Northwoods businesses are hurting in a snowless winter

Wisconsin’s Northwoods tourism businesses are asking the state for help after a slow start to winter has hurt their revenue.

So far, it’s estimated that Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Price and Vilas counties have lost roughly $6.5 million due to inadequate snow to open the snowmobile and ski trails in December and January, according to a coalition of businesses in the region.

Businesses are reporting around 75% year-over-year losses in the first few months of the winter, and many of them have closed their doors, the Let’s Minocqua Visitors Bureau/Oneida Tourism Council said in a news release.

The businesses have met with state elected officials about securing state or federal funding to mitigate their losses.

“We need relief for our small businesses that support our economies,” Krystal Westfahl, president and CEO of Let’s Minocqua Visitors Bureau, said in a news release.

Meteorologists have attributed Wisconsin’s record-warm winter conditions this year to El Nino, a short-term weather pattern, and the longer-term effects of climate change.

Without much cold and snow in the forecast, Westfahl said, she hopes that state officials will come up with some type of assistance.

In 2022, tourism accounted for more than 6,000 jobs and millions of dollars in spending in the seven Northwoods counties.

“Visitor spending is crucial to the economy here,” Westfahl said.