BRUCE MOUND SET TO OPEN
Tuesday, December 13th, 2005 -- 11:51 AM
Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area is opening this Friday. In a year that has seen the Clark County Board show overwhelming support to keep the facility county-run, Forestry and Parks Director Mark Heil says county ownership continues to keep Bruce Mound family- and budget-friendly. This is another year where Mother Nature hasn?t provided enough snow to open, but snowmaking equipment will ensure the slopes will be open on time.
"Each of the past four or five years, we'd have barely had the facility open at all, let alone this early in the season," Heil says. "We've been able to make snow seven or eight days straight because of the ideal conditions."
Their goal is a 2?- 2 ?-foot snow base when they open.
In an attempt to shore up their budget, the Forestry and Parks Committee has adjusted some fees this season ? but they?re still considered less expensive than comparable facilities in the Midwest, Heil says.
Most people that ski, tube or snowboard at Bruce Mound are from surrounding counties, but many travel a great distance.
"The bulk of the people that use our facility are (from) southern Clark County, northern Jackson County and Trempealeau County," Heil says. "The last time we did a detailed study of where people are coming from, we had people from fourteen different states, and some from out of the country as well."
In December and January, Bruce will be open Friday evenings from 5:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays from 11:00-4:00 p.m. It will be open throughout the holiday week, except Christmas Day. For more information, you can visit the at [url=http://www.fobmi.org]Friends of Bruce Mound website[/url].
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.