Taking the 'ski' out of Ski World

Ski World guests will be tubing, camping and maybe even ice skating this winter, but for the first time in 14 years, they will not be skiing. The decision to close the slopes was made last week by owner Phyllis Riskey.\n"It took a lot of tears, but I did what had to be done," Riskey said.\nWhile the announcement to close the ski slopes came as a shock to many people, Riskey said the closing was due to a number of factors including low attendance during the recent winter seasons, steep insurance rates and other circumstances beyond their control.\n"It's gotten to be a business that sometimes isn't fun," Riskey said. "It wouldn't be fair to raise our prices as a result of tripling insurance rates."\nThe closing of the slopes will mean a dramatic downfall in business, as many people from all over the Midwest travel to Ski World, which is located in Nashville, Ind., each winter to experience the thrill of Petty's Plunge -- the steepest hill at 800 feet. Now, students, community members and groups like the IU ski club will have to relocate and drive further to ski. Some of the closest skiing areas include Paoli Peaks, 45 miles northwest of Louisville, Pines Peak in Valparaiso and Swiss Valley in Jones, Michigan.\n"My friends and I already planned out ski trips to Ski World for this winter," sophomore Jamie Nuccio said. "It will be hard to find a place to ski that's just as good as Ski World was."\nRiskey said the closing will also mean a decrease in employment opportunities at Ski World. Rather than hiring their usual winter staff of 120 to 125 employees, they will only employ 25 to 30.\n"It's a big disappointment," 5-year employee Alicia Wilson said. "I move here every winter to work and ski at Ski World."\nIn the next few weeks, Ski World will become known as Mahogany Lounge and Tubing Center, as they will try to expand and attract more patrons to the resort. Instead of just one tubing hill, there will be a total of three this winter. \n"Hopefully the changes will go over well," Wilson said. "Our ultimate goal is to offer more activities to those who will lose out on skiing."\nAlthough the ski slopes are closing, a variety of winter activities will still remain open. These include lounges, restaurants, tubing hills, camp grounds and theaters. Riskey said there is a possibility that they will build an expansion to include ice skating and an antique mall.\n"We are going to try our best to keep going," Riskey said.\nAlthough skiers like Nuccio will be forced to find another place to ski, some people said they will still remain loyal to the place once known as Ski World.\n"It's reassuring to know that we can still have fun there," Nuccio said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to boost their business."\nAt this point, Riskey is unsure when and if she will reopen the ski slopes. The reopening will depend on this winter's business, as well as insurance rates, she said.\n"Nothing is positive when you're closing something you love," Riskey said. "Hopefully we can develop new activities to keep guests happy"