Minnesota’s Giants Ridge is renovating both its winter and summer sports facilities. Already one of the Midwest’s premiere golf destinations with two courses designed by award-winning architect Jeff Brauer, the resort is committed to projects all across their 35-trail, 500-foot vertical mountain and beyond.
“We regraded the novice area this past summer, and added an additional lift, (one of three in the last four years),” explained resort general manager Fred Seymour. “Over next seasons we’ll upgrade our snowmaking and change the lighting for night skiing to LED.”
The resort is also renovating their golf courses – the Legend and the Quarry – with Brauer perhaps to return and improve irrigation and drainage.
“Areas around the golf course were also used as the U.S. Olympic training ground for triathlon events; the shooting range was located between two holes,” noted Brauer, also a skier. “Those triathlon trails still provide challenging cross-country ski options for resort visitors.”
The resort’s name recalls the tale of Esquagama, the legendary giant who fell asleep roaming the hills. The local topography is said to resemble the shape of his slumbering body. As a puckish homage, Brauer designed a bunker at the Legends course in the shape of giant’s footprint.
