A few Muskegon people conceived the idea of building a luge and bobsled run that would serve as an Olympic training site. Energies were focused on the luge run. The idea grew and gained community support and political support from local legislators, who worked toward making state funding available for the construction and operation of the luge. By 1984, community support grew into a love affair with the luge, where countless hours of labor, construction materials, and equipment were donated to see the project completed.

During construction of the luge another idea surfaced; that of creating lighted cross-country ski trails. The project was underway almost as soon as the concept was presented with some hundred seventy-five individuals and businesses donating one hundred dollars each to "adopt a light", enabling five miles of ski trails to be lighted. More ideas were considered; providing a sports lodge, ice skating rinks and a ski jump. Although some state funding was made available, local residents at a public hearing soundly rejected the ski jump for fear of destroying the character of the park. Skating rinks were dropped because of prohibitive construction and operation costs, however the ski trails, luge run and sports lodge were strongly supported. The winter of 1985 saw the luge and the lighted ski trails in operation.

For five years, headquarters for operation were rented mobile office trailers, and the many winter sports enthusiasts accepted the vault toilets as a mere inconvenience. In 1990, the Sports Lodge was ready for operation. In its first season, despite warm temperatures and lack of snow, thirty thousand visitors came to luge and ski. They enjoyed the winter activities, warmth and coziness of the Sports Lodge.

The operations of the Sports Lodge, luge run and ski trails is a sizable winter task but one that is accomplished by volunteers who operate as the "Muskegon Sports Council" as a not for profit corporation. The Sports Council has difficulty raising operating funds, but has managed to operate the sports complex through the efforts of area citizens, businesses and organizations that contribute time, services and materials.

During the summer months, Muskegon State Park assumes the operations of the Sports Lodge and will rent the building for business meetings, receptions and other special events. This "time share" arrangement between the Sports Council and the State Park is an example of mutual cooperation between local citizens and the State of Michigan, each enabling the other to operate successfully.

The area where the Sports Lodge now stands was occupied during the 1930's and 1940's by a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The luge run was constructed on the site of the toboggan run built by the men of the CCC, and used until the late 1950's. The luge run today uses most of the same water lines originally laid to make the toboggan run. History repeats itself, demonstrating that the warmth of winter fun is alive and well in Muskegon.