The Ward Hill or Ward Hills area operated from the mid 1950′s until the 1970′s. There were several rope tows and many runs. Some were named and some were numbered. Check reminiscences at this wordpress site.
In The Cass City Chronicle for Fri., Nov. 9, 1956, in the “Michigan Mirror” column, Ward Hills near Cadillac is listed among the rapidly developing ski areas of Michigan. According to a Consumers Power brochure from 1959, Ward Hills was 6.5 mi north of Branch, midway between Ludington and Baldwin via us-10 and Co-669. They had 4 slopes (1 novice run) 1 tow, instruction, and a warming shelter with lounge serving snacks. The Cass City Chronicle printed the 1968 AAA Michigan Guide to Winter Sports Fun on Jan. 4. 1968. It listed Ward Hills, 6 1/2 mi. north of Branch between Ludington and Baldwin as having 8 lighted ski runs, trails, and rope tows. They listed both a Michigan and a Chicago phone number for the resort.
Apparently the Ward Hill Ski Area was purchased by the Chicago YMCA and added to their nearby Camp Martin Johnson, listed as being near Irons. Camp Martin Johnson was run by the Hyde Park YMCA from 1926 until 1980. They may have continued to run the tows for winter campers or other users (local school groups?) until they closed the camp in 1980 and sold the property, reportedly to Ted Nugent, the “Motor City Mad Man.” It has been sold several times since.
Charles J. Stivale, who had stayed at the camp as a youth, recounts a couple of trips back to the site of the camp in 1997 and 2001. He says, “While driving back south toward Branch, I stopped for a final photo at Ward Hills (album 8-12), where the old lodge seems to have been replaced (although possibly just renovated… who knows!), but where the lower, beginner slope still is evident. There is even a small ski house standing at the top of the slope. Driving down the road from a distance, one can clearly see the ski run which is still clear cut.” I think he might be pointing to a location on North Hamilton Rd. just north of where the road loops east, then west around a large hill before resuming its north/south direction. The topo map places this on the north facing slopes of the hill and there are a couple buildings and a cleared area at the bottom of the hill, but I don’t spot the small ski house at the top if it is still standing another 10 years later. Apparently the link to his photo album no longer works.
The area is in the Manistee National Forest and is about 15 mi. south of the Udell Hills.
If you have any information about skiing at Ward Hills or Camp Martin Johnson, please post it or send it to us via the directions on the About MILSAP page.
