Businesses bask in long, cold winter

Unshakable winter conditions this season kept profits rolling at certain businesses, with more chill and likely more greenbacks to come. Winter tourism spots are taking advantage of Mother Nature's gifts and giving thanks for her bounty.

"We haven't had one slow weekend," said Nicole Valuet, who owns the Hide-A-Way Bar on Starvation Lake in northeast Kalkaska County.

"Saturdays during the day it's standing room only. From the second we open to the second we close, we've got people coming in," Valuet said. "Snow is like gold. It brings in snowmobilers and they're not afraid to spend money."

"We've had a pretty good winter and that's directly related to how much snow we got," said bartender Rachel Conarty.

It was far busier this season at the Antrim County stop than the last two years, she said, with plenty of high-power sled riders stopping at the business just along a major designated snowmobile route.

Jason Gikas, of Crown Point, Ind., pulled two snowmobiles from the back of a trailer Friday morning and fired them up, testing the machines before a planned day with his wife, Christy, on the trails around Gaylord.

"We got lucky this year, as far as getting up here three times this year," he said. "You get the itch and you have to go."

Gikas said gasoline for his vehicle and the sleds is the biggest expense, above their rented room at the Brentwood Inn Motel in Gaylord. They typically spend $500 per weekend spent snowmobile riding in northern Michigan.

"You'll hear no complaints from anybody in the ski industry. We've had a record year," said Brian Lawson, spokesman for Crystal Mountain Resort in Benzie County's Thompsonville. Last month was the resort's busiest February ever, and the third best winter month on record, he said.

Low temperatures and constant fluff from the sky brought a strong start to winter in November and weather forecasters say the pattern is expected to continue through the end of March. The month brings St. Patrick's Day celebrations this weekend and the Easter holiday next weekend, both expected to lure wintertime spenders.

"This is the way winter is supposed to behave in northern Michigan and it's nice to see it come back," Lawson said.

Snow conditions at Nub's Nob Ski Area couldn't be better, either, said Scott Stillings, guest services director. The Harbor Springs business sold a record number of ski lift tickets during the recent holiday season and expects to close on April 6 with a full mountain of snow.

"Customers are saying they're glad to have a traditional winter with a couple of inches of fresh snow all the time," he said.

Kay Harper, who owns Jordan Valley Outfitters livery in East Jordan, said their winter rafting trips down the Jordan River are booked up to a couple of weeks in advance. The extra snowfall makes float trips especially beautiful, she said.

"If you don't go outside and do something, it can be a long winter," Harper said.

Then there are those who already think it's been a long winter and look for a warmer respite near home.

The indoor water park at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City draws plenty of those afflicted with cabin fever, said Rex O'Connor, director of sales and marketing.

"People are looking for alternative vacations. They're not going to Florida, but going to the water park," he said.

Meanwhile, outdoor temperatures are expected to remain cold with continued snowfall during the next couple of weeks, said Kevin Sullivan, meteorologist at the National Weather Service station in Gaylord.

Repeated winter storm systems from the Central Plains and Ohio Valley dumped lots of snow across the region this season.

Photos

Matt Miller, 18, of Elk Rapids, hits the slopes at Mt. Holiday wearing only shorts and a hat and gloves. The ski area was one of a number of businesses that-s benefited from a long, snowy winter this season. Record-Eagle