Forty Acres Tavern

When Everett and two friends, John Norton and Jim Christianson, went scouting for a Michigan ski hill fit for a resort they checked out several areas in northern Michigan. When they decided on this location in the mid 1940s, they went looking for who owned it and found William Pearson. Mr. Pearson was a Boyne City resident, former legislator and logger. When Everett told him why they wanted the mountain, Pearson famously said, “Anybody damn fool enough to want to build a ski hill... well, I’ll give you the property.” The attorney wrote up the contract and the first 40 acres of Boyne Mountain was purchased for $1. The original plot included the main part of the Mountain (from Boyneland to Meadows) and where the Clocktower lodge sits.

During the opening ceremony in January 1949, Pearson spoke about his donation.💡 Click Play Video to hear this speech. “It seems like a dream to me. The first time I went up this mountain was in 1884. It wasn’t for ski purposes (laughing), I promise you that. From that time on, more or less, I have logged the greater part of the ski mountain. I never expected to be able to live to see a time like this. I congratulate these boys. They’ve done a wonderful service. If I have been a little help to them in these declining years, I am more than pleased for it and I certainly thank them. I appreciate the membership in this club, and I thank you.”

📸 Attached Media:

-""Grand Old Man" Does Hit Bit Toward Aiding the Tourist Industry" photo and article from the Charlevoix County Herald on January 7, 1949

-1940 Boyne Valley Plat Map with Pearson's 40 acres highlighted in yellow

🔗Links in Text:

-"1949 Grand Opening" YouTube by Boyne Mountain Resort https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0CAWDBCso

🏃There are restrooms at the top of the mountain IF the Eagle’s Nest is open. For access to RESTROOMS before the lift ride, check out Forty Acres restaurant, the Adventure Center or the Civic Center.

Turn toward the mountain and look for the Hemlock chairlift. If you would like to ride the lift, please purchase a ticket at the Lift Ticket Window directly south (right) of Forty Acres Tavern. The trip up the mountain takes 10 minutes.

📚Bibliography: β Δ ♥