I found this area listed as being near “Midville.” I can find no Midville in Michigan, perhaps this was in Middleville. Apparently so from the posts below. On Feb. 3, 1966, The Cass City Chronicle printed the AAA Guide to Winter Sports Fun in Michigan. It lists Eskar Hills with 6 slopes, 4 tows, night skiing and snowmaking.
Geologically, an eskar is a stratified alluvial deposit, usually shaped as a long, narrow line of hills resulting from channeled glacial melt outflow (often beneath the glacier). Stratification is caused by the seasonal nature of glacial melting; larger, heavier gravel deposits when flow is heavy, sand and clay when light. Eskars are among the many glacial features occurring throughout Michigan.
A current photo of Eskar Hills/Middleville.
In addition, I have found references to a Middleville Ski Area. Was this another name for Eskar Hills?
If you know anything about skiing at Eskar Hills or Middleville, please post it or send it to us via the directions on the About MILSAP page.
MILSAP 
You can see vestiges of the former area as you drive out of town from Middleville
ProfesoraV is not specific, but perhaps the area shows up on the topo map on a ridge just south of State Street and northeast of W. Irving Rd. The topo makes reference to ski touring at that location. If this is the location, it seems they had at least two runs with a vertical drop around 150′.
I skied Eskar as a kid in the early 60’s. It was visible from M37 heading South from Grand Rapids. It had a number of rope tows. One long one that ran up the main slope and several short, fast tows that were just as much fun going up as it was going down. I remember the exposure was wrong – lots of sun that made for very soft snow.
The picture that you posted was practically in my driveway. I used to live right across the street from Eskar. It’s been shut down since I was very little; all that remains are the towers for the ski lift going up the hill. I used to go sledding on it when I was a kid.
Here, I drew you a map.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217184968058862418254.0004c433c5fe56e898caf&msa=0&ll=42.710633,-85.450705&spn=0.006819,0.016512
The Google Maps link says unavailable. Could you please update the location? Thank you. Skied there as a kid. As I remember, the lodge and parking were at the top of the hill.
For me, the link brings up a map of the Middleville area. I’m not sure where the ski area was located.
I have very fond memories of Eskar. Skied there many, many times in the early sixties. We used Army surplus equipment from the 10th Mountain Division. Somewhere, buried in my “stuff”, I have an embroidered patch from Eskar. Next time I’m headed towards Hastings, guess I’ll take a side trip to Middleville and look at the old hill.
Charlotte High School used to take buss loads of us kids to Eskar in the early 60’s.
I can remember the long rope tow on the main hill a a rope tow to the “big” hill. Great place to learn.
These days it would be a good place to set up a snowboard park.
My family used to patronize Eskar often in late 50’s maybe early 60’s where we developed primitive downhill skiing skills… Remember the major big hill(intermediate) and then more advanced runs above that… They also had introductory runs on other side of lodge.. Nice place but must have closed due to competition from Panda and Cannonsburg…
It was Eskar. Skied there many times. I have an embroidered patch somewhere. Only had rope tows, but did offer night skiing