Look Back at the End of Michigan’s Popular Sugar Loaf Ski Resort

If you skied in Michigan, you've been to Sugar Loaf at least once in your life. For skiers who loved the slopes the venue offered, it was hard to see the crumbled mess it became before it was finally demolished in 2021. 

A hot spot for skiers in the 1970s, Sugar Loaf offered a hotel, condos, ski school, and of course a fabulous ski lodge to enjoy socializing by the fire. Back in its heyday, the lodge would see 3,000 to 4,000 skiers a day and was once the largest employer in Leelanau County according to Powder.com.

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Opened in 1947, the resort had one of the best ski schools for snow sport enthusiasts and hosted top events for skiing such as a FIS-sanctioned slalom. Things went quiet in March of 2000 and activity fell silent at the once busy ski resort. Rumor was it was due to heavy competition from nearby resorts. The property was sold and has stood vacant for the past 20 years.

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A few years back, California lawyer and property owner Jeff Katofsky purchased the decaying property with hopes of developing it back to something big. Reports had said his original plan was to salvage the resort building, but years of vandalism have damaged it beyond repair.

Demolition on the once-thriving northern Michigan ski resort began in November of 2021 ending hopes that the once-popular resort would be back to what it once was. Before the final demise, photographer Riley Fagan made her way into the resort to capture some pictures.

What she saw was a lodge eerily looking as if everyone left in the middle of the night. According to Fagan, the lodge is was still filled with race bibs, scattered papers, paychecks for employees, even skis.  Even some rooms look as if they are awaiting weekend guests to arrive. Creepy is an understatement.

Take a look...