'Off the charts, as far as challenging': Mild winter hurting many Wisconsin businesses

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The warm winter weather's being blamed for millions of dollars in lost revenue in the Northwoods. Business owners there are suffering because of a lack of snow.

It's crazy what a year can do. Snowmobile rental places say 2023 was a big money maker, but this season's proving to be one of the worst. You see no white in a picture that was taken Tuesday at a popular ski hill in Rhinelander.

"This winter is totally off the charts as far as challenging," said Gren Rudd, Camp 10 Ski Area owner, Rhinelander.

This Rhinelander ski hill's got nothing but brown grass on it now.

"We've got 120 acres over a half-mile frontage on the Wisconsin River. It's a beautiful piece of property and skiers can see the eagles overhead," said Rudd.

The mild winter has forced Northwoods businesses to tighten budgets.

"We are gonna be down roughly around $300,000 to $350,000 just in the winter, and for my wife and I, that is devastational. I have laid off all of my employees," said Jeff Katzer.

Jeff Katzer owns Rock's Rent All in Saint Germain with a fleet of 45 snowmobiles.

"We haven't had the trails open this year. My business is hurting hugely," said Katzer.

And Katzer says because visitors are canceling skiing and snowmobiling trips to the Northwoods, other businesses there are suffering too.

"The gas stations, the restaurants, the hotels/motels up here run by people like my wife April and I, and we're waiting for these people to come up. Like I said, the ice fishing is good, but it's not that good to carry us through," said Katzer.

Locals are doing what they can to keep their businesses in business.

"I hear them, you know, nobody's here. Nobody's coming and it just breaks my heart," said Tina DuPlayee, Wander in Wisconsin founder.

It's not snowmobiling. They're using wheels now in Tomahawk. Tina DuPlayee organized it, and participants came out from Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois.

"It helped our community big time. People, you know, renting hotel rooms, all the restaurants were full. It was a wonderful experience for them," said DuPlayee.

And again, the problem's across the board. We're told one gas station in Saint Germain lost $50,000 just on the premium gasoline people typically buy in January and December to fuel up their snowmobiles.