Iola Winter Sports Club grows

IOLA - The Iola Winter Sports Club (IWSC) is pursuing a major capital campaign to add miles of new mountain bike trails, expand event space and upgrade its aging snowmaking system.

IWSC, a nonprofit organization with a recreational club spanning about 400 acres, had raised about $750,000 of its $2.5 million goal as of early this month. The current phase of the campaign focuses on a major snowmaking upgrade aimed at improving winter reliability.

Operations Manager Morgan Pease said that recent winters have underscored the need for dependable snowmaking, a trend seen across the Midwest.

“Most downhill resorts can’t survive without a level of snowmaking to some capacity,” he said.

He added that snowmaking is essential not only for general members but also for the club’s weekly youth ski program, recreational team and race team, which practice three to four nights a week.

Plans call for up to 5 kilometers (about three miles) of lighted man-made snow trails over the next five years. Initial snowmaking infrastructure will include a pump house, well, high-volume pump, cooling tower and compressor.

Pease’s position as operations manager is a key part of the club’s broader capital campaign and long-term vision. He is in charge of keeping projects moving forward, from overseeing grooming and upkeep of the Nordic (cross-country) ski system to building and maintaining mountain bike and running trails.

Last year, the club opened seven miles of mountain bike trails. By mid-June, the club should have about 12 miles of trails completed, he said.

Longer term, the goal is to build 15 to 18 miles of trail by 2028, with routes ranging from beginner-friendly children’s trails to more advanced, gravity-focused segments. The club now hosts multiple running events, including spring and fall trail races and a three-race summer series.

All the new trails pair with the Ice Age Trail, which cuts through the club property and is open to the public.

“We’re getting fewer and fewer usable outdoor spaces for people and this is one of those really nice pockets that anyone around can come out and for either a membership or a trail pass, can come and enjoy year round, either if it’s hiking or skiing or snowshoeing, any of those are available,” he said.

Visible changes on the grounds will continue this year, including an expansion of the multipurpose building, informally known as Phil’s Garage. Currently, grooming equipment is stored in three different locations. The plan calls for removing an unusable portion of the existing structure and building a new section as an addition so all the grooming equipment can be stored in one place. The expanded building will double as a multipurpose event space, providing climate controlled indoor capacity for large gatherings.

Renovation and expansion of the club’s chalet is another key part of the project. Plans include larger bathrooms with changing areas, expanded gathering space and a private conference room to accommodate events and rentals.

The project will also add a new entry and foyer to the chalet, allowing visitors to access restrooms and a warming area even when the chalet is not staffed. Additional basement space will provide dedicated areas for ski teams, ski jumping programs and equipment preparation.

Donations to the capital campaign can be mailed or made online at iolawintersportsclub.org. The club also offers naming rights for trail segments and new buildings, with one naming gift already pledged for the new multipurpose building.

Pease said the club’s long-term goal is to function as a year-round outdoor recreation facility, offering ski jumping, Nordic skiing, running, biking, hiking and snowshoeing.