The archive photographs look back at the early history of the Pine Mountain Ski Resort.

The lodge’s story begins in December 1939, when Fred Pabst of the Pabst Brewing family sought locations to promote skiing and his lift invention through Ski Tows, Inc.

Pabst cleared the land and opened Pine Mountain, designing tow ropes powered by an automobile, with an attendant controlling the speed using the accelerator pedal.

To attract visitors, Pabst offered weekend train trips from Chicago and Milwaukee, helping establish Pine Mountain as one of the premier ski hills of the late 1930s and early 1940s.

This 1955-56 view of the Pine Mountain Lodge shows skiers using the tow rope. The single-story building had a walkout basement. (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum, Iron Mountain)

Pine Mountain was closed during World War II due to gasoline rationing.

After the war, two members of the 10th Mountain Division, LaVern Trepp and Irvine Johnson, acquired the Pine Mountain Alpine Ski Facility.

They proceeded to rebuild, opening in December 1945.

They constructed a warming hut using crates that had transported World War II gliders to the nearby Ford Plant. The roof was made from leftover glider wing spars — parts of which can still be seen today in the Sitzmark Bar.

Under the leadership of the Trepp family, Pine Mountain became the first resort in the region with 100% snowmaking, grooming, and aerial lifts, and it was the only ski-in/ski-out resort in the Upper Peninsula.

Pine Mountain Lodge owner LaVern Trepp shows off a variety of skis to young customers. (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum, Iron Mountain)

Since then, the resort has had several owners, including Duane Tirschel and his family, who owned it for four years. After the Tirschel family closed the resort in 1999, ownership passed through several investment groups.

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“Remember when?” appears every Wednesday in The Daily News. Those with suggestions or historical photographs they would like to submit can email Terri Castelaz at tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.