Leelanau County’s crown jewel is (finally) ready to shine again.

The Leelanau Conservancy announced Thursday that it is acquiring 285 acres of the long-dormant Sugar Loaf Resort property, with plans to reopen the land as a four-season public recreation area. The site will be home to new hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing trails – including a trail to Sugar Loaf’s summit – as well as family-friendly amenities like a sledding hill, a seasonal ice rink, and a native plant garden. While there are no plans to reopen the property as a ski resort, visitors will be permitted to hike to the summit on their own power in the winter to downhill ski.

Speaking at a donor event on Thursday evening, Leelanau Conservancy Executive Director Tom Nelson shared that SPV 45 LLC, the ownership group that acquired Sugar Loaf in 2020, is gifting the property to the Conservancy contingent upon the nonprofit’s ability to raise $8 million for a site plan. According to Nelson, the Conservancy has already raised $6.4 million toward that goal, and has until December 31 to come up with the remaining $1.6 million.

Sugar Loaf was once a thriving piece of Leelanau County’s economy and cultural identity. It first opened as a community ski hill in 1947, thanks to a land acquisition by the Leelanau County Chamber of Commerce, and then operated as a full-fledged commercial ski resort starting in 1964. Despite roaring successes in the 1960s and 1970s, though, the resort fell into decline in the 1980s and 1990s, when a series of bankruptcies, ownership changes, and tragic on-premises deaths slowly stripped away its glory. It closed for good in 2000.

SPV 45 bought Sugar Loaf in 2020, following a revolving door of different owners and failed plans for the site. A year later, the new owners funded the demolition of the resort’s buildings and the removal of its chairlifts, all of which had fallen into disrepair over the 20 years of inactivity. Details about the property’s next chapter have been sparse in the years since, despite significant lingering interest from Leelanau County residents. As we speak, the Leelanau Historical Society is showcasing an exhibit called “Sugar Loaf: A Retrospective” at its museum in Leland.

Nelson told donors that the opportunity to acquire Sugar Loaf “began with a simple phone call” from someone at SPV 45, a private group of investors whose identities have never been publicly shared.

“An immensely gracious land owner reached out to us – not to ask for anything, but to offer something incredible: If the Conservancy can create a worthy vision to bring Sugar Loaf back to life, and reaches Its fundraising goal to make it happen, this truly special landmark will be gifted to the Conservancy,” Nelson said. “And the landowner did it not out of wanting recognition or fanfare, but for the simple desire to do right by the land and community… For all of us, the landowner’s extraordinary generosity is making it possible for us to protect something irreplaceable, a legacy that will live on through everyone who discovers the magic of Sugar Loaf.”

Reached for comment Thursday evening, Leelanau Conservancy board member Cammie Buehler described the acquisition as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” adding that it was “the Conservancy’s privilege to bring Sugar Loaf back to life for the community.”

The vision for “new Sugar Loaf,” Nelson shared, is “to create a place where everyone can take in the natural wonders of the Leelanau Peninsula from the ground up to the summit,” totally free of charge. The plan outlines numerous recreational components for the property, including a publicly accessible trail network, a “universal access loop” for people with restricted mobility, and a “summit vista trail,” leading to a pavilion at Sugar Loaf’s peak with scenic views in all directions. Also on the agenda are family-friendly amenities like a sledding hill, a seasonal ice rink, a nature play area, and a community pavilion and gathering space.

The vision also calls for ecological restoration of the Sugar Loaf property, “to protect native species, reduce erosion, and improve water quality in the Good Harbor Bay Watershed.” Ideas on that front, Nelson said, include “a native plant demonstration garden full of wildflowers designed to inspire and educate,” as well as a plan to “plant more trees while retaining the scenic views, replant native species, and heal eroded hillsides.”

Some funds will also need to be allocated to infrastructure for the park – such as a trailhead, parking lot, and public restrooms – in order “to welcome the public back to Sugar Loaf.”

For now, the land is in escrow, pending the Leelanau Conservancy’s ability to raise the full $8 million for the site plan. According to a press release, the entire property “remains closed to public access until the funding goal is met.” And while the Conservancy will eventually take over the majority of the property, “securing its protection and public access forever,” the release does note that SPV 45 “will retain ownership of the currently closed airfield.”

More information about the vision for the new Sugar Loaf can be found on the Leelanau Conservancy website. The Conservancy has also scheduled a pair of community information sessions “to learn more about the project, ask questions, and help shape the future of Sugar Loaf.” Those events are scheduled for 6pm on Wednesday, July 30 at Solon Township Hall; and 6pm on Wednesday, August 5 at Glen Arbor Township Hall.

“When we talk about protecting Sugar Loaf for the ages, we're talking about honoring both what once was and what could be,” Nelson concluded. “For a quarter of a century, Sugar Loaf has quietly reminded us of what once was – a place that brought neighbors together, of people who learned courage and joy on its slopes. But we've discovered that dormancy is not death. It's patience. And now, through an astonishing opportunity from someone who shares our vision, Sugar Loaf has a chance to live again.”