They Saved Their Nuts… Nutt Hill Is Officially Reopening!

Midwest skiing is having a bit of a renaissance. And it’s not just the “giants” like Boyne Mountain or the powder frothing mecca of Mt. Bohemia. The real story is happening at the Mom & Pops. Places like Mulligan’s Hollow where they’re seeing record setting visits. Even deep in the north woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a ski area called Norway reopened last season. Looking ahead to 2025–26, another long-shuttered hill in Wisconsin is making a comeback: Nutt Hill.

Cheese Capital of the World

Just 15 minutes west of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, lies the quiet town of Plymouth, the beating heart of the state’s legendary cheese industry. It’s estimated that 10–15% of the nation’s cheese comes from this region. And so the town of Plymouth has earned the well-deserved title of “Cheese Capital of the World.” And since 1962, when winter rolls in, locals have flocked to their beloved hometown ski spot: Nutt Hill.

Sparked by the Olympics & Postwar Boom

In the early ’60s, skiing in the U.S. was booming. The postwar economy was strong, gear was getting easier to use, and the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley had just put American skiing on the global stage. Resorts started popping up everywhere — including a little spot in Colorado called Vail in 1962.

But that same year, far from the Rockies, a humble hill in Plymouth, Wisconsin was making its own debut: Nutt Hill. The land had been owned by Dr. and Mrs. C.R. Nutt since 1946. After they passed, the couple left it to Mrs. Fred Steinecker, who gifted it to the city. That winter, the town opened up the hill as a city park, complete with a tow rope and a few trails — naming it in honor of the Nutts.

It might not have the glitz of the big resorts, but for the locals? It was everything.

Nutt Shuts Down But Community Bringing it Back

Over the years, Nutt Hill remained a beloved winter spot, enjoyed by generations of local families. In 1969, the city even added snowmaking to help guarantee a solid season. But by 2014, the cost of maintaining and operating the hill became too much for the city, and it was forced to close.

Enter the locals. A passionate group of community members formed the nonprofit Cheese Capital Winter Park (CCWP) and took it upon themselves to bring Nutt Hill back to life, reopening and managing the property for future generations to enjoy.

Barn? How About a Ski Hill Raisin’

Bringing a ski hill back to life after being closed for over a decade? That’s no small feat. Like a good old-fashioned barn raising, it takes an entire community rolling up their sleeves to make it happen. That’s exactly what’s going down at Cheese Capital Winter Park. To welcome back skiers, snowboarders, and tubers, the crew behind CCWP has rallied support and raised over $2.3 million in upgrades. A big chunk of that came from local donations — both from individuals and iconic Sheboygan County companies like Sargento Foods, Masters Gallery Foods, and Sartori Cheese.

And it’s not just about one-time funding either. The City of Plymouth is stepping up too, committing $11,000 annually to CCWP — about what it used to cost the city to run the park before it shut down. It’s a true community comeback story, and it’s only just getting started.

BIG Expansion in 2025-26

Back in the day, Nutt Hill kept things simple with just two rope-tow-accessed runs — one for beginners and one for those looking for a bit more thrill. But when it reopens for the 2025–26 winter season, it’s getting a serious glow-up. The revamped hill will feature six tubing lanes and three ski runs, all served by a magic carpet for easy laps.

One of the coolest additions? Glade skiing. Yep, tree runs are making an appearance — something you don’t often see at smaller hills. Alongside that, expect upgraded snowmaking, grooming, and improvements to the facilities too. And the best part? Current plans have the ski area open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., giving you way more time to get those turns in before or after work.

Help the Ski Area Re-open

They can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. After the groundbreaking ceremony on June 19, momentum is building — but they’re not quite there yet. So far, over $2.2 million has been raised, leaving just $100,000 to go to hit the $2.3 million goal.

To stay on track for a 2025-26 opening, they need to close that gap by October 1. Want to help bring Nutt Hill back to life? You can make a tax-deductible donation and be part of this amazing community comeback by clicking here.

More Than Skiing

Looking at the trail map, you might be asking yourself — why reopen a ski hill with just 120 feet of elevation and a handful of trails? I get it. But here’s the thing: you’ve got to look beyond the stats.

Hills like this aren’t just about the vertical drop. They’re community hubs — kind of like a VFW lodge, but covered in snow. A place where people gather, laugh, and make memories.

My Nutt Hill – Four Lakes

Growing up in Chicago, my friends and I were always on the hunt for something to do on weekday nights. Summers were spent skating the city streets, but in winter? Options were either too expensive or too far. That’s when we found a tiny little hill in the western suburbs called Four Lakes.

It wasn’t Vail. It wasn’t Aspen. But it was ours — and honestly, that’s what made me fall in love with snowboarding. Just like Nutt Hill, Four Lakes was small but mighty. We’d meet up after school, lap the rope tow, and session the park for hours, trying to one-up each other on tiny kickers. Funny thing? A bunch of us ended up moving West to chase snow, but all of us still talk about those nights at Four Lakes.

So here’s to Nutt Hill — bringing that same kind of winter magic back to Plymouth. Not just a ski hill… but a place where the next generation of riders, skiers, and lifelong friends are made.