Report calls for city of Duluth to consider greater investment in Spirit Mountain Task force members determined that an outright sale of the financially beleaguered city-owned recreation area would not be possible. Written By: Peter Passi | × A snow cannon at Duluth's Spirit Mountain spews a cloud of snow below one of the ski hill’s chair lifts. (Steve Kuchera / 2020 file / News Tribune) A consultant has advised the city of Duluth to double down on its investments in the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, recommending an additional expenditure of about $23 million to install a new lift, upgrade beginner ski terrain, update the Skyline Chalet and expand its summer offerings, among other projects.