Pottawattamie County Takes Over Mt. Crescent Ski Area
The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, in collaboration with the Iowa West Foundation and the owners of Mt. Crescent Ski Area (MCSA) Korby and Samantha Fleischer, is pleased to announce that the County has recently received ownership of the metropolitan area’s most popular wintertime attraction. The transition of MCSA’s ownership to Pottawattamie County was made official on December 30th, 2021.
Mt. Crescent Ski Area is located 15 miles northeast of Omaha, Nebraska in the mountainous terrain of the Iowa Bluffs and has been open every single year since 1961, over 60 years! The famous Olympian gold medalist skier Stein Eriksen helped find the perfect spot for a new ski area in 1961 and thus Mt Crescent was built. Mt Crescent provides Midwest skiers with a variety of slopes to intrigue new skiers and challenge experienced ones. Ski Runs reach up to 2,400 feet in length, that is 7 football fields long! If there is no snow in your backyard you can always be guaranteed there is always 100% chance of Snow at Mt Crescent. Swiss style inspired lodge complete with year round sundeck and is home to the Mountain Cafe & Bar.
“Mt. Crescent has been one of our region’s most important winter destinations for decades.” said members of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors. “When the Fleischers approached the County about assuming ownership, we knew this would be an incredible opportunity and responsibility. We’re thrilled that the County can be a part of Mt. Crescent’s future.”
The agreement was made possible with support from the Iowa West Foundation (IWF), an advocate of sustainable regional development. When made aware of the potential shift in ownership, IWF leadership recognized the significance of the moment and responded. “We are beyond pleased to partner with the County and the Fleischer's to support the transition of this regional destination” said Brenda Mainwaring, President and CEO of IWF. “The last two years have reminded us just how important outdoor recreational spaces are to our communities. By providing the additional support needed to make this transition a reality, we know that the County can continue to support conservation and recreation in our region for years to come.”
Mark Shoemaker, Executive Director for the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board added, “This agreement not only supports 4-season recreational opportunities for the residents of our County and beyond, but also expands the preservation of one of the world’s most unique and fragile natural resources, the Loess Hills of Western Iowa. This project is an achievement on multiple levels.”
The Fleischers echoed the sentiments of the other partners while reflecting on their own history with MCSA, “We have been lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to operate a popular ski area for the past 13 years and to be surrounded by dedicated staff, wonderful ski and snowboard enthusiasts, and the best volunteer Ski Patrol around. We are confident and excited that Pottawattamie County will protect and expand upon what our family has worked so hard to create.”
MCSA, which sits directly adjacent to a Pottawattamie County park (Hitchcock Nature Center), will continue to be run and managed by the Fleischers through the remaining 2022 ski season with the County assuming full responsibility in the summer of 2022. Once management of the property has fully transitioned to the County, the County may begin exploring the feasibility of further recreational development of the area.
