Duluth City Council approves funding to restore Spirit Mountain

The Duluth City Council unanimously approved two resolutions that will fund the Spirit Mountain restoration project at its council meeting on Monday evening, October 28th.

The state has already committed $13 million to the project, subject to the city matching those funds, which council members voted to do. Now, about $26 million will be invested in the project between the city and state.

“I want to support this ordinance and our long-term approach to supporting Spirit Mountain,” Council President Rose Randorf said before the vote. “This is a year-round recreational destination that gives visitors and residents another reason to enjoy Duluth.”

Spirit Mountain will be responsible for half the city’s contribution to the project, according to Spirit Mountain Executive Director Anne Glumak. As part of the restoration, Spirit Mountain will update much of its 50-year-old infrastructure.

Glumak said the restoration is still in the design phase, so an exact timeline for the project has not yet been set, but she shared that there are some ideas.

“We expect the chalet to be more in line with the current design and current user expectations,” Glumak said. “The industry has changed since 1974 when Spirit opened its doors, so we expect the chalet to be a little more compact but with more flexible spaces. We host a large number of events at Spirit Mountain, especially in the summer and fall, and expect these facilities to be upgraded.”

Glumak also commented on the city’s unconventional relationship with the resort.

“It’s not typical for a city to have a ski resort or any type of resort, and to see the city putting the time and effort into this and continuing the reinvestment process is very encouraging,” Glumak said. “Spirit was created 50 years ago not only to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, but also to help the economy.”