Mt. Holiday and the Cherry Capital Cycling Club announce mountain bike town challenge downhill series (May 2007)

TRAVERSE CITY - Staff and volunteers at Mt. Holiday have been working for more than two years to bring additional outdoor recreational activities to the community. The challenge has been either a lack of funding or volunteers to make additional programs a reality.

This year Mt. Holiday teamed up with Pat Dueweke from the City Bike Shop and the Cherry Capital Cycling Club to make mountain biking a reality at the hill. On Tuesday nights during May and June at 7:00 pm join your friends and fellow bikers on the hills at Mt. Holiday for non-completive mountain bike challenges.

For more information please contact Pat Dueweke at (231) 590-1677.

BACKGROUND:

The purchase of Mt. Holiday in 2002 by a citizen’s group marked the beginning of a fund-raising campaign to rehabilitate the facility and operate without incurring debt. To date over $1.4 million has been raised in pledges and contributions. With these funds it has been possible to purchase the ski hill, begin renovations on the lodge and purchase major equipment such as a new snow tube lift.

Mt. Holiday Ski Area began in 1949 when a group of local people obtained permission to create a ski run on state property. The ski area was originally known as Holiday Hills and its first ski run was called Mt. Holiday. Mt. Holiday’s 1950s style lodge overlooks 45 acres of scenic forested ski hills. The lodge itself has a functioning kitchen, bar area, wood burning fireplace, and holds up to 300 people.

Thousands of volunteer hours have been put into the Mt. Holiday area and its programs.