What's New at Midwest Ski Areas for 2009-10?

Information on each ski area, and links to their websites, can be found at
www.snowplaces.com where people can search for Midwest ski areas in their part of the Midwest.

Remember that snowtubing is also a "big deal" in this region. Ski areas with
snowtubing facilities can be found at: www.snowplaces.com/snowtubing.html

Midwest ski areas saw business nearly hold steady last winter, despite the
recession of 008/09. The National Ski Areas Association projected 7,405,697
skier/snowboarder visits to have occurred in the Midwest during the winter
of 2008/09. With the youngest average participant age of any region in the
country, the Midwest ski areas are fun destinations close to home and are
used by young people and their families as they enjoy winter.

Many Midwest ski areas are continuing to upgrade their snowmaking systems to
help provide more skiing early in the season and consistent conditions all
winter long. For example, Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area and Afton Alps Ski
Area, both serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area have invested heavily in
expanded snowmaking facilities for the 2009/10 season. Welch Village Ski
Area, in the same region, opened a new side of the mountain last year and
have continued to grow skiing part of the area with trail cutting and
expansion.

Ski Crescent, Crescent, IA offers a newly remodeled two-story day lodge
complete with year round sundeck and home to the Mountain Cafe & Bar.
Enjoy hearty, winter fare complemented by your favorite beverage. Just 15
minutes from Omaha, NE. Snowtubing is now available.
The new owners, Olympian Chad Fleischer and his wife Samantha, are adding
enthusiasm and excitement to this great ski area.

Chestnut Mountain Resort, Galena, IL has a new restaurant and updates all
over the place. Chestnut is a favorite of the Chicago regional destination visitors.

Afton Alps, Afton, MN has a new snowmaking system and new restaurant
facilities. The area is seeing updates and upgrades of both on-mountain and lodge
facilities. There is a new rental fleet as well!

Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen, MN added a new lodge, new lift, new condos and
more trails in 2008/09. This season they are continuing to refine and make
those facilities even more user friendly. The great views to Lake Superior
are incredible!

Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN offers some of the region's best skiing and
golfing with 2 awesome golf courses and winter skiing and lodging packages.
A joint pass program with Spirit Mountain, MN is available.

Spirit Mountain, Duluth, MN has a new chairlift replacing an older one with
new chairs and equipment. The area is undergoing major remodeling over a multi-year schedule.

Perfect North Slopes, Lawrenceburg, IN has added new snowmaking, expanded
ski runs, new lighting, 500 pairs of new rental skis and snowboards.

Alpine Valley in White Lake, MI is one of the Metro Detroit area ski areas
that made snowmaking improvements over the summer. Ladies ski for just $24
on Tuesdays and Thursdays (during the day, excluding holiday weeks) and men
get the same discount on Wednesdays.

Apple Mountain in Freeland, MI offers an added benefit to purchasing a
season pass there: holders receive 50% off daily lift passes at Caberfae
Peaks Ski and Golf Resort in Cadillac and Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire.

Bittersweet in Otsego, MI is increasing snowmaking and adding more lights
for night skiing. Over the summer, earth movers were up on the hill,
widening the slope at the top.

Boyne Mountain of Boyne Falls and Boyne Highlands of Harbor Springs, MI are
offering Lift and Lodging Packages, starting at $79 per person per
night-based on double occupancy per hotel room. Only 20 packages each night
will be available at this discounted rate, which includes lodging at either
Boyne Highlands or Boyne Mountain, an unlimited lift ticket, breakfast and
tubing. Plus, when staying with parents, children 8 years and younger
sleep, ski/ride and eat breakfast free and juniors ages 9-15 can do the same
for an additional $19.

The commitment to making premium-quality snow continues at Cadillac MI's,
Caberfae Peaks Ski and Golf Resort with the addition of a 300-horsepower,
1000-gallon-per-minute, vertical turbine snowmaking pump, which increases
the overall pumping capacity by 50 percent, while consuming less energy. In
addition, Caberfae Peaks acquired two more snow guns, bringing the fleet
total to 108. Caberfae Peaks is also offering special prices on season
passes if purchased by October 31. Weekend passes are $99 and are valid
every Saturday and Sunday. Midweek passes are also $99 and are valid Monday
through Friday. Peak Passes are $198 and are valid any day, any time.
Child passes are $10 for children 8 years of age and under. Plus, Caberfae
Peaks season pass holders can ski at Shanty Creek Resorts for just $9 Sunday
through Friday and $19 on Saturdays and holidays.

At Crystal Mountain Resort, of Thompsonville, MI, winter guests can enjoy
the Crystal Spa, a $4 million, 13,000-square-foot expansion to the existing
indoor pool and fitness center. The Crystal Spa is a LEED-certified
facility, which means it went through a rigorous, verification program to
certify that it is environmentally responsible and healthy. Houseguests
receive a $25 gift certificate (on purchases of $100 or more) to the Crystal
Spa. Crystal has also introduced a new vacation package called the Pure
Michigan Winter Family Vacation. With prices from $139 per adult, per
night, children 8 and under sleep and ski free (kids 9-17 from $39).

In celebration of the 2010 Winter Games, Crystal Mountain is partnering with
Traverse City Paintball for the First Annual Paintball Biathlon, Saturday,
January 16. The 3 km course will be set on the Outer Otter cross-country
trail and feature paintball shooting ranges. Speed and marksmanship is
equally important as competitors reduce their overall time with each hit
target.

To round out the resort's commitment to overall health and wellness, The
Homestead Resort of Glen Arbor, MI opened a new, state-of-the-art fitness
facility this past summer. New Leaf Health and Fitness boasts sophisticated
equipment from industry leader, Life Fitness. New Leaf Fitness and the
resort's new Spa Amira (opened in 2007) provide for interesting and creative
health and fitness programs which focus on Leelanau's unique natural
landscape in all seasons.

Indianhead Mountain Ski Resort of Wakefield, MI in the Upper Peninsula
turns 50 this year. To celebrate they are offering a pre-Christmas 50th
Anniversary Special. Valid opening day to Christmas, (12/25/09), purchase a
2-day adult lift ticket for just $50, a $38 discount.

Marquette Mountain of Marquette, MI offers Family Frolic Days. On Sundays
after 1 p.m., three lift tickets can be purchase for $59, with an on-line
coupon and when at least one adult is in the group. Tickets for additional
family members are just $15 each. Saturday night is College Night.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m. lift tickets are $17 and include rentals if needed.
Friday night is Date Night, where guests can buy one lift ticket for $25 and
get one free beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Michigan Technological University, the owner of Mont Ripley, of Houghton, MI
is repeating a program called "Experience Michigan Tech," which allows
Michigan Tech students to ski and board all season at Mont Ripley with their
student ID. Rental equipment is not included. In addition, two slopes have
been lit for night skiing, making Mont Ripley's slopes 100% night-skiing
ready. As with most other Michigan ski areas, Mont Ripley has invested in
additional snowmaking equipment.

Mt. Bohemia in the UP's Keweenaw Peninsula, MI is cutting two new expert
glade runs through their mountainous terrain. A glade run is a treed slope,
where skiers maneuver around trees and other natural obstacles. Mt Bohemia
will hold a $99 season pass sale on Dec 5. The ski area is offering a
special lodging deal for its yurts and cabins. Lodgers stay free Wednesday
night when they purchase two other consecutive nights. Yurts are circular,
domed tent-like dwellings. The yurts sleep five, are heated, and have
bathrooms and electricity.

Mt. Brighton of Brighton, MI built more rails and boxes for the terrain
park, to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for snowboarding
excitement.

The restoration of Mt. Holiday of Traverse City, MI entered Phase II with
the upgrading of lights, snowmaking and parking. The completion of the new
kitchen has opened opportunities for banquets, receptions and meeting
facilities for guests.

While holding all prices at 2008-09 levels, Mt. Holly of Holly, MI, has
placed its improvement investment in its snowmaking system. The resort added
10 new snowmaking machines, increasing its fleet of snowmaking machinery to
over 100.

Mt. Zion, of Ironwood, MI is an industry leader in ski area management. New
for this season, Mt. Zion created a "Stash" terrain park, which is a
natural-feature terrain park with log slides and other natural objects built
into the slope.

Nub's Nob Ski Area of Harbor Springs, MI had a huge year of improvements
last season that included a new triple chairlift on Pintail Peak, 12 new
patented Nub's Nob snowguns, all new rental snowboards and new season pass
choices. The new lift increased uphill capacity to 17,320 skiers per hour
making Pintail Peak even easier to enjoy without waiting in line. Nub's
snowgun total increased to 262 guns. In addition, the ski area made
numerous improvements to its cross-country trails. Currently Nub's Nob is
offering 10% off regular season ticket rates through October 10.

Pine Mountain Resort, MI has a new run 'Here to There' that will let
skiers access Spruce from Panorama. The Bone Yard terrain park now features
a handle tow surface lift.
The Bunny Hill is now accessible with a new rope tow.

Schuss Mountain, one of the three villages of Shanty Creek Resorts, in
Bellaire, MI will celebrate its 40th Anniversary with lift ticket and
lodging specials in remembrance of the Bavarian-style "Kingdom of Schuss."
New Year's Eve will be the kick off with specials that include: Every
Monday, starting January 1, $40 will buy four lift tickets, lodging on
Sunday and Monday will start at $40 per person and Shanty Creek will be
celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (January 18) with a Schuss
Mountain tradition - Sardine Special - lift tickets for everyone you can
fit in a car for $40. Shanty Creek will also offer midweek lift ticket
specials starting January 1. Tuesdays are 2 for Tuesdays (2 for the price of
one lift tickets and rentals), Wednesdays are $5 Ski Night - after 5:00
p.m. and Thursdays are Friends and Family Thursdays (The more friends and
family in a party, the cheaper the lift tickets).

Snowsnake Ski & Golf in Harrison, MI has added new rails and features to its
popular terrain park.

Ski Brule of Iron River, MI created two new terrain parks, the Bambie
Playground and Woods Park. The Bambie Playground is on a gentle pitch,
ideal for those just starting to learn to ride rails and boxes. The Woods
Park utilizes natural elements such as log rails. Ski Brule's ski shop
offers a special Ski Package for $425, which includes boots, skis, bindings
and poles. The Snowboard Package is $279 and includes board, boots,
bindings and leash. All ski and snowboard rentals include a free helmet
rental. Advanced Lift Tickets are on sale now through Dec 24, at a cost of
$30 each and are valid anytime during the 2009/10 season.

Swiss Valley Ski Area of Jones, MI near the Indiana border, will celebrate
its 41st year by offering reduced season pass rates for parents who have
never had a season pass before and are purchasing for their children. If
bought before September 30, a first-time pass-purchasing parent can receive
a season pass for just $41 and ski the entire season. The idea is to
encourage families to ski together.

Treetops Resort of Gaylord, MI expanded its terrain park, newly named, "The
Yard." Treetops will offer free skiing on Thursday nights and Friday
mornings to all guests who add Thursday night lodging to a Weekend Ski
Package. Treetops' visitors purchasing a normal weekend package will enjoy
lift tickets beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday through closing time on the day
they depart. Parents stay free with the Kidz Ski Package. For less than
$500, two adults and up to three children will enjoy two nights of lodging,
two adult and up to three Kidz lift tickets (for the entire weekend), one
large pepperoni pizza, a bag or box of popcorn and a special "surprise gift"
upon arrival.

Sunburst Ski Area, just north of Milwaukee, WI doubled the size of its
snowmaking for 2009/10. Sunburst purchased another 300 horsepower snowmaking
pump and 16 new snowguns for this season. The new equipment will enable
Sunburst Skiing, Snowboarding and Snowtubing Area to open faster and recover
from winter thaws better. Jim Engel, owner of Sunburst said that the new
system will change over 2500 gallons of water into snow every minute it is
operating. Sunburst added new building and equipment a year ago along with
new snowtubing lifts.