On Dec. 21, 1951, The Ludington Daily News snow report listed Pioneer Hills near Roscommon with 8″ new snow.
According to a Consumers Power brochure from around 1959, Pioneer Hills was located 3.5 mi. northwest of Roscommon on the Higgins Lake Road. It had 3 ski runs with 2 rope tows, instruction, and a lodge with rental equipment, ski shop and a snack bar. It was open daily with night skiing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The area was located on a ridge just west of the middle of Higgins Lake, now just east of I-75, just before it joins US-127. On the topo you can see the hill with about 150′ of vertical, but on the satellite, I’m not sure I can identify any runs. The area is just south of exit 288 on I-75, identified as either Old M-66 or W Federal Hwy. Turn south on Co Rd 101 and when you get to Pioneer Hills Marine on the left, you have arrived. The ski area was kitty-corner on the right.
Pioneer Hill is still used for sledding. There is a video on YouTube of someone climbing the hill in the Fall with a view from the top. The narration mentions snowboarding on the hill.
If you have any information about skiing at Pioneer Hills, please post it or send it to us using the instructions on the About MILSAP page.
