History of Lutsen

Lutsen was founded in the 1880s when C.A.A. Nelson arrived from Sweden, built a home, and rented rooms to other pioneers. A family inn-keeping tradition was born. Decades later, C.A.A.'s grandson, George, a member of the famed 10th Mountain Division, returned from World War II with a new vision: a year-round resort that capitalized on our abundant natural resources, and the Midwest's tallest mountains, plentiful snow, and a gorgeous Lake Superior backdrop. In 1948, George brought skiing to Lutsen with one lift and two runs. During the '60s, chairlifts and snowmaking hit the scene. And in the '70s, George's daughter, National and Olympic ski champion Cindy Nelson, trained here and put us on the ski map.

Charlie's son, Charles, and son-in-law, Tom Rider, joined Lutsen Mountains in the 1990's and purchased the ski area from Charlie. Attorneys by background, skiing was in their blood as both decided to forgo established East Coast law careers for the passion of operating a family-run Midwest ski area. With a sensibility to the complete resort experience, Charles and Tom embarked on a modernization and expansion plan that covered all aspects of the resort including new runs and ski lifts and expanded snowmaking and grooming capabilities; Papa Charlie's - the renowned music and dining venue; the Summit Chalet - an opulent skier services (and summer wedding) facility at the summit of Moose Mountain; and Eagle Ridge - 74 ski-in/ski-out studios and condominiums at the heart of the ski area. Behind the scenes, millions of dollars have been invested on the less glamorous but equally essential side of wastewater and storm water management, engineering, and a streetscape project with sidewalks, lighting, and courtyards to improve the guest experience and public safety.

Over the three decades of ownership by the Skinner/Rider Family, the ski area business in the U.S. has changed dramatically. Three hundred ski areas, many of them destination ski areas like Lutsen, have gone out of business because they were too small and failed to modernize, including iconic destinations like Telemark, Wisconsin. Over this same period, Western destinations have grown, and their expansions and upgrades have continuously raised the bar for Midwest destinations like Lutsen.

Lutsen Mountains is committed to continuing to improve the ski vacation experience for its customers and the economy of our county. Tourism is the primary economic driver in Cook County, accounting for 80% of the $150 million economy. Lutsen Mountains currently generates $29 million of the $150 million economy and 250 jobs of the workforce of 2,000. The expansion is estimated to increase the ski area's economic contribution to $53 million and jobs to 450, concentrated during the winter when jobs and sales are needed most. The expansion will make the entire economy more year around. Of course, these improvements will take a number of years to complete. Along the way, we will continue to listen to our guests and analyze industry trends and adjust our plans. As a small family business, each step will be prioritized to be implemented sustainable, both financially and environmentally, to ensure the experience and aesthetic of a Lutsen vacation is available for generations to come.

The future of Lutsen will continue to be to offer the most diverse skiing in the Midwest, on four sprawling mountains, with plenty of easier trails for families and learning skiers and being able to enjoy endless activities and choose from an exceptional collection of lodging. Yet the spectacularly beautiful setting will remain, hardly changed since C.A.A. Nelson landed here over a century ago. Lutsen will continue to stand alone as the best, the biggest, and by far the most exciting and diverse skiing anywhere in Mid-America, giving you the experience of a Western ski resort, for a mere fraction of the price.