Light the Night Book Sponsors

PETE $5,000 and up

Hickory’s steepest hill is named for Pete Batsakis, Sr., the one-time owner of two local restaurants and the U&I Lounge. Pete was one of the first financial contributors to Hickory Hills and hosted the first Hickory Hills Ski Club benefit dinner at one of his restaurants, The Batsakis Inn.

The Les and Anne Biederman Foundation

Cherryland Electric Cooperative
When the first lights flickered on one chilly night at Hickory Hills – in December of 1951 – history was in the making. With poles, electric lines and power supplied by Cherryland Electric Cooperative, Hickory Hills made history by becoming the first Michigan ski area to have night lights, offer night skiing and to host a high school race under the lights. That was almost 60 years ago. Cherryland Electric Cooperative and Hickory Hills are still working together today. Click here to check out Cherryland Electric Cooperative.

SWEDE $1,000 -$4,999

Hickory’s longest hill is named for Oscar “Swede” Johnson, the owner of Swede’s Service. A City Commissioner at the time Hickory opened, Swede was an early supporter of a city-owned ski area. He not only contributed financially to the hill, but also often came after work to help with construction of the ski area as it was being developed.

Leelanau Communications
Huntington Bank
Rotary Good Works Fund
Oleson Foundation
Matthew and Jody Madion
Grand Traverse Ski Club
Jean Bensley Memorial Fund
Conquer the Village Mountain Bike Race
The Franklin

BUCK $500-$999

Hickory’s most skied hill, Buck, is named for Gerald “Buck” Williams. Buck was the the City’s Parks and Recreation Superintendent for 18 years and retired from the City as Deputy City Manager in 1981 after 44 years of service to the community. Without the determination and perseverance of Buck Williams, Hickory Hills would not be here today.

Don Orr Ski Haus www.donorrskihaus.com
Hospitalists of Northern Michigan
Ted Kramer
Tammy Hagerty
Michigan Community Service Commission
Grand Traverse Radiology

JACK’S TRAIL Up to $499

Jack’s Trail meanders through the wooded hills of Hickory and is named for Jack Bensley, who organized and ran the first Sunday races for the Grand Traverse Ski Club. Jack was the son of Loren Bensley, the father of Traverse City skiing, and was an instrumental force in the early days of alpine racing in Traverse City. Jack Bensley was a local photographer who captured and chronicled much of the area’s history, including the development of Hickory Hills and alpine skiing in Northern Michigan. His photographic collection has been made available to the authors of Light the Night through the generous contribution of the Bensley Family in order to preserve Hickory’s history. Without these and other images, this stunning, coffee-table book would not have been possible.