The Homestead Readying For Winter Season; Slopes To Open Dec. 26

Preparations are underway at The Homestead in Glen Arbor, with the slopes scheduled to open the day after Christmas. “The 26th we will be open, but with rain in the forecast it will probably only be the front side,” Senior Manager and Director of Sales Tony Farragh tells the Leelanau Ticker.

He adds recreation staff will be making snow straight through Christmas for the opening. “Due to our location on the lakeshore and higher humidity, we need colder temperatures to make snow than inland ski areas. So far they have made around 12 inches,” he says. “The long-term forecast is promising for continued snowmaking and lake effect.”

Mother Nature is not the only wild card for the season. In deference to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Homestead has made significant changes to its operations for this year. Indoor facilities have been outfitted with new air filtration systems. Care has been taken to space people out, such as at Mountain Flower Lodge, which is being used as in part as a rental facility. The resort is also emphasizing touchless rental procedures.

Farragh says The Homestead is finalizing its online store and capabilities, allowing guests to view and order their equipment online. For those staying at the resort, the equipment can be delivered to their rooms, while day skiers can reserve and pay ahead of time and then just pick it up when they arrive. “We have a walk-up window at the base of Sunnyside ski school building so tickets can be purchased without going inside.”

Cross country skiers or snowshoers will also be able to rent equipment online. The Bay View Trail has a trailhead to access the Sleeping Bear Dunes trails. Farragh says Bay View Trail is not groomed and is a little more advanced for Nordic skiing, but is perfect for all ability levels for snowshoeing. He also points to the direct ungroomed access along the entry to The Homestead to the Heritage Trail. 

The emphasis is on keeping people outdoors and spread apart. To that end, the resort is installing propane heaters around outdoor common areas, including an outdoor courtyard around Whiskers Bar and Grill. People will be able to order food and beverages from the outdoor covered bar and pick up at the outdoor window. There will be two fire pits and a large outdoor fireplace, with the large wood-fired outdoor grill going, weather permitting. Cavanaugh’s will be offering takeout, while Nonna’s will not be open during the current COVID restrictions.

Farragh says coming off one of the busiest summers on record, he is confident in the resort’s ability to safely host guests. “We’ve got general safety [procedures] down,” he says.

He anticipates the winter season will be busy as well. “We are expecting increased demand, especially after seeing Crystal Mountain, Boyne and Caberfae selling out on lift tickets this past weekend,” he says.

That’s not surprising. Industrywide expectations are for a busy season, depending on the impact of coronavirus restrictions. Bloomberg notes that travel constraints may imperil large resorts catering to travelers, while smaller ski resorts – it specifies locations such as Nub’s Nob in Harbor Springs, and the Homestead fits that model as well – are less likely to lose business, so long as they are able keep guests safe.

As with most every year, there are other significant changes and additions for The Homestead this winter season. On the slopes – or at least leading to them – the former A, B and C lifts have been completely overhauled, repainted and renamed Sunnyside, North Face and What Ta View, respectively. The resort also now has 16 snow guns, with new equipment coming from the Michigan-based company Snow Machines International. “Bob [Kuras, Homestead owner] says it has been great to partner with a Michigan company,” says Farragh.

Farragh points to a new partnership with lifestyle brand M22, which already resulted in three winners receiving a host of swag, from M22-branded clothing to gift certificates for use at the Homestead. Farragh says the partnership has also generated additional interest among local winter sports enthusiasts, resulting in 7,000 new followers for the resort on Instagram. 

One change Farragh says he has noticed is less long-term planning and more impromptu trips. “People are making the decision to come up a couple of days before. They aren’t planning months in advance,” he says.

Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that The Homestead's slopes open Friday; the season will begin Saturday, December 26.