Walkway renovations paving way for new exhibit at Ski Heritage Center

The Whitefish Ski Heritage Center and Museum will construct its outdoor ski lift history exhibit this fall alongside a renovation of its shared entry plaza with Mountain Trails Park. 

The current surface of the walkway between the Ski Museum, warming hut and park playground is made of brick pavers installed in the 1990s. After three decades, the surface is ready to be revitalized. 

The new surface will be a combination of concrete with brick pavers highlighting the walkway through the plaza.  

“We are excited to get started on this project and to help support the Ski Heritage Museum’s fundraising campaign through the installation of the pavers,” said Maria Butts, Parks and Recreation director. "We are also very thankful for the generous donations from community members that have helped this project come alive.”  

The project includes the installation of a paver walkway around the front of the museum connecting the park and museum to the Wisconsin Avenue SNOW bus stop. 

The Ski Museum will help fund the improvements through the sale of commemorative brick pavers installed along the walkway. 

“We are committed to helping fund this project, as well as completing the museum’s new outdoor ski lift exhibit,” said Museum Director Tim Hinderman.  

The museum's plans for the outdoor exhibit have been in discussion since 2021, Hinderman said.  

The catalyst was the coming together of the Parks and Recreation Department, the Ski Museum and a few generous community members.  

Planning has progressed and Big Mountain Hardscapes, LLC is slated to begin work in mid-September.  

Once the plaza and walkway are completed, the Ski Museum plans to build the ski lift exhibits along the walkway. The first exhibit includes a chairlift lower terminal showcasing the original Chair 2 bull wheel erected overhead, along with 2 hanging chairs and a T-Bar. 

The second exhibit is the drive mechanism for the original Hell Roaring Ski Club rope tow lift installed on Big Mountain in 1940. The mechanical marvel is powered by a 4-cylinder Lycoming engine atop the chassis and transmission from a 1920’s Gardner automobile.  

Other exhibits along the walkway will include retired single, double and triple ski lift chairs, lift signs and miscellaneous snow grooming equipment. 

“We started collecting artifacts and laying out the exhibits for this project several years ago," Hinderman said. "Now with things moving ahead quickly, the meter is running and we need to sell some bricks. The funding drive starts now.” 

The park and museum will remain open during scheduled operating hours throughout the project. 

Mountain Trails Park is located at 705 Wisconsin Avenue adjacent to the Stumptown Ice Den. The land was acquired by the city of Whitefish in 1984 from the Mountain Trails Saddle Club.  

Before becoming a public park, the Saddle Club held events at this location including the demolition derby, skijoring, rodeos and other activities. By 1990, with grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the I.O. O’Shaughnessy Foundation and donations from local businesses and individuals, the outdoor Whitefish Ice Rink was created. In October of 2003, the outdoor rink was transformed into what is now the Stumptown Ice Den. 

The Saddle Club building was used for family and group gatherings and hosted summer camp events until 2013 when it was leased from the city to create the Ski Museum.  

For questions or additional information about the park and project contact Parks and Recreation at 406-863-2470. 

For more information about the Ski Museum see www.whitefishskimuseum.org or contact Hinderman at 406-885-2730 or [email protected].