Pottawattamie Conservation Reveals Crescent Hill at Hitchcock Four-Season Master Plan Draft

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:

1. Immediate: May be implemented in the near term with relatively low investment.
2. Intermediate: Requires more planning, design, and investment prior to implementation.
3. Aspirational: Longer-term opportunities that may be implemented if deemed feasible and achievable.

The Immediate Phase includes the following possible additions:

• Snow Tubing
• Terrain Park Tow Rope
• New, Paved Parking Areas
• Scenic Lift Rides*
• Hilltop Picnic Area
• Hiking Trail Enhancements & Wayfinding

*Scenic lift rides will be ride-up, hike-down only until the double lift is replaced with a model that can support both uphill and downhill travel.

The Intermediate Phase includes the following potential additions:

• Lodges
  • Base Lodge
  • Chalet and Amphitheater
• Play & Adventure Areas
  • Lawn Games
  • Kids' Natural Play Area
  • Adventure Playground (All Ages)

    

• Camping
  • Campground Office & Shower House
  • Modern Camping Cabins
  • Glamping Sites
  • Event RV Camping
• Lift Replacement (Double Lift)
• Relocated Beginner Skiing & Riding Area
• Upgraded Maintenance Facility
• Zipline

The Aspirational Phase includes the following possible additions:

• Summer Skiing & Riding Area
• Cable-to-Rail Zipline
• Lift Replacement (Quad)

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, storytelling, and 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 recently had the opportunity to explore the new vision for Crescent Hill at Hitchcock during an in-person event on May 31st, which featured site tours, scenic lift rides, guided hikes, live music, and family-friendly activities.

If you missed the event, there’s still time to share your input! Public feedback is welcome through June 30, 2025 via an online survey at ExploreCrescentHill.com.

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.

The Crescent Hill at Hitchcock Four-Season Master Plan was developed with support from several key groups, including the Iowa West Foundation, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, county staff and department heads, the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation, Travel Iowa, and more than 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, focusing 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 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.