Group Organizes To Oppose Rib Mountain Ski Hill Expansion

A citizens group has organized in opposition to a planned expansion of the Granite Peak Ski Hill at Rib Mountain State Park near Wausau.

Granite Peak is planning to add dozens of new ski runs on 150 acres of state park land, and a new lodge at the base of the mountain.

The group, called Leave Rib Mountain Alone, has gathered more than 3,000 signatures opposing the plan, according to its leader Nancy Anderson.

“I’ve heard from people in the community that are happy with the ski hill,” Anderson said, “But they also still want to maintain the environment and the beauty of our state park that we have now. So, you know, they want to kind of keep it as is.”

The group is worried about hiking trail access. Residents who live at the base of the mountain are also worried about additional snow making activity. Anderson said their concerns include “water runoff, a lot of sediment in their yards, a very big thing is how much water is taken out of the Rib River.”

Granite Peak management will unveil a revised expansion plan on Dec. 7, which they say will address some of the concerns. They say the expansion is necessary to keep the ski hill competitive.