DULUTH, MN (CBS-3) – After seven months, a task force is sharing what they believe it will take to reach a strong financial future for Duluth’s Spirit Mountain.
That presentation was given to the Duluth City Council at their Monday night meeting.
The Task Force was created in June 2020, as the ski hill and recreation area was already financially struggling and COVID-19 was only making matters worse.
Along with suggesting different business and leadership models, the group said it will take a significant capital investment to boost revenue.
They suggested updating old chair lifts, the Skyline Chalet building, and skiing and mountain biking trails.
The Task Force also recommended the city continue investing tourism tax dollars into Spirit Mountain but did not mention a specific dollar amount.
Officials with Spirit Mountain acknowledged they need to be held accountable for their spending.
City Councilor Arik Forsman, one of the Task Force’s leaders, said the city gets back almost $19 for every $1 of tourism taxes spent at Spirit Mountain.
Forsman said the next steps are for the council and Mayor Larson to review the report and go from there.
(from CBS3-Duluth)
