ABOUT SWISS VALLEY

When Jim & Sandy Wiseman purchased what is now Swiss Valley back in 1968 the entire operation consisted of an old farmhouse and seven rope tows. The day before opening of their inaugural ski season, five of the seven rope tows were condemned. What humble beginnings.

The Wisemans persevered, and today Swiss Valley is within an hour’s drive of over one million people. Swiss Valley entices folks to come ski from all over southern Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, with 12 runs, a 225 vertical foot peak (Highest in Southwest Michigan) and seven lifts, including 2 quads and one triple.

Sadly, Jim passed in December of 2021, just as we began our 53rd season of operations. View Obituary Here>>> Although Jim is no longer with us, Swiss Valley continues to be operated by the Wiseman Family, led by his daughter, Jamie Wiseman Stafne.

What’s New 2024-2025

• 2024 Improved Quad 83 lift ramp (Creating a friendlier beginner descent)
• 2024 Replacement of Quad 80 & Quad 83 haul wire ropes
• 2024 Easy Over Beginner’s Area/Shanda’s Nomadic Park rope replacements
• 2024 New fleet of children’s rental snowboards and snowboard bindings
• 2024 Additional rental helmets and adult poles
• 2024 Updated children’s rental ski and boots
• 2024 Additional SMI Super PoleCat (completing the Mountain Do stationary line)
• 2024 Installation of over 500ft snow making electrical line
• 2024 New Ski & Board shop brands such as Nidecker, Flow and Salomon

Swiss Valley History Timeline

Recent Swiss Valley Improvements

• 2023 Parking lot improvements, entire lot resurfaced with asphalt millings, additional LED lighting installed
• 2023 Added 3 new SMI Super PoleCat snowmakers to our fleet
• 2023 Added nearly 300 pair of HEAD BYS rental skis, 25 new head snowboards & over 200 additional helmets to our rental fleet
• 2023 Added a small pine tree farm to better separate “The Ditch” terrain park from the run “Hope It Snowed”
• 2022 Added 5 new SMI Super PoleCat snowmakers to our fleet
• 2022 Finished on hill lighting conversions to full LED
• 2022 Added a new run, “Wheezy’s Way” a run through the trees off Triple/Mountain Do.
• 2022 Renovated rental department, added almost 300 pairs of new snowboard boots, new bindings and snowboards. Replaced 1,950 pairs of ski boots and added 260 new rental helmets to our fleet.
• 2022 New VFD high efficiency snow making pump added and replaced over 1400′ of snow making pipe up triple, increasing snow making capacity
• 2022 Added NASTAR Racing!
• 2021 Added a SMI Super PoleCat snowmaker to our fleet
• 2021 Added Pisten Bully Park 400 groomer to our fleet. We now have 4 Pisten Bully Groomers!
• 2021 New chair pads for triple chair
• 2021 Major snow making pipe improvements and water capacity increase
• 2021 New flooring in chalet, Fireplace Lounge and Lower Lodge bathrooms
• 2021 Improved lighting indoors, upgrade to energy efficient LED
• 2013 Main Lodge bathrooms & changing rooms reconditioned
• 2012 An additional Pisten Bully was purchased, updating the current fleet.
• 2007 – 2008 Season The beginner terrain park was added.
• 2006 – 2007 Season, upgrade to the snow making system, installed new pipe system and more hydrants for increased and more efficient snow making.
• 2005-2006 Expanded the Terrain Park, adding more features.
• Ski & Board Shop offers a full line of equipment, apparel and trained service personnel.
• Several different facilities include a cafeteria, the chalet and a Fireplace Lounge for restaurant dining, live music and relaxing.
• Snow farming guarantees skiing! – All we need is cold weather. We have a tremendous snow making capacity, with the ability to turn over 2000 gallons of water per minute into snow. 
• Night skiing is available all nights (excluding Sunday night)on 100% of the area.

Early Years

• In 1997 we added the terrain park, which offers tabletops, high spines, grind rails and pyramids for skiers, snowboarders and twin tippers who want to perfect their stunts. In 2007 we added an additional “starter” terrain park in response to requests for easy, fun , low surface features that are great for learning to jib, ride and bonk.
• We now have 4 rope tows, 2 quads and one triple chairlift providing an uphill capacity of 9,800 skiers per hour.
• In 1978 & 1979 we operated earth movers 24 hours a day during the two summer seasons to move 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt to build our area to 225 vertical feet, and increase our longest of 11 runs to 1800 feet.
• In 1968 we had 7 rope tows, no snow making and only one lodge for services.
• We started in 1968 with 122 pair of rental skis.
• The Wiseman family have owned and operated Swiss Valley for the past 55+ years.
• 1968- James & Sandy Wiseman purchased the area.
• 1960- Began as Little Switzerland originally built by Dagmar and Louie Danley.