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===Winter Sports Park=== The ''Grayling Winter Sports Park'' (GWSP) was opened in 1929. It started as a [[toboggan]] run that grew into Michigan's first ski resort.<ref name="UPN" /> Following the popular [[1932 Winter Olympics]], Grayling constructed a 66-foot [[ski jumping|ski jump]] in 1934. A few years later, a [[Winter festival|Winter Carnival]] was started that included a parade, [[ice sculpture]] competition, and a Snow Queen pageant. The park's popularity increased to the point where a "Snow Train" was established to bring skiers to Grayling from across the state.<ref name="UPN">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Jim |title=The way it used to be |url=https://www.upnorthvoice.com/features/crawford-features/2020/10/the-way-it-used-to-be/ |website=Upnorthvoice.com |publisher=AuSable Media |access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> Transportation from Lodges in Grayling to the park was provided by flat-bed trucks. [[Snow grooming|Groomed]] trails were provided for [[Cross-country skiing]] and [[snowshoe]]ing.<ref name="UPN" /> The ''[[Cass City, Michigan|Cass City]] Chronicle'' noted in March 1941, "Due to generous support of the [[National Park Service|federal park service]], [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources|state conservation department]], and [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], Grayling offers today the finest public toboggan set-up in the entire United States, and this isn't paid ballyhoo. Six steel slides are the only ones of their kind anywhere not excluding [[Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex|Lake Placid]] or [[Sun Valley, Idaho|Sun Valley]] (Idaho). Two ski tows have been in operation; next season there will be three."<ref name="CCC">{{cite news |title=Grayling Winter Sports |agency=Cass City Chronicle |publisher=Cass City Chronicle |date=March 14, 1941}}</ref> The Crawford County operated the GWSP into the late 1960s when [[Fred Bear]], owner of [[Bear Archery]], and other local businessmen assumed operational control. It was renamed, ''Bear Mountain'' and they attempted to create a commercial ski area to compete with resorts further north.<ref name="HIST" /> A legal challenge in 1973 resulted in a judgement giving control back to the county, which has operated it since then as ''Hanson Hills Recreation Area'' by the Grayling Recreation Authority.<ref name="HIST">{{cite web |title=Hanson Hills - Our History |url=https://hansonhills.org/our-history |website=Hansonhills.org |publisher=Grayling Recreation Authority |access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> The annual canoe / kayak race record winning time is held by Scott Norman in his significantly modified kayak, which not only gave him the speed record, but also the distance record, as his brakes failed to deploy and he was retrieved by snowmobile outside of the park near M-93. "<ref name="CCC">{{cite news |title=Grayling Winter Sports |agency=Cass City Chronicle |publisher=Cass City Chronicle |date=March 14, 1941}}</ref>
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