Winter Wonderland Adventures at Nordic Mountain in Mount Morris

MOUNT MORRIS, Wis. (WBAY) — On an icy winter evening at Nordic Mountain in Mount Morris, Rick Schmitz and his crew are actively engaged in preparing the slopes, a task that has been carried out many winters in the past.

“This marks my 20th season,” Schmitz, the proprietor of Nordic Mountain, stated. “We are absolutely thrilled when it’s this cold. I’m the most enthusiastic individual during weather like this.”

In the early 2000s, Schmitz was a university senior with aspirations of owning his own enterprise.

“Reflecting on it now, I can remember what the bank perceived when I stepped inside,” Schmitz reminisced. “I’m 22 years old, I lack any funds, have no experience in this field, and I intend to purchase a seasonal, weather-dependent business that has been incurring losses for the past 5 years.”

Eventually, several banks decided to listen, aiding Schmitz in transforming his aspiration into a challenging reality.

“For me, it was all the money in the world,” Schmitz remarked. “I acquired the ski hill for $625,000.”

He’ll readily admit that following the acquisition, it wasn’t all smooth sailing and smoothly maintained trails.

“During the first few years, I lived on very little,” Schmitz recalled. “Every dime, for a significant period, was reinvested back into the business.”

With that “never give up” mindset, along with a committed team at Nordic Mountain, including current general manager Bill Ringenoldus, the resort has evolved into a thriving winter attraction.

“I began here at 18; now I’m 44,” Ringenoldus stated. “Rick is exceptional at being fully committed and confident enough in his judgments that when he decides to invest significantly in something, it’s destined to succeed.”

The effort has paid off. Besides Nordic Mountain, Schmitz co-owns two additional resorts in southern Wisconsin, which highlights his capacity to transform a vision into a reality. He’s also an involved leader, assisting with everything from grooming the trails to producing the snow that blankets them.

“You must be prepared to handle it all,” Schmitz asserted. “Our philosophy is, we will never request an employee to perform a task that we are unwilling to do ourselves.”

A devoted owner with a fervor for his business, his team, and the small-town ski resort that has a promising future.

“The community backing here is absolutely remarkable,” Schmitz stated. “Skiers and snowboarders are incredibly passionate about their activities and pastimes, and when they come out and acknowledge all the effort that we invest in our offerings, there’s nothing more gratifying than that. It’s truly rewarding to see people enjoying themselves in the snow.”

For more details regarding Nordic Mountain, including conditions and operational hours, view its website here.

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