Gift of a Lifetime
After 30 years as owners of ABR Trails in Ironwood, Michigan, Eric Anderson and Angela Santini are preserving their legacy of beloved trails for future generations, by donating land, equipment, and buildings to the nonprofit Anderson Bluffs and River Trails Foundation.
The Foundation will begin running ski operations in April, 2025.
Humble Beginnings of ABR
Eric was raised on the land where the ABR trailhead sits. He is deeply connected to this place where his Finnish immigrant great-grandparents homesteaded on adjacent lands. After graduating with an engineering degree from Michigan Tech in Houghton, Eric traveled to Europe for work. But, his heart was back home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
So in 1995, with his dad Dave, Eric invested his savings and 401(k) into a new business on the family property. They named the venture after the experience they intended to provide for customers—Active Backwoods Retreats. ABR for short.
The first trails were built by hand and groomed by snowshoe, but Eric’s engineering background drove him to master the art of trail design and grooming. Over decades Eric has become known as one of the top trail groomers in the country, and groomers from across North America come to Ironwood to attend his grooming clinics.
MAGIC
From humble beginnings, ABR has grown into a top-ranked ski touring center with 100 kilometers (62 miles) of perfectly groomed trails on 1,100 acres along the beautiful Montreal River. The ski experience has always been the priority. Two Pisten Bully groomers and a fleet of snowmobiles groom during the wee hours every morning to ensure pristine tracks when skiers arrive.
Eric married Angela Santini in 1998, and together they grew the facilities as time and money allowed. For years, Angela has greeted guests at the trailhead building, which houses a full-service ski shop with ski and snowshoe rentals, and welcomed overnight guests to rustic trailside cabins and a woodfired sauna.
Location, Location, location
Thanks to its location south of Lake Superior, ABR receives an average of 200 inches of lake-effect snow annually. The snow comes early and stays late making for a long season. It is common for ABR to report firm, deep tracks when trail systems to the south are still brown. This has made ABR the go-to place for early- and late-season skiing. The extensive trail system has something for everyone. Novice skiers and elite racers alike find terrain that suits their skill level. Anyone who has skied at ABR will tell you that the trails have a unique flow. You also don’t need to leave your dog at home. ABR offers a network of dog-friendly trails for skijoring. Snowshoers enjoy 10 kilometers (6 miles) of their own trails.
ABR offers both skate- and classic-style skiing. Skate skiing resembles ice skating, with skiers pushing to the side, while classic skiing is a forward and back motion that evolved from the days when skis were used to travel untracked snow through the woods. Guests love ABR’s narrow, classic-only trails that wind through lyrical snowy tunnels in the woods. They also love ABR’s wide combination trails with firm skate decks and solid tracks.
Why Give it All Away
After three decades of building ABR into a premier ski-touring center, Eric and Angela questioned how to ensure the future of their life’s work. They had no family members to continue the operation. Meanwhile, Eric’s health forced the couple to plan for a transition. In his early 20s, Eric received radiation treatment for cancer, which weakened his heart. A cardiac event in 2018 led to major surgery in 2023 to rebuild his heart. Thankfully, Eric has recovered well, and is looking forward to the upcoming ski seasons. He will be staying on as the Foundation’s chief groomer, enjoying time in the cab of the Pisten Bully, his “happy place.”
It was an easy decision to put ABR into a Foundation to preserve the trails, community, and atmosphere we have worked so hard to create.
Eric said, “It was an easy decision to put ABR into a Foundation to preserve the trails, community, and atmosphere we have worked so hard to create.” What was an easy decision for Eric and Angela flies in the face of the model of building up a business and cashing out. To Eric and Angela, the value of the ABR legacy is priceless, and no amount of cash can compare.
The community surrounding ABR has called Eric and Angela’s decision “the gift of a lifetime.” ABR has helped generations of visitors fall in love with Ironwood, and some of those now call it home. Eric and Angela’s generous donation cements the future of ABR for generations to come.
The Anderson Bluffs and River Trails Foundation—ABR Trails Foundation for short—takes over management in April 2025. The Foundation recently hired its first Executive Director, Jay Sween. Check out Jay’s bio on our website. This season, Jay will be on the trails getting to know ABR skiers, while Eric and Angela help Jay learn the nuances of running the business. You’ll still find Angela in the ski shop, while Eric will be in either the Pisten Bully or the ticket booth.
How the Community Can Help
As people have learned about the new Foundation and its vision of sustaining ABR, there has been an outpouring of support. Transitions like this don’t happen often within the ski community, and many ask how to get involved.
The Founder’s Circle fundraising campaign encourages skiers, businesses, and community members to support the new Foundation and the trails.
WHAT IT MEANS
Organizations that support silent sports offer meaningful experiences that benefit the well-being of their communities. Related organizations that have flourished as nonprofits include the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation in Hayward, the Loppet Foundation in Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Youth Ski League. The goal is to see ABR Trails Foundation stay true to its roots and progress towards a bright future.
