An aerial shot of the Great Lakes Ice Races of Feb. 15.

If you’ve driven through town on a winter weekend lately, you may have noticed something. Parking lots full. More trucks at the gas stations. Breakfast spots with a steady hum of conversation. Out-of-state plates mixed in with local regulars.

Winter in Delta County has always had its rhythm, but this year with more snow and ice, that rhythm feels a little louder.

A large contributor has been the 2026 Great Lakes Ice Racing season.

Joseph Stankowicz, Visit Escanaba Board Member, General Manager at the Magnuson Grand, and Great Lakes Ice Racing Club member, describes this season as “an incredibly successful one thus far.”

Driver entries are climbing in the adult classes, and youth participation is reaching all-time highs. Even more encouraging, Joseph notes, is the mix of new competitors and returning families.

“It is very cool to see that while we have gotten a large number of new riders enter the sport, we are also seeing second and third generation racers who have found a new passion in motorsports just like their family members before them,” he shared.

That generational growth tells an important story. Ice racing is not just an event. It is becoming part of the identity of winter in our area.

This year also marked a milestone for the club: its first-ever Friday night race, kicking off a three-day Triple Crown Racing Series. That event alone brought in thousands of spectators and hundreds of racers from across the Midwest.

“It was an achievement in and of itself to create an economic impact of having these visitors fill up at our gas stations, eat at our restaurants, stay in our hotels and be economically involved in our community,” Joseph said.

And the exposure did not stop at the shoreline.

Fox News Weather reached out to the club this season while searching for a unique story tied to the year’s cold temperatures and snowfall. Joseph agreed to be interviewed, and the segment aired live the afternoon before the Friday Triple Crown race. Headlined “Ice racing in Michigan: Daredevils race motorbikes and quads on the Great Lakes,” the broadcast offered national exposure for our area.

Only hours after the segment aired, the club saw some of the highest spectator and racer attendance numbers in its history.

For those of us working in tourism, that kind of momentum matters. It reinforces what many locals already know. What feels ordinary to us is extraordinary to others.

And ice racing is only part of the story.

Ice fishing conditions this winter have been strong, drawing anglers from around the region. When the bite is good, word travels quickly. Visitors are booking rooms, stopping into bait shops, grabbing meals, and making a full weekend of it. For many, Delta County has become a winter tradition.

Our trail system is another driver. From snowmobilers exploring groomed routes to those simply enjoying a quiet winter hike, the Delta County trail network continues to attract steady traffic. The combination of reliable snowfall and well-maintained trails creates a draw that extends well beyond our county lines.

At the Gladstone Ski Hill, families and visitors are spending full days on the slopes. For some, it is their first time skiing or tubing in the U.P. For others, it is a return to a place they grew up visiting. Either way, it adds to the steady stream of winter activity that supports our local businesses.

As Joseph put it, “The increase in driver entries, spectator attendance and the outstanding growth of the youth classes is a great indicator of the health of our club and that of the community.”

He also emphasized what may be the most important part of all.

“Our ice racing club and the entire sport itself has become incredibly family orientated,” he said. “If you are a newcomer to the sport and wish to join in on the fun of racing, our club members and fellow racers are always looking to lend a helping hand.”

That sense of welcome is something we see across Delta County. Whether it is on the ice, on the trails, on the slopes, or in our hotels and restaurants, winter visitors are finding not just activities, but community.

We often talk about summer as our busy season. But this winter has been a strong reminder that Delta County is a year-round destination. Ice racing, ice fishing, skiing, and our trail system are bringing people here in meaningful numbers, supporting local jobs and small businesses along the way.

If you have not been out to see a race, spend a day on the ski hill, or explore the trails this season, there is still time. And if you have family or friends looking for a winter getaway, we have plenty to show them.

Winter in Delta County is not something to wait out. It is something people are traveling here to experience.