Wausau, WI – Granite Peak owner Charles Skinner held a press conference yesterday to unveil his estimated $50 million plan to add more lifts, ski runs, slopeside lodging and summer activities to his Wisconsin ski and snowboard resort.

Skinner indicated that Granite Peak needs the additional amenities to compete with Vail Resorts, which has recently added suburban ski areas in Detroit and Minnesota to its stable of ski areas united under the company’s Epic Pass, as well as to accommodate the next generation of skiers.

Skinner’s proposal would add another 150 acres to its current 415 acres on 700 vertical feet of Rib Mountain leased from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The new terrain, located to the west of the current ski area, would add a dozen beginner and intermediate runs to the resort. On privately owned land in between the current and future terrain pods, Skinner envisions developing slopeside lodging sometime in the future. He also plans to augment off-season activities with zip lines and fall chairlift rides.

The expansion would come on the heels of a new Dasher high-speed quad installed for 2012-13 on the mountain’s western runs, and a new $4 million Cupid high-speed quad on the eastern end of the mountain for this winter.

Skinner hopes to break ground on the terrain expansion in summer 2016.