Mount Horeb, Wisconsin — In what might be the most bizarre ski industry story of this season, the owner of a ski area was arrested for allegedly assaulting a guest who broke the rules.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the owner of Tyrol Basin, Nathaniel McGree, was arrested after allegedly attacking a teenager.
A seventeen-year-old boy was skiing at Tyrol Basin on Monday despite not buying a ticket. Employees discovered this and asked the individual to leave. After the teenager complied and left the property, McGree and another employee followed the teenager. Allegedly, McGree proceeded to attack the teenager. McGree then asked him to return to the property and pay them $120, which he complied with. It’s unclear why the owner of Tyrol Basin asked for $120, as this was twice the value of a lift ticket. When the Sheriff arrived, he saw the visibly shaken teenager, and arrested Nathaniel McGree.
McGree was booked for disorderly conduct and physical abuse of a child. He was still in custody as of February 25th. Charges have yet to be filed.
Opened back in 1958, Tyrol Basin has had various names throughout its history, including Sutter’s Ridge and Norway Basin. The ski area features 24 trails (plus five terrain parks and five glades), 6 lifts, 40 skiable acres, and a vertical drop of 300 feet.
The ski resort was acquired by McGree in 2018. Over the years, he’s made various improvements, like adding more snowmaking, lights for night skiing, and glades. He also added a new magic carpet and snow tubing park to the ski area. The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast did an episode with McGree last spring, which you can listen to here.
Image Credits: Tyrol Basin, Dane County Jail