WINTER TOURISM.

Influx of snowmobilers from across the border boosts billion dollar snowmobiling industry in Ontario

For entrepreneurs like Margaret Skulech, being located out in the middle of the Algoma boonies is like being on Main Street when it comes to tapping into the burgeoning snowmobile tourist market.

The co-owner of Halfway Haven anticipates this winter may be their busiest yet as she gears up for a third season operating the only snowmobile resort between Wawa and Searchmont.

Together with husband Dennis, and their business partners Steve and Gall Bonne, they operate a small remote snowmobile and ATV lodge offering trail-side gas and accommodations to the legions of predominately American sledders expected this winter.

"We've been at points where we've almost been running out of gas on the weekend," says Skulech of the typical weekend crowds of 300-400 snowmobilers looking to either catch up on sleep, chow down or gas up while passing through on Trail 'D' to Wawa 70 miles to the north or Searchmont, 85 miles to the south.

After years of watching snowmobilers pass through the area while attending their trapline, the two couples got together and literally carved the ten-room lodge right out of the bush.

Before the resort opened, riders had to make arrangements to stash gas in an out-of-the-way shed to refuel before continuing on.

"The trails were just opening," Skulech says, "It was groomed but it just wasn't feasible for people in big numbers to come through. Now it's an established trail."

Despite two recent mild winters, the dramatic influx of American snowmobilers was so lucrative, they've upgraded the lodge to add a sauna and an extra cabin.

Snowmobile tourism in the Algoma district has been gaining momentum in recent years, thanks in part to mild winters south of the border, a lagging Canadian dollar and the diversity of spectacular and uncrowded riding terrain in the North, according to area tourism marketing personnel. What was once a hard sell to Americans at Midwestern snowmobile shows has become a bonanza to lodge owners and area businesses.

"It's made our winter," says Mike Morrow, the marketing manager of Algoma Central Railway's passenger sales, who runs the popular "Tracks to Trails" program. "It's probably been the only true growth in rider-ship on our passenger train."

Beginning in the 1996-97 season, the number of booked sleds has grown from 169 during their inaugural year to 454 last winter, of which 371 reservations were cancelled when February rains closed the trail system. Over 800 sleds would have been moved by train had there been no cancellations, he says.

If the wintery weather holds, Morrow. anticipates they'll easily top those numbers based on the enthusiastic feedback he's received during the fall snowmobile. shows and some of the sold-out bookings.

While nobody knows for sure how much money is pumped into the local economy by snowmobilers, the Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association's marketing manager says many seasonal operators have winterized and expanded-to serve the snowmobiling public.

Algoma Kinniwabi is one of six regional marketing bodies in Northern Ontario covering the Algoma district Funded by corporate partners, they-set up the marketing plan, put together travel guides and trail maps, and attend all the Midwestern snowmobile travel shows in Chicago, Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Fogg. says Americans who once complained about the price of a full-season Ontario trail permit pass -- about $107 US this winter--are now willingly forking over the money based on the rave reviews from snowmobiling associations and word-of-mouth reports.

Melanie Seal, co-owner of Laurentian Lodge, near Elliot Lake, says traffic from the trail that runs alongside their 25-room establishment has been so brisk in recent years, it was incentive enough to add 19 more rooms and a licensed dining lounge.

Prior to 1995, Seal and husband Doug closed up the lodge during the winter months. They considered the winter possibilities when the groomed trail system to Chapleau opened up just 200 metres from their back door.

Now in their sixth season of catering to snowmobile enthusiasts, she says staying open a few extra months helps the bottom line.

"On a typical winter weekend when conditions are good, we're full," says Seal, who employs up to 15 people during busy stretches.

Tim West, manager of external relations for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) says only recently has Queen's Park come around to recognizing how the economic spinoffs of snowmobiling benefit the provincial economy.

Based on a study completed by the OFSC three. years ago, the economic impact of snowmobiling in Ontario was estimated at $1 billion annually, with the biggest bang in Northern Ontario. Andaside from last year's shortened winter, trail permit sales have increased each year for- the last decade, peaking at 124,000 two years ago.

About $5 minion in matching funds have come from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund for trail and bridge development in the last few years but nothing along the lines of the major snowmobile tourism initiatives in other provinces.

"Ontario is the-last jurisdiction in North. America not involved with snowmobile industry, especially. from the operational end," says West, To that end, the association is sponsoring provincial legislation to address the industry's future sustainability, enforcement and safety issues. West says the legislation would be more in line with what other provinces and American states have done to partner and promote snowmobile tourism by subdizing trail development and grooming, and offering gas tax rebates to business. Bill 101 was expected to receive final reading by late December.

In Ontario, it cost $21 million to-operate the 49,000-km trail system with $14 million being generated from user fees such as trail permits. Volunteer snowmobile clubs picked up the rest of the tab through their individual labour and operating funds.