Skiing and Riding on the Plains

Some ski areas are owned and run by big companies (think Vail Resort) or enterprises that can boast of world-class terrain (think of the Aspen Ski Company). Then there are the industrialists who have a ski business on the side.

The March/April 2009 edition of Enterprise Minnesota (article not online) has a one-page write-up of Vern Anderson and Paul Anderson, who are the brothers behind Andes Tower Hills.

ATH is about 50 miles east of the Minnesota-South Dakota border, so don’t expect half-hour runs. Neither the company web site nor the 2008-09 season brochure give any indication of the vertical drop, though OnTheSnow.com says it’s 290 feet, on 35 acres.

So none of the three words in the name–Andes, tower, hills–is that informative. But you make do with what you have. At least that was the motto of hill owner Vern Anderson, who says “I’ve always enjoyed the winter … and as a family we really enjoyed skiing.” Since the nearest lift-served terrain (Powder Ridge, 300 vertical feet and 60 acres) was 75 miles away, “the only solution, Anderson decided, was to build a ski resort himself.”

Today, the magazine says, ATH gets 60,000 visits a year. That’s a pretty good amount of traffic, considering that the county the hills is in has a population of just over 38,000.

Anderson is the CEO of Douglas Machine, so he turns the operations over to manager John Bitner. Bitner talks up the area’s vibe: “We–flat out–have the best family atmosphere for skiers and snowboarders in the state of Minnesota. That’s what’s unique about us.” Anderson, for his part, says “Seeing kids and families have a really great tine. That’s what’s exciting.”

If you’re one of those people who chafes at the commercialization of winter sports (my attitude: Meh), think of Andes Tower Hills, and many other small places like it, where the passion of owners and managers keep the wheels turning.