Lutsen Mountains Celebrates 75 Years of Skiing on Minnesota’s North Shore

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lutsen Mountains Celebrates 75 Years of Skiing on Minnesota’s North Shore
Two families and three generations have owned and operated Lutsen Mountains since 1948.

Lutsen, Minn. – November 20, 2023 – Lutsen Mountains was founded in 1948 by George Nelson, the grandson of C.A.A. Nelson founder of Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior, as a ski resort with one lift and two runs. Today Lutsen Mountains has 4 mountains, 95 runs, and 7 lifts spread across 1,000 acres. The Skinner family, who has owned the resort for the last 43 years and three generations, invites all who would like to celebrate 75 years of skiing on Minnesota’s North Shore.

“I am proud to be a part of the legacy of Lutsen Mountains,” said Charlotte Skinner, chief of staff and CFO of Midwest Family Ski Resorts the parent company for Lutsen Mountains and two other midwestern ski resorts. “I grew up skiing in Lutsen and much like the thousands of families who visit each year, have so many wonderful memories of this place. As part of the next generation of family ownership, I look forward to building the future of Lutsen with my family and all those who continue to visit.”

The 75th-anniversary celebration will be held at Lutsen Mountains on Friday, December 15, 2023 and will include a presentation on the history of the resort and a Grand Opening of Lutsen’s newest investment, the Raptor Express Chairlift.

“Lutsen Mountains is a key partner in establishing the economic health of this community and serves as the backbone for our winter tourism economy," said Linda Jurek, executive director of Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber. "Lutsen Mountains attracts over 120,000 skiers annually and supports over 250 local jobs.”

Investing in the future
During the 43-year tenure of the Skinner family, over $85 million has been reinvested into the infrastructure of the resort. The investments have ranged from the founding of the Poplar River Management Board which included a $6 million pipeline from Lake Superior as a sustainable source of potable water for resort facilities and homeowners to modernized snowmaking and management equipment to lodging facilities and the latest investment, the $8 million high-speed six-passenger Raptor Express Chairlift.

Lutsen Mountains 75th Anniversary Schedule
2:30 p.m. | Official Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting of the Raptor Express | Raptor Express*
Owners Charles Skinner and daughter Charlotte Skinner will officially open the Raptor Express and ski down KooKoo to the chalet. Open to the public. To participate in the inaugural ski, a lift ticket and ski/snowboard equipment will be required.
*Media may be able to be transported via snowmobile to the top of the mountain for the ribbon cutting. Contact kjersti@visitcookcounty.com to arrange transportation to the ribbon cutting.

3:00 p.m. | Meet & Greet with the Eras of Lutsen Mountains | Scandinavian Chalet
Following the ribbon cutting on top of the mountain, join current owners Charles Skinner and daughter Charlotte Skinner for a casual meet and greet on the deck of the Scandinavian Chalet.
**Media will have an opportunity for Q&A interviews with the Skinner family and event organizers.

4:00 p.m. | 75 Years of Lutsen Mountains presentation | Scandinavian Chalet
Join the Skinner family for an evening of storytelling and historical reflection with anecdotes from the foundational years by Olympian Cindy Nelson, daughter of founder George Nelson, to visions of the future with Charlotte Skinner. To attend this event, RSVP by December 10, 2023.

6:00 p.m. | After Party Celebration | Scandinavian Chalet
Following the formal presentation, gather to share your ski stories and history with Lutsen Mountains. This event is open to the public.

Visit Cook County, Minnesota
Visit Cook County encompasses the northeastern Minnesota communities of Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder, Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Portage, commonly referred to as “the Arrowhead” and the “North Shore of Lake Superior.” Grand Marais, Minn., has earned several national accolades — most recently, it was named America's Best Small Lake Town by Travel & Leisure Magazine, USA Today’s Best Midwestern Small Town, and Outside Magazine’s The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2016. Rekindle your sense of adventure by exploring the Superior National Forest or paddling through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Discover what makes the communities of Cook County, Minn. “Naturally Unforgettable.” Connect on social media using #donorthmn, Twitter @CookCoVisitors, Facebook, or Instagram @donorthmn. Learn more at VisitCookCounty.com.

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