LEELANAU COUNTY - The Leelanau Conservancy has purchased the former Sugar Loaf Resort property, a move that will preserve the iconic Northern Michigan landscape and reopen the site to the public. The landmark property, which has been abandoned and closed for years, will be transformed into a public recreation and conservation area.
The acquisition was made possible through the Edmond and Virginia Ball Foundation. The foundation purchased the property anonymously in 2020 before the deal with the conservancy was finalized. This transition follows years of uncertainty regarding the future of the former resort.
Development plans for the site include restoring damaged sections of the mountain and establishing a new trail system. Once the property is ready, the conservancy intends to offer space for outdoor activities including hiking, biking and backcountry skiing. While the purchase is complete, significant preparation is required before the public can return to the mountain.
Tom Nelson serves as the executive director of the Leelanau Conservancy. He explained that the organization is preparing for the initial phases of redevelopment. “We’ve still got quite a bit of work ahead of us but we expect to begin work on the ground later this year, hopefully late spring or early summer to ready the property for public access,” Nelson said.
The project will involve a long-term commitment to the landscape. While some improvements and restoration efforts will take several years to complete, the conservancy aims to provide access to certain areas of the mountain on a faster timeline than the full restoration project.
Work on the ground is expected to begin later this year, with a target of late spring or early summer. Portions of the mountain could reopen to the public before the end of the year if the project moves forward as planned. Improvement and restoration work will continue over the next several years.