The Only Escalator in Hillsdale County

One college’s claim to vertical-transportation (VT) fame is a single pair of escalators. Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, is home to a strong Christian liberal arts college community and the county’s only escalators. The two escalators in the college’s Searle Center are the only set in Hillsdale County, but that hasn’t stopped the community from spreading rumors of an elusive other set of escalators. While this unexpected VT fact is indeed fact, students like junior Jake Waldvogel, a student ambassador for the college, have worked on putting the speculations to rest. According to Waldvogel:

“I first heard the rumor that the hospital may have had another two years ago, so clearly it was pretty well circulated. There has never been another escalator, so ours was the first and only in the county.”

While the escalators are a defining feature for the college, the pair are frequently subject to closures due to ongoing construction and maintenance. Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé explained that this is due to Michigan’s specific and recently updated escalator codes. Despite recent closures, the only escalators in Hillsdale County Michigan are a unique draw for Hillsdale college.