Hall of Fame working to upgrade exterior

ISHPEMING — Drivers in Ishpeming have two new roundabout projects to look forward to next year along US–41, and one adjacent facility is looking to make some improvements to coincide with the changes.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum recently received a $30,000 grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The grant will be used to fund part a project to enhance the Hall of Fame’s exterior, modify the parking lots, and improve signage.

“We have this project we call our Community Gateway Project to encourage more people to stop at the Hall of Fame, because they will be slowing down to go through the roundabouts, and also to serve as a gateway to downtown Ishpeming and the business community down there,” said Hall of Fame President and CEO Tom West. “Right now, we have so much traffic that pours by here, and I think one of the issues we face is that they’re halfway down the highway [and] all of a sudden they realize, ‘oh, we just went by the National Ski Hall of Fame. We probably should have stopped there. It’s too late.’ I think we’re going to see a lot more traffic in our new parking lots.”

The project in total is expected to cost between $60,000 and $75,000. The Hall of Fame will be seeking more grants to help fund the remainder. For more information about the Hall of Fame and Museum, click here.