Many people dream about leaving their mark on the world; Eric Anderson and Angela Santini, owners of the Active Backwoods Retreat (ABR) Nordic trail system in Ironwood, Michigan, are turning that dream into reality. On April 1, 2025, they will donate the whole ski area, including 663 acres of land with 100 kilometers of ski trails, a ski shop, grooming equipment and trailside lodging to the nonprofit Anderson Bluffs and River Trails Foundation (the land transfer itself will be phased in through 2027). Founded five years ago to eventually receive the donation, the foundation will continue to operate ABR as a nonprofit Nordic trail system, with profound gratitude and accolades from the community.
This winter marks Anderson and Santini’s 30th year running ABR, and they are ready to retire. As with many good succession plans, theirs has been in motion for a while beginning with the formation of the foundation to sustain and build on ABR’s prominence in the Midwest ski community. After Anderson experienced heart failure six years ago, Santini told him she wouldn’t be able to take over the trails on her own. “So, we made a plan to turn over ABR to an entity that would provide the same or better services,” she explains.
Ample Snow and Trailside Lodging
With the region’s growing popularity among visitors—thanks to its affordability, abundant snowfall, lack of crowds and even a few decent downhill ski areas—Anderson and Santini knew they could readily sell the acreage for tremendous financial gain. But their roots are there: The land was homesteaded by Anderson’s great-grandfather, and Eric and his father, Dave Anderson, started ABR in 1995. The younger Anderson calls the decision to preserve the land quick and easy. “There were two paths—give it away or sell it,” he says. “We asked ourselves, ‘Which would be the most rewarding, the most satisfying?’” Adds Santini, “We have made so many good friends in the last 30 years. How could we let them down?”
Justifiably, ABR’s reputation has been stellar. In the path of prevailing winds across Lake Superior, the region typically gets hit hard with lake-effect snow, making ABR the first destination in the Midwest to offer skiing on natural snow each winter. Grooming, meanwhile, is reliably impeccable (see “Trail Heroes” in Issue 43.2). On any given day, one can see both retired Yoopers (as residents of the Upper Peninsula are called) enjoying the trails in wool sweaters and local high-schoolers training for their next races. A young Jessie Diggins and her family regularly made the drive from Minnesota to ski at ABR, and Jessie’s father, Clay, now serves on the nonprofit foundation’s board of directors.
The property’s westernmost boundary is the Montreal River, which forms the border with Wisconsin. Gentle, rolling trails follow the river, while the higher-elevation trails like Hautanen Highlands, where ice formations cascade from rocky outcrops, challenge more advanced skiers. The system offers classic-only, skating, dog-friendly and snowshoe trails.
Early on, Anderson and his father built Hilltop House near the trailhead, and the senior Anderson lived there until his retirement; it subsequently was used as trailside lodging. Anderson and Santini continued to purchase and lease adjacent acreage and homes to expand the trail system and provide more trailside lodging; they also built rustic ski-in cabins for overnight guests.
A Big Volunteer Effort
In anticipation of the turnover, Anderson, Santini and a volunteer board have regularly held workshop-style meetings to create manuals that detail every aspect of running the center. Says Anderson, “How do you turn the water on and off? Where are the spare parts kept? What are the procedures for cleaning the rental cabins? How is the grooming equipment maintained and stored—those are the things we talk about and document.” In all, about 50 community volunteers are preparing for the change of hands. They’ve undertaken tasks like cutting and stacking firewood well in advance of the 2025–26 season and raising money for a new PistenBully groomer, which they anticipate they’ll need by 2030.
Foundation board member Will Andresen grew up in Wisconsin, in a prominent Norwegian family of skiers, and has lived in Ironwood for more than 30 years. “The big story is Eric and Angela’s wonderful legacy—the gift of ABR to this community. I want to be part of securing ABR’s future and, with the rest of the board, make sure the entire community has access to this healthy activity,” he says of his involvement. To that end, Andresen says the foundation will work to attract new skiers and eventually seek to become a four-season facility by capitalizing on ABR’s infrastructure for ski camps and dryland clinics. Even mountain bike trails might be in ABR’s future.
A Plan to Thrive
Once the land transfer has taken place, an executive advisory panel will meet once a year to determine how to keep ABR thriving and even growing. The foundation’s vision also includes Project Connect, which lays out a plan to link ABR’s network with Nordic trails in nearby communities.
This fall, Anderson and Santini moved into Hilltop House. The couple will be on hand for the early years of the foundation’s ownership to help as needed. Anderson will also stay on as chief groomer for the time being and work on trail development in the off season. He’ll continue with his personal construction business, too. Santini looks forward to having more time to ski, walk in the woods and volunteer in the Ironwood community.
With this high level of dedication and attention to the details, a seamless transition is all but certain. But, according to Will Andresen, “It’s the foundation’s job to connect the nonprofit mission with people’s passion. That’s where the magic happens.”