1940’s view of the ski tower located on the sand hills across from Jamestown Slough, Vern Linderoth Photo
During the 1940’s, in the days before snowmobiles, winter enthusiasts gathered at Jamestown winter sports park on Old-U.S. 2 east of Manistique, to enjoy a variety of winter recreational activities. Preparatory work began in the fall of 1940 for the construction of a ski jump, ski trails and a toboggan slide on the sand hills opposite Jamestown Slough. The effort was spearheaded by the Manistique Winter Sports Club and relied exclusively on volunteer labor. The poles and lumber used for erecting the ski jump were all donated by local citizens and businesses. By January of 1941 the new winter sports park was ready for use. The new sports park was open to skiers of all ages. The youngest skier to brave going down the new Jamestown tower was nine-year-old John Paul Quick.