From Staff Reports
CEDAR — The Leelanau Conservancy reached its goal of raising $8 million to turn Sugar Loaf, a long-abandoned former ski resort, into a public natural area.
The organization announced Friday that it reached the $8 million mark — ahead of a previously reported Dec. 31 deadline — and that the 285 acres will transfer ownership in the spring of 2026.
“This is an extraordinary moment for Leelanau County,” Leelanau Conservancy Executive Director Tom Nelson said in a press statement.
The property, dormant since the resort’s closure, will find new life as a hub of conservation and recreation, he added. It is currently still off-limits to public use.
More than 1,000 people contributed to the campaign, which will fund trail construction, ecological restoration, stewardship, and infrastructure. The property itself was to be given to the conservancy, once the $8 million threshold was reached.
Ross Satterwhite, who has represented the owner throughout the process, said Friday, “This has always been about securing Sugar Loaf’s future as a place for the community. With the gift of a lifetime, the Conservancy’s leadership, and the community’s incredible support, the owner of Sugar Loaf is thrilled this land will be protected and accessible once again.”
The conservancy plans to build publicly accessible trail network for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country and backcountry skiing; create universal access features, including a loop trail for people with restricted mobility; build a summit pavilion for sweeping scenic views; build family-friendly amenities such as a sledding hill, nature play area, and outdoor gathering space; and conduct ecological restoration to protect native species, reduce erosion, and improve water quality in the Good Harbor Bay Watershed, according to the statement.
“Sugar Loaf has been a memory for too long,” Nelson said. “Now, thanks to over 1,000 supporters, it will have new life and a protected legacy.”