A colorful timeline infographic titled "Our Journey Ausblick" displaying the history and development of a ski resort from 1950 to 2030. It includes milestones like land purchases, facility constructions, upgrades, and community support activities, with icons, photos, and labels for each event.

Ausblick Ski Club — History

  • 1948: Father Raphael Hochhaus started the Marquette University Avalanche Ski Club. He found the hill that would eventually become Ausblick.

  • 1950: Marquette University bought the property from John and Myrtle Condon for $5,000. Students worked hard clearing trees, rocks, and stumps to make the hill skiable.

  • 1951: The hill was named Maryhill, dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows.

  • 1950s–1960s: The club grew. Students built the original lodge, installed rope tows, held winter carnivals, and eventually opened the hill to the public.

  • 1970: Marquette sold the ski hill because major safety and improvement upgrades were needed. Chip Swallow and John Buechel took over. They added snowmaking, grooming, and Wisconsin’s first triple chairlift.

  • 1970–1973: The hill got its new name: Ausblick, a German word meaning “scenic view” or “overlook.”

  • 1973: Ausblick Ski Club, Inc. was formed as a nonprofit organization.

  • 1980s: The club continued growing and eventually reached its membership limit of 300 people. The ski race program also grew.

  • 1990s: Ausblick continued improving the hill, including better lighting. Snowboarding was officially introduced in 1993 and eventually became a regular part of the club.

  • 1999–2001: Construction began on a brand-new lodge.

  • 2010: A much larger maintenance building, nicknamed the “Garage Mahal,” was completed.

  • 2011–2012: The hill was reshaped and improved. The old bunny-hill rope tow was removed, a handle tow was added, and the triple chairlift was adjusted to make it easier for beginners.

  • 2019: Kuelthau Family donates the Ausblick Snowsports yurt.

  • 2025: Substantial fill is acquired to begin the process to Raise The Hill.

  • A vintage yearbook page from 1955 featuring a black-and-white photo of Father Hochaus, who is wearing glasses, a cap, and a jacket, holding a walking stick. The page includes a small cartoon of a person skiing and another pulling a sled, along with text about Father Hochaus's role as a friend and benefactor of the Marquette University Avalanche Club.
  • Newspaper article titled "MU Buys Ski Hill at Sussex; Slope Has 8 Cleared Runs." Describes Marquette University's purchase of a ski slope near Sussex, developed by MU Avalanche Ski Club, with details about the terrain, purchase terms, and future plans.
  • A black and white photo of a small, possibly abandoned building surrounded by snow and trees.
  • People standing on snow-covered ground with skis and ski equipment at a ski resort or mountain area.
  • A snowcat vehicle with two people standing on it, parked on snow in front of a small commercial building, with power lines and trees in the background.
  • Construction site with a house under construction, framing in progress, and construction materials around.
  • Construction site with a partially built white building, an excavator, and debris, in a rural area with trees and distant barns or silos.
  • Person snowboarding on a snowy hill during winter, wearing a green helmet and orange jacket.
  • A person wearing a helmet and black shorts stands in a small greenish pond at Ausblick Ski Area, attempting a backward ski trick during a pond skim event.
  • A group of people standing outside in front of a partially constructed yurt on snowy ground, with a clear blue sky and trees in the background.