IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. — The Great Lakes Sports Commission has taken another important step toward preserving international ski jumping at Pine Mountain by paying off the project’s loan and establishing new low-interest financing directly with the Kiwanis Ski Club.
Under the new arrangement, the Kiwanis Ski Club will continue serving as the operator at the historic Pine Mountain Ski Jump. The financing is structured to give the club a more sustainable path forward while protecting a venue that has welcomed international competitors and visitors to Dickinson County for generations.
The partnership reflects GLSC’s long-term approach to sports development: preserve important regional assets, create manageable financing structures and work with experienced local organizations to sustain facilities and events that generate community and economic value.
The original financing helped the Kiwanis Ski Club undertake major renovations required to maintain Pine Mountain’s standing as an international competition venue. Improvements have included an FIS-approved steel tower, upgraded track and slide infrastructure, new lighting, a warming facility and a judges tower.
Those investments have helped Pine Mountain continue hosting FIS Continental Cup competition—one of the highest levels of international ski jumping held in North America. The annual tournament brings athletes, teams and spectators to Iron Mountain while supporting area hotels, restaurants, businesses and community organizations.
By paying off the bank financing and transitioning the obligation to a low-interest GLSC loan, the Commission is helping reduce long-term financial pressure on the Kiwanis Ski Club while maintaining accountability and a sustainable operating partnership.
The arrangement also demonstrates how GLSC can use its resources as more than one-time funding. Strategic loans can preserve major sports assets, support qualified operating partners and help ensure that the economic and community benefits associated with important events continue for years to come.
Pine Mountain has been a fixture of Upper Peninsula winter sports for more than eight decades. Through the continued partnership between GLSC and the Kiwanis Ski Club, the venue is positioned to remain an important part of international ski jumping and northern Michigan’s sports economy.