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Episode Summary
What does it take to resurrect a ski hill that's been dormant for 15 years? In this episode, we sit down with the owner of Steeplechase Ski Area — a Rochester native who grew up racing snowmobiles on this very property, walked away from a career in roofing and real estate, and quietly turned an overgrown, animal-inhabited building on 172 acres into one of Southeast Minnesota's most talked-about winter destinations.
It's a story about patience, snowmaking, and what happens when a community finally gets its ski hill back.
In This Episode
- How Steeplechase started as a wedding venue and stumbled into snow tubing — and why that gamble paid off bigger than anyone expected
- Why holiday break is "the Super Bowl" for Midwest ski hills, and how missing it twice in a row was enough to sink the original operation
- The "Super Hill" — a tubing run so long it required custom-designed tubes and safety testing before the public could ride it
- What it actually takes to bring a chairlift back from the dead: miles of pipe, miles of electrical, and a whole lot of disassembly
- How the Rochester community is still discovering Steeplechase exists — even three seasons into its ski hill revival
Guest
Justin Steck, the owner of Steeplechase Ski Area, Rochester, MN. Born and raised in Rochester. Former professional snowmobile racer. Reformed roofer and real estate investor. Now: full-time ski hill operator.
Why This Matters
Steeplechase is more than a nostalgia project. It's a case study in what outdoor recreation access looks like for mid-size cities that aren't Minneapolis or Duluth. Rochester — home to Mayo Clinic and one of the fastest-growing metros in the state — had zero lift-served skiing within an hour's drive for over 15 years. Getting that back matters for families, schools, and the winter economy of Southeast Minnesota.
It also raises a broader question this podcast cares about: What does it mean for a community when outdoor recreation infrastructure disappears — and what does it take to bring it back?
Explore Minnesota More is produced by the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership (ORIP). New episodes explore the people, places, and ideas shaping outdoor recreation across the state.
Credits:
Producers: Randolph Briley & Cody Nelson
Hosts: Sarah Strommen and Lauren Bennett McGinty
Original Music by Andrew Haaheim and Alsever Lake
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By Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Industry PartnershipSend a text
Episode Summary
What does it take to resurrect a ski hill that's been dormant for 15 years? In this episode, we sit down with the owner of Steeplechase Ski Area — a Rochester native who grew up racing snowmobiles on this very property, walked away from a career in roofing and real estate, and quietly turned an overgrown, animal-inhabited building on 172 acres into one of Southeast Minnesota's most talked-about winter destinations.
It's a story about patience, snowmaking, and what happens when a community finally gets its ski hill back.
In This Episode
- How Steeplechase started as a wedding venue and stumbled into snow tubing — and why that gamble paid off bigger than anyone expected
- Why holiday break is "the Super Bowl" for Midwest ski hills, and how missing it twice in a row was enough to sink the original operation
- The "Super Hill" — a tubing run so long it required custom-designed tubes and safety testing before the public could ride it
- What it actually takes to bring a chairlift back from the dead: miles of pipe, miles of electrical, and a whole lot of disassembly
- How the Rochester community is still discovering Steeplechase exists — even three seasons into its ski hill revival
Guest
Justin Steck, the owner of Steeplechase Ski Area, Rochester, MN. Born and raised in Rochester. Former professional snowmobile racer. Reformed roofer and real estate investor. Now: full-time ski hill operator.
Why This Matters
Steeplechase is more than a nostalgia project. It's a case study in what outdoor recreation access looks like for mid-size cities that aren't Minneapolis or Duluth. Rochester — home to Mayo Clinic and one of the fastest-growing metros in the state — had zero lift-served skiing within an hour's drive for over 15 years. Getting that back matters for families, schools, and the winter economy of Southeast Minnesota.
It also raises a broader question this podcast cares about: What does it mean for a community when outdoor recreation infrastructure disappears — and what does it take to bring it back?
Explore Minnesota More is produced by the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership (ORIP). New episodes explore the people, places, and ideas shaping outdoor recreation across the state.
Credits:
Producers: Randolph Briley & Cody Nelson
Hosts: Sarah Strommen and Lauren Bennett McGinty
Original Music by Andrew Haaheim and Alsever Lake