The announcement late last week that Marquette Mountain had been sold took many by surprise, although rumors that owners Peter and Lois O’Dovero might be interested in selling have swirled in the community for some time.

The sale includes not only the resort proper, hills, lifts and attendant infrastructure but the surrounding 330 acres, according to a press release distributed to media by new owners Eric and Sarah Jorgensen. The O’Doveros bought the business assets and surrounding property in 1987.

The Jorgensens are from Hartland, Wisconsin, where they operate JX Enterprises Inc., a second-generation family business that recently marked its 50th anniversary. Eric Jorgensen is president and CEO of the company.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity that Marquette Mountain brings to the community and outdoor enthusiasts,” Eric Jorgensen said the news release. “I am especially thankful to the O’Doveros for working with me positively in this transfer including their fortitude over the last 33 years and recent improvements.”

Plans are expected to unfold over the next few years to cultivate the ski hill’s diverse environment while strengthening ties to Northern Michigan University and the city of Marquette, The Mining Journal story on the development stated. Presently it’s unclear what any of that means although close observers of this transaction expect the new owners to have more, perhaps much more, to say in the near future.

Marquette Mountain has been through several managers in recent years, amid complaints about slope and equipment conditions. While the O’Doveros are well-respected business people in this area in multiple areas, this sale should be viewed as a good thing. Nothing wrong with the ski hill getting a fresh eye and a new perspective.