$8 million raised to protect and restore Leelanau’s Sugar Loaf

Sugar Loaf, the Leelanau Peninsula’s long-dormant ski resort, is poised for a new life as a public recreation area. 

The Leelanau Conservancy has secured the $8 million in donations necessary to take ownership of the 285-acre property and transform the prominent hillside into a hub of conservation and recreation. 

“This is an extraordinary moment for Leelanau County,” said Tom Nelson, who is executive director of the Leelanau Conservancy. “The community and beyond rallied to bring Sugar Loaf back to life. This collective effort has ensured that one of Michigan’s most cherished landscapes will be preserved and open to all forever.”

What’s happening: The Leelanau Conservancy has reached its $8 million fund-raising goal to secure ownership of Sugar Loaf and transform the 285-acre property into a public natural area. The target date for the ownership transfer is spring 2026. The conservancy had been working behind the scenes on fundraising efforts the past few years, publicly announcing its plans for Sugar Loaf this past summer.  

The funding:.The $8 million will fund trail construction, ecological restoration, stewardship, and infrastructure to welcome visitors back to this beloved landmark in Northern Michigan. While the property remains closed during this transition, planning and preparation are underway to make the vision a reality. The transfer of ownership to the conservancy was contingent on the raising of $8 million. The landowner wishes to remain anonymous.

“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,” said Ross Satterwhite, who has represented ownership throughout the process. 

The vision for Sugar Loaf : Plans call for a publicly accessible trail network for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country and backcountry skiing; universal access features, including a loop trail for people with restricted mobility; a summit pavilion for sweeping scenic views; family-friendly amenities such as a sledding hill, nature play area, and outdoor gathering space; and ecological restoration to protect native species, reduce erosion, and improve water quality in the Good Harbor Bay Watershed.

“Sugar Loaf has been a memory for too long,” Nelson said. “Now, thanks to over a thousand supporters, it will have new life and a protected legacy.”

About Sugar Loaf: Sugar Loaf operated as a ski resort from the late 1940s until 2000 when the ski operations abruptly shut down. “In the mid-1970s, it attracted 3,000 to 4,000 skiers a day — numbers that compete with all but the biggest ski areas,” according to a recent story, “The Sudden and Strange Demise of Sugar Loaf, Michigan,” in Powder magazine.  “‘The Loaf’ was once the largest employer in Leelanau County. It wasn’t just the best place to ski in the state, it was the gem of the entire Midwest. Known for its steeps and après parties, the area had a place on the national skiing radar,” author John Clary Davies wrote in the story.

About the Leelanau Conservancy: The Leelanau Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust. Founded in 1988, the Leelanau Conservancy has protected more than 19,000 acres of critical natural lands and working farms across the Leelanau Peninsula. Through land protection, stewardship, and community engagement, the Conservancy works to ensure that Leelanau’s natural beauty, ecological health, and rural character are preserved for generations to

Most ambitious project: In terms of dollars and visibility, the Sugar Loaf project is the biggest in the conservancy’s history. The organization has succeeded in preserving larger tracts, such as Palmer Woods Forest Reserve, 1,075 acres of woods with miles of hiking, mountain bike, and cross-country ski trails, and the Cedar River Preserve, 548-acre undisturbed wetland complex that protects the health of Lake Leelanau. 

What’s next:  The conservancy is excited to welcome the public back to Sugar

Loaf once the property has been transferred, and as soon as stewardship and infrastructure are underway. To learn more about Sugar Loaf’s next chapter, visit leelanauconservancy.org/sugarloaf