Lansing, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s short season of snowfall benefited many, but drastically impacted many of the state’s ski resorts.

Several resorts in West Michigan logged their shortest seasons to date, having many of them open in January, as opposed to opening in November or December as in years past.

MORE NEWS: Second Phase of Housing Project for Soo Locks Underway

Cannonsburg Ski Area in Cannon Township, opened on Jan. 18 according to Woodtv, and closed for the season on March 3, making it the shortest season on record for the facility.

“It was definitely a season to forget,” Danielle Musto, the marketing director at Cannonsburg Ski Area, said according to Woodtv.
Cannonsburg Ski Area lost more than $1 million this season and had to let go of 15 to 20 of its full-time staff.

“It was just really hard in general, not being able to give the hours because we weren’t able to open earlier,” Musto said according to Woodtv.

Located in Otsego, Bittersweet Ski Resort has been family owned since its establishment in 1982, with 20 runs, and 6 chair lifts. However, the season was cut short due to weather, only remaining open for 52 days this season.

While Bittersweet is closed for the 2023-24 season, passes for next year will be available starting Sept. 1, 2024.

Artificial snow sometimes is not enough to combat weather conditions.

While more and more resorts use a combination of fallen snow and artificial snow made from snow guns, if temperatures aren’t cold enough, the created snow will also melt.

MORE NEWS: Michigan’s Trout Season Opens Today

“We were making snow whenever possible. But then it was always so disappointing when you would see temperatures, you know, rising up to like the 50s and 60s because you know that all of like the hard work, is just going to melt away,” Musto said according to Woodtv.

Northern Resorts not spared from warm temperatures.

Regarded by some as Among the Top 10 Best in the U.S, Mount Bohemia Ski Resort in Mohawk, in the Keweenaw Peninsula, also had to close its lifts sooner than anticipated, logging the shortest season in its history, closing on March 3.

“Historically, Mount Bohemia has prided itself on offering skiing opportunities well into April, with 20 of its 24 operating seasons extending until April 20, and in three exceptional cases, into May,” according to the Resort’s website.

Lonnie Glieberman, owner of Mount Bohemia, shared on Instagram hopes to open Tuesday, but a warm up after last week’s storm made that impossible.