CASS COUNTY— All the green outside has some businesses struggling to stay in the black.
At Swiss Valley Ski Lodge in Jones, Michigan the slopes are open. Because of the mild winter season, owner James Wiseman has to spend money just to make money.
"It comes with a big cost," said Wiseman.
About $4,000 for every inch of snow.
Swiss Valley has made about 36 inches of snow so far this year and the slopes are covered 100 percent. Do the mat – it cuts into the profits.
Yes: people are skiing, but attendance is down.
"People who are south of here they don't see it on the windowsill," said Wiseman. "They lose track of what winter is."
Across southwest Michigan and northern Indiana – snow sports have suffered.
But the mild weather isn't all bad news, people actually hit the road and helped tourism another way.
"While this winter hasn't been kind to cross country skiers and snowmobile enthusiast, our festivals and concerts are seeing record numbers," said Millicent Huminsky with the Southwest Michigan Tourist Council.
Humisky believes the conditions made it easier for people to get around town. As a whole, area tourism hasn't lost money. Huminsky said it is breaking even at this point.
The same situation is happening in South Bend. The city's parks director said the department lost money on winter activities like ice skating at Howard Park, but golfing, this early in the season, is helping the bottom line.
Winter isn't over yet.
"If the conditions are good and the people keep coming out, we're here," said Jamie Stafne, Swiss Valley's marketing director.
