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Krivitz, Wisconsin — At JC PowerSports in Krivitz, there is little off season.
What you need to know
- Outdoor Recreation Generates Nearly $9 Million Economic Impact in Wisconsin
- This includes activities from skiing to snowmobiling
- Snowmobiles boost winter business in Northwoods, Wisconsin
Sales and service of snowmobiles and all-terrain/utility terrain vehicles keep staff like Jeff Schwaller busy throughout the four seasons.
“Since the early ’70s, snowmobiles have been pivotal to the economic impact of this sector,” he said. “Winter, we’ve come to the point where it’s late. It’s busy all year round. Winter is not the time to rest. Go, go, go.”
That’s true of all outdoor recreation in Wisconsin, which, according to the state, will bring nearly $9 million to the economy in 2021. This is an increase of about 14% from the previous year.
(Spectrum News 1/Nathan Phelps)
The snowmobiling season usually starts in earnest in late December and early January, but the peak of the season can be earlier or later.
“The quintessence of winter is when the snow hits the ground. Mother Nature, snow is everything,” Schwaller said. “There’s a January thaw that seems to be at the peak of the season, and there’s no snow there. Luckily, it doesn’t happen very often.”
Leon Popp owns Popp’s Resort about 12 miles northwest of Crivitz. Adjacent to snowmobile trails, snowmobiling makes up about 60% of the resort’s seasonal operations in the middle of winter.
“The traffic on the trails here. If you sit at a certain point, you’ll get 600 to 800 sleds a day,” he said. “This is a big influx. There are a lot of people.”
(Spectrum News 1/Nathan Phelps)
He said he has seen a growing number of ATV/UTV users in recent years. Those riders are also bringing in much-needed business.
“Especially in spring and fall shoulder seasons when you just love to get out and ride,” Popp said. “Bringing business to all regions here during the shoulder season that we really need.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, there are more than 200,000 registered snowmobiles and more than 25,000 miles of groomed trails in the state. This includes hundreds of miles in Marinette County.
“We have nine snowmobile clubs, all contributing to a trail system with well over 700 miles of trails in Marinette County alone,” says Schwaller.
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