Rib Mountain in Marathon County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Skiing Rib Mountain
Photographed by McGhiever, October 30, 2022
1. Skiing Rib Mountain Marker
In 1936, the State of Wisconsin dedicated a portion of Rib Mountain State Park to create the ski area. The Kiwanis Club and Wausau Chamber of Commerce raised funds to purchase 80 additional acres, with the State acquiring more parcels over the next several decades. Today, the ski area encompasses more than 400 acres of the park and is operated by a private operator through a lease agreement with the State.
When the ski area opened in 1937, it was one of the first ski areas in North America. It opened with six runs, a half-mile long T-bar lift (reportedly the longest ski lift in the nation at the time) powered by an 85 horsepower V-8 motor, and a 20' x 60' temporary base chalet. The historic stone 10th Mountain Chalet was built in 1939 and named for the famed, alpine skiing 10th Mountain Division of World War II.
Shaping the Slopes
The ski area's original six wide runs were built by hand, the workers standing side by side as they cut trees, removed stumps and brush, and broke up boulders with sledge hammers. They also built a road to the base of the slopes and cleared a parking lot for 300 cars. These original six runs made up the majority of the ski area for the next 60 years until expansion began in 2000.
Local Ski Hero
Joe Duskey grew up in Wausau and loved skiing the slopes of Rib Mountain during the early years of the ski area. He became an accomplished skier and, after graduating from high school in 1941, joined the alpine skiing 10th Mountain Division in World War II. He trained with the U.S. Army in Colorado and Texas, teaching both alpine skiing and mountain climbing, before his death in the mountains of Italy in 1945.
[Ski area photos courtesy of Granite Peak]
[10 Mountain Division photos by Mac Julian, 1943]
Erected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Topics.
this page online
Location. 44° 55.254′ N, 89° 41.659′ W. Marker is in Rib Mountain, Wisconsin, in Marathon County. It is on State Park Road, on the right when traveling south. The marker is near the summit of Rib Mountain, between the observation tower and the loop at the end of the park road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wausau WI 54401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: To Charles E. Parker (within shouting distance of this marker); Ancient Ripples (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by McGhiever, October 30, 2022
2. Skiing Rib Mountain Marker (center panel) in Rib Mountain State Park
Another marker is no longer nearby. Rib Mountain State Park (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by McGhiever, October 30, 2022
3. Adjacent natural history marker
Photographed by McGhiever, October 30, 2022
4. Adjacent natural history marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 4, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
