Slinger, WI – Wisconsin’s Little Switzerland ski area, dormant since the 2006-07 winter season, will reopen this winter thanks to its purchase by an area businessman.

Wayne Erickson, who operates the nearby Slinger Speedway, purchased the ski area earlier this year from Jane Herte, whose family founded the resort in 1941.

Erickson has indicated that he expects to have a renovated base lodge and ski runs ready by this fall. The Village Board of Slinger plans to vote on Erickson’s plans to upgrade the base lodge restaurant, bar and banquet room at its meeting June 15.

When it last operated, the 65-acre ski area northwest of Milwaukee had five chairlifts and two rope tows serving 15 ski runs covering a 200-foot vertical drop on both sides of its hill. Its equipment was sold at auction in August 2007.