
The land that Huff Hills currently sits on was home to a smaller ski area (Twilight Hills) in the 1960s, but it only lasted for a few years. In January 1993, Huff Hills opened to the public. It has become known as an excellent ski area for families, allowing people in the Bismarck (the capital of North Dakota) area to have a close place for locals to ski. While the future of Huff Hills remains uncertain, I imagine locals are stoked that they’ll be able to ski there for at least one more winter.
Image/Video Credits: Huff Hills Ski Area