New soccer field near the chalet

When some people reach the age of 75 they see that as a reason to slow down and "enjoy life" at a slower pace. George Hovland, the owner of Snowflake Nordic Ski Center in Duluth, looks at age 75 as the speed that he should be making in improving Snowflake. The summer of 2001 is testimony to George�s drive to turn Snowflake into a year round center for vigorous, healthy fun. It all started nearly 15 years ago with a few kilometers of trails, a generator in the woods powering a string of Christmas lights and a fantastic location in the Duluth Snowbelt. From that humble beginning George has added a full service chalet, summer tent camping areas and a surprise hit with the local college kids, a disc golf course. This past summer George went into overdrive to carve out an exciting BMX (& mountain bike) race course, a 400 meter speed skating oval, a generous sized soccer field as well as putting finishing touches on a full size biathlon range.

New biathlon range

Why at age 75 would anyone put so much of their own (and their wife�s) money into an industry with a modest to nothing chance of making a profit? George is driven by a love of healthy living and he wants to provide opportunities for people to enjoy life. He wants people to come to Snowflake and share in the joy of sport and outdoor fun. All activities at Snowflake are very reasonably priced. A season pass for skiing is the same now, as it was 10 years ago. A full round of disc golf is only $3. The biathlon range was built solely to support a growing movement within the ski community and not for any chance at recouping the sizable investment. The same could be said of the speed skating track. The Duluth community and the whole state of Minnesota are lucky to have a man like George with a passion for healthy living and a strong desire to share that passion with others. George invites you to become a member of the Snowflake community. If you would like a brochure or more information please call 218-726-1550 or email [email protected]

Future plans for Snowflake include a generous sized pond for canoeing and kayaking as well as the possibility of a trail side residential community with skiing, running, and hiking right out the front door. George and the whole gang at Snowflake look forward to seeing you this winter!

Photoset: Trail Improvement Photos