'Unsafe' ski lift at Mount Mancelona forces state to issue cease and desist
ANTRIM COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- A northern Michigan ski resort was sent a cease and desist letter for what LARA says is operating an unsafe ski lift.
According to Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Mount Mancelona has been operating their ski lift in violation of the Ski Area Safety Act.
LARA said Mount Mancelona's ski lift was found to be hazardous or unsafe and they were operating it without a license.
Sam Porter, who is trying to revitalize Mt. Mancelona, says he contacted state inspectors to do an inspection before a complaint was filed.
"We reached out to the state and communicated to them about what it means to get an inspection, to use this, the second oldest t-bar in the world," said Porter. "So they came out and we spent a day with them, an inspector. It was great and we have a huge white board and notes to really help us prepare for how we can bring this mountain back as a historic replication of what it was and be able to use t-bars or tow ropes but it's definitely a process and we're gonna hopefully raise capital and try to put it together."
Porter says family and friends were the only ones to use the ski lift.
He also says no lift tickets were ever sold and that they haven't used the ski lift since they got the cease and desist letter.
Mount Mancelona could face civil or criminal sanctions if they don't stop using the ski lift.
Porter says that he hasn't received any fines or tickets.
He also says he's hoping that Mt. Mancelona will be open to the public next year.
