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Honey Creek, IA: Pottawattamie Conservation’s Four-Season Master Plan draft for Crescent Hill at Hitchcock, previously Mt. Crescent Ski Area, is now available to the public and includes justification for 14 additional recreational activities, new infrastructure, and community events.
“This plan is the foundational first step in transforming Crescent Hill at Hitchcock into a year-round, regional destination for sustainable recreation that prioritizes the preservation of Iowa’s globally significant Loess Hills,” said Pottawattamie Conservation Executive Director Jeff Franco. ““We know these improvements won’t happen overnight, but in order to continue to serve our citizens and customers properly, we’re striving to make some upgrades as soon as we can.”
The plan is broken into three phases:
The Immediate Phase includes the following possible additions:
*Scenic lift rides will be ride up, hike down only until the double lift is replaced with a model that can support both up and downhill travel.
The Intermediate Phase includes the following potential additions:
The Aspirational Phase includes the following possible additions:
Public event considerations include large concerts or festivals with an acoustic focus along with smaller community events such as competitive racing, educational programs, and winter night walks that combine lights and storytelling with self-guided hiking. Private event considerations include weddings, banquets, and corporate retreats.
“This plan was developed with feedback from over 1,300 citizens, and as it evolves, we’ll continue to preserve our area’s significant natural resources for future generations,” said Pottawattamie County Conservation Board President Jerry Mathiasen. He added, “input also included market research, as well as operational, ecological, and financial analyses."
In alignment with the plan’s Seven Guiding Principles, one of which is balancing conservation and use, activities including mountain biking, disc golf, summer tubing, and a mountain coaster, among other suggestions from the public, were considered but ultimately excluded.
“Concerns about mountain biking’s impact on remnant prairie, of which less than 0.1% remains across the state of Iowa, combined with concerns about the intersection of biking and hiking throughout Hitchcock Nature Center are what ultimately led to the exclusion of this activity from the plan,” said Pottawattamie Conservation Operations Supervisor Chad Graeve. “Our department is aware of community interest and will continue to explore opportunities to serve visitors, perhaps through a downhill biking event during the ski season.”
Community members are invited to view plan components and provide input on the new vision for the property at an in-person event at the area (17026 Snowhill Lane Honey Creek, IA 51542) on May 31st from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will incorporate site tours, scenic lift rides, guided hikes, live music, a shaved ice truck, refreshments, and other activities for families.
Plan development, which began in October 2023, was led by renowned ski resort planning agency SE Group. Additional planning and development will be needed to implement plan components which are subject to future economic, environmental, and social factors. There is currently no timeline for the implementation of the plan, however Pottawattamie Conservation is actively seeking funding sources to begin design and engineering work on early phases of the project.
Total capital expenditures for the plan are currently estimated at more than $25 million.
Pottawattamie Conservation would like to thank the following groups for their contributions to the Crescent Hill at Hitchcock Four-Season Master Plan: the Iowa West Foundation, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Pottawattamie County staff and department heads, the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation, Travel Iowa, and 1,300 community members and stakeholders.
Background Information
In December 2021, Pottawattamie County purchased the 106-acre property with generous support from the Iowa West Foundation as part of a long-term vision set in 1997 to expand Hitchcock Nature Center and create one of the largest nature preserves in Iowa’s Loess Hills. Pottawattamie Conservation, the county’s conservation department, has managed operations since July 2022 with a focus on habitat restoration, environmental education, and improved customer experience.
Leading into the 2023-2024 season, the ski area was designated as an enterprise fund by the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors. Enterprise funds primarily rely on revenue, not taxpayer dollars, to cover operating costs and are commonly used by governments to ease taxpayer burden and ensure financial sustainability for services that rely on user fees. The Crescent Hill at Hitchcock (formerly Mt. Crescent) enterprise fund is currently reimbursing the county for providing the funds needed to install an advanced snowmaking system and upgrade electrical infrastructure.
The ski area, originally called Crescent Ski Hills and started by local ski enthusiasts from Omaha, opened to the public in January 1961. In an effort to preserve the area's history, position it as a four-season attraction, and communicate that it is a part of the 1,500-acre Hitchcock Nature Center, Pottawattamie Conservation rebranded the area as Crescent Hill at Hitchcock at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 ski season. New branding will be implemented over the coming months ahead of the 2025-2026 ski season. The public is encouraged to visit www.explorecrescenthill.com which will be the new home for winter and four-season recreation details and ticketing later this year. Season passes for the 2025-2026 season will go on sale September 1st, 2025.
Funding for new signage and a marketing video that will highlight the area’s new four-season focus were generously provided by an Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant through Travel Iowa, the state’s tourism office.
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About Pottawattamie Conservation: Pottawattamie Conservation promotes an appreciation for Iowa's unique natural areas through year-round environmental education programming, natural resource management, habitat restoration, as well as many recreational activities at six county parks. Whether you enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, or just want to learn something new, Pottawattamie Conservation offers exceptional opportunities to experience and explore the outdoors. www.pottconservation.com
