Omaha Exploration

While one may not think about skiing in Iowa, a ski slope in the Loess Hills has been operating for more than 60 years. Ski enthusiasts Bill Jacobus, Bob Scherer and Dr. John O’Neil conceived of the idea after taking to the slopes in Aspen. Afterwards, they had a fortuitous encounter with an instructor, Stu Hike, who just happened to be from Omaha. It was Stu that convinced them that skiing in Iowa was possible.

Upon returning home, the trio began studying topographical maps in addition to flying over the bluffs between Plattsmouth and Missouri Valley to find a suitable location to open a ski area. They also received guidance from Stein Eriksen, an Olympic gold medal skier from Norway. The perfect location just happened to be two miles north of Crescent in Iowa’s Loess Hills.   

Estimating the cost to be approximately $50k, it increased to nearly four times that after acquiring the land, snow machine, equipment and other things associated with operating the business. When Crescent Ski Hills opened, the area with its rolling hills and slope angles made it a good local alternative for ski and snowboarding enthusiasts to not only learn the sport but to improve their technique and skills. 

Crescent Ski Hills included not only the trails but a ski hut, rental facilities, rope tows and lights to allow for night skiing. While the original plans also called for a miniature golf course, horseback riding and a swimming pool to make it an annual destination, they weren’t added due to the initial costs.

Mild winter weather delayed the opening of Crescent from December 15, 1960 to January 3, 1961. 250 people showed up for the first day of operations while many more including actor Peter Fonda showed up for the grand opening that occurred on the weekend of January 27-28. An avid skier that had experience on slopes all over the world said that Crescent was one of the better artificial snow areas he had ever tried. 

The original owners reached an agreement with a buyer to purchase the ski area after listing it for sale in 1972. When the new owner couldn’t raise the necessary funds, the deal fell through which caused a delay in opening that season. 

In 1974 Russell Lideman bought the business and operated it for the next 28 years. Seeking a new image for the area which he referred to as the “Iowa Alps”, he renamed it from Crescent Hills to Mt. Crescent. While admitting that there were no mountains in Iowa, he did point out that there was 300 feet of vertical which was more than other ski slopes that pose as mountains including Mount Kato in Mankato, MN. It was during that time in 1986 that he also added a new ski lift. 

Russell retired in 2008 after selling it to Korby and Samantha Fleischer of Vail, CO. Russell was from Columbus and had skied Mt. Crescent while he was a child. After buying it for $2.15M he added a restaurant and zip lines.

Even though the slopes don’t typically open until December, maintaining the area is a year-round job. During the offseason, its staff is busy mowing, trimming weeds and repairing rental equipment. 

Mt. Crescent appeals to be both new and experienced skiers with multiple slopes. The ski runs reach up to 2,400 feet in length while the sled run is 1,000 feet. The Swiss inspired ski lodge includes a dining area, lounge, full kitchen, offices and space on the lower level for rental equipment which opens up to the slope. Inside the lodge is the Mountain Cafe and Bar. 

Voted the best place for sledding and for learning how to ski and snowboard, Pottawattamie County bought Mt. Crescent for $3.5M in 2021. The purchase was part of a long-term plan to acquire the entire bluff in the area of the Hitchcock Nature Center. At the time of purchase the county said it “expands the preservation of one of the world’s most unique and fragile natural resources.” This is in reference to the Loess Hills which are a unique land form found in only two places in the world: along the western edge of Iowa and in an area southwest of Beijing, China. 

While the county is exploring other recreational opportunities to make the area a year-round destination, Mt. Crescent since renamed as Crescent Hill at Hitchcock remains a popular attraction in itself. After seeing a big increase in visitors during the pandemic, interest remains strong as its 2022-2023 preseason sales were the highest of any year since 2016.

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