Muskegon's Place in Snowboard History
Muskegon may be a summer beach town, but winters here are pretty magical, too. If you're visiting the Pidge Inn when snow blankets the ground, we encourage you to head outdoors and play in our winter wonderland! Here in our lobby, we have an assortment of winter sports equipment you can borrow on a first-come, first-served basis – including sleds, snowshoes and Snurfers.
Wait...Snurfers? What's that, you ask? We'd be happy to tell you!
The Snurfer is the predecessor to the snowboard. It was created in 1965 by Muskegon's own Sherman Poppen about a mile from our hotel and tested by his kids on the dunes by Pere Marquette Beach. The original Snurfer was wider and shorter than a pair of skis, with an anti-skid foot rest and a rope attached for steering. In the patent filing, Poppen described his Snurfer as "...a surf-type snow ski which is adapted to support both feet of a skier and to be easily maneuvered therefore without foot bindings..." Snurfers were first commercially produced here in Muskegon by Brunswick, better known for manufacturing bowling equipment. Check out this article to read more about Muskegon's claim to fame as the birthplace of snowboarding.
The Pidge Inn’s lobby has a display of at least 15 Snurfers, as well as other related memorabilia. Snurfers are still being produced today (although no longer by Brunswick) and you can order yours here. Poppen and his Snurfer are honored in the Michigan Snow Board Museum, the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, and even the Smithsonian.
You can sled and snurf at nearby Beachwood Park or Lake Harbor Park. For more locations, check out this list of Top 5 snow hills in Muskegon County. Snowshoe on many of the nearby trails and along Lake Michigan, which is about a mile from the hotel. Bring your own ice skates to skate on Muskegon Lake (200 steps from the hotel) and at Beachwood Park. The possibilities for winter fun are endless!
P.S. While you're in downtown Muskegon, be sure to check out the 14-foot bronze sculpture titled "Turning Point," erected in 2012 to commemorate the Snurfer.
