What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
The sounds of laughter echoed across a hillside in Crandon this week as kids flew down slopes on tubes, marking the end of a two-decade wait. The Forest County Potawatomi Community finally cut the ribbon on their long-anticipated sledding hill, turning years of planning into reality just as winter began to fade.
“I know the community, particularly the youth, are very excited to finally see this hill come to fruition,” said Tribal Chairman Brooks Boyd Sr. at Tuesday’s opening ceremony.
For a region where outdoor recreation defines community life, this new amenity fills a gap that’s been felt for generations.
The sledding hill project has been in the works since the early 2000s. Boyd Sr., who’s been part of the effort throughout, described watching the vision take shape as an honor.
“Seeing it come to reality, and seeing how this is going to be a wonderful opportunity for the students,” he said during the ribbon cutting.
The hill’s scale impressed first-time visitors immediately. Large enough to accommodate multiple runs and designed for tubing, it offers the kind of adrenaline-pumping experience that keeps kids coming back.
“Probably the adrenaline when you’re going down the hill,” said Owen Christensen, who attended the opening with his sisters. “With the tubes and stuff going fast.”
The laughter echoing across the venue told the real story — this was exactly what the community needed.
Located at 5102 Fire Tower Lane in Crandon, the hill joins a growing list of Forest County Potawatomi investments in community wellness. The tribe opened their Youth Recreation Center back in 1997, followed by a Health and Wellness Center on Highway 8.
For Boyd Sr., the sledding hill represents something deeper than recreation. It’s about getting kids outside in an era dominated by screens.
“It’s good for the kids to get outside, have some physical activity, and just enjoy themselves. You hear a lot of laughter right now as we speak, so that’s what the goal is.”
That philosophy aligns with how many Northwoods families approach winter. Up here, you either embrace the cold or you’re in for a long season.
As Forest County’s largest employer, the Potawatomi Community’s projects ripple through the entire region. The tribe manages approximately 12,000 acres and runs programs spanning gaming, education, health services, and natural resources.
This sledding hill adds to recreational options in an area where winter activities often mean driving to larger towns. Key benefits include:
The timing might seem odd — opening a sledding hill as winter winds down. But the long-term vision matters more than one season’s snow.
The Forest County Potawatomi have deep roots in these northern forests, settling in the area around the 1880s after decades of forced relocations and land cessions. Today, the tribe balances economic development with environmental stewardship across their reservation lands.
They monitor wolf populations and water quality, protecting resources for future generations. In 2003, the tribe even purchased the controversial Crandon Mine site to prevent development that threatened local waterways.
That same forward-thinking approach shaped the sledding hill project. Rather than a quick fix, planners designed for decades of use by countless families.
The hill may have opened near winter’s end, but its story is just beginning. Next season will bring the first full winter of operation, with opportunities to fine-tune operations and add amenities.
For now, the community is celebrating what two decades of patience delivered — a place where kids can feel the rush of cold air, the speed of descent, and the simple joy of sliding down a hill with friends.
In a world that moves faster every year, sometimes the best gift is helping kids slow down enough to feel the snow beneath them. That’s exactly what Crandon’s new sledding hill offers — pure, uncomplicated winter fun that’ll serve generations to come.
The address again: 5102 Fire Tower Lane in Crandon. Grab your tubes and head up — the hill’s waiting, and so is the laughter.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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