Copper Peak Ski Jump Launches $20 Million Renovation Project

IRONWOOD, Mich.– Copper Peak, the beloved 18 story ski jump nestled in the heart of ironwood, is undergoing quite the makeover.

It got its start back in 1950 and has since worn many hats. From ski jumping events to a fall colors destination.

But now, they received a 20 million dollar grant from the state of Michigan to redevelop and reinvent Copper Peak.

“If everything continues as planned, we’ll have a summer jumping service and be the biggest ski jump in the world to have a summer ski jumping service,” said Bob Jacquart, President Copper Peak.

The president of Copper Peak told FOX 21 ski jumping has been taking off with popularity.

“About 10 years ago, we found out that ski jumping past alpine skiing is the number one watch television sport in Europe, and the visionaries of the European sport said, let’s, let’s try to revitalize copper peak in Ironwood and see if we can get ski jumping going to its greatness again,” said Jacquart.

The final product is expected to shatter records.

This new and improved Copper Peak will greatly impact local tourism and economy.

But for now, it’s all about getting it built.

The ski jump will be completed in two phases, costing 20 million dollars each.

“The lower project is recontouring the landing. The landing has to get changed by two degrees, which you probably saw that rock and everything like that. They’re filling the bottom in up to 18 feet,” explained Jacquart.

“And then they’re going to pour a concrete slab on their next summer so that and then on top of the concrete slab goes summer landing surface, and then containers to hold snow as well.”

And in the meantime, the Copper Peak president is just grateful for the support.

“As kind of the leader of this project, and for our board, we not only know it, but we also think it’s going to help a huge region. We’ve gotten in the last six months, we’ve gotten tremendous amount of support,” said Jacquart.

“The overflow is going to stay, going to be in a circle, about 100-mile circle, like Duluth to Eau Claire to Wausau, and that whole region is going to just people are just going to come here and then get exposed to our beauty of our community.” added Jacquart.

With phase one being well underway, officials told FOX 21 that right now they’re still waiting for funding to begin phase two.