Skilifts.org reports that in 1971 Mott installed a 1064′ Sneller double chairlift with a 167′ vertical rise. The year before, The Cass City Chronicle on Dec. 10, 1970 published the 1971 AAA Michigan Winter Sports Fun List which said Mott had 12 slopes, 6 rope tows and snowmaking. When Mott closed, it had 1 double and 3 ropes for 7 slopes on an optimistically listed 225′ vertical. It re-opened briefly as Silver Ridge and maybe Black Mountain.
If you have any information about skiing at Mott Mountain, please post it or send it via the directions on the About MILSAP page.
Mott Mountain was, at one time, owned by George Palmer, his son Kelly still lives in Farwell and operates an automotive garage. Kelly could shed some light and possibly share some memorabilia. George sold to Earl and Phyllis Damon (sp?). Either Earl installed that chairlift or the installation overlapped the change in ownership, I believe. I skied, raced, then taught skiing at Mott from 1967 until 1974. The famous artist, Todd Warner, and his brothers Craig and Kent, were all on the ski school staff. Warner Real Estate (Farwell) might be a good lead for information. After George Palmer, Mark Rupert was the ski school director. Current (2012) Traverse City Central coach, Brad Miller skied Mott. Lisa Woolever (Clare) skied on the pro freestyle tour after her childhood on the Mott slopes. There was quite a lively competition between Snowsnake and Mott skiers, led by the Gershon (Clare physician), Chamberlain (Mt. Pleasant physician) and Demo (pronounced DEE-mo, Clare gas station operator) families. I own a Mott Mt. patch and some family photos showing lots of rope tows and racing.
Ski ya later…
Scott Stillings
PO Box 9
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
231.526.6629
boxninecompany@gmail.com
Howdy,
I started skiing at Mott Mt. and can still remember my first time out just missing the lodge as I slid into the parking lot next to our truck. Mott had a chair and a double tow to the top and on weekends it was chocked full of folks from Saginaw and Detroit. Mark “Rupe” Rupert was the ski school director and Earl Damon was the fiery Owner. When we were young our parents would dump us off to ski and then they would head to the slope side bar and Dance to music performed by the “Moon lighters”.
From an early start Kelly Palmer, Jeff Sartor, my brother Lenny and I would spend hours catching air , usually under the watchful eyes of Earl Damon , Mark Rupert and Lisa Woolever. Hard as we tried no one could ever out launch Scott Stillings (Michigan ski industry Icon) for max air time. When I was younger my life long goal was to be an instructor at Mott Mt. with the likes of Mark Rupert, Dick Lake and Dale Reiss and fly off a jump like Scott Stillings. Footnote: Snow Snake had some great hot dog skiers, lead by the great Harry Warner. I had no doubt however, we Mott Mountain punks could take them out any time anywhere (alibi: Snow Snake had better racers and Donuts ).
I hear about areas closing all the time and I must admit I’m getting a little hardened. However, thinking about Mott Mt. brings a tear with a smile.
Kelly Palmer still resides at Mott and runs the local Hardware/Auto parts store in Farwell and would be a great source of intel concerning Mott mt
Thanks
Brad Miller
Mott Mt class of 1977
PSIA-C alpine ed-staff
TC Central coaching staff