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wild mountain mn |wild mountain |snowboarding |snowboard |snow lab news |skiing |ski |resort news |opening |news |minnesota |google news |day |2012
On Oct. 7, 2012, Wild Mountain in Minnesota, was the first ski area to open in the nation. Snow covered a majority of the Bunny Hill and stayed open the whole day.
Wild Mountain is located seven miles north of Taylors Falls, Minnesota, along the banks of the serene St. Croix River. Less than an hour’s drive north of the Twin Cities takes you ‘Just North Enough’ to a winter playground where family and friends are able to enjoy a day of fun together. With 26 runs traversing 100 acres of snow covered terrain, skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities enjoy the great outdoors in Minnesota.
This season Wild Mountain celebrates 40 years of bringing winter fun to the area. In 1972 Dennis and Cam Raedeke purchased what had been known as the Val Croix Ski Area and began its transformation to Wild Mountain/Taylors Falls Recreation, a year round family recreation area. Wild Mountain is now operated by two of their children, Dan Raedeke and Amy Frischmon, continuing the proud tradition of family ownership and operation.
Being ‘Just North Enough’ has allowed Wild Mountain to establish another tradition, the title as the first Midwest area to open for the past 35 years! Midwest snowfall is neither sufficient nor dependable enough to support a season of skiing and riding. To make up for this shortfall of natural snow, ski areas in the Midwest (as well as other areas in the country) rely on manmade; or manufactured snow. Just the right mix of cold, dry air (remember Just North Enough!) and water with the right equipment allows for ample snow coverage at the area – even if there is no snow in your backyard.
Being ‘Just North Enough’ has allowed Wild Mountain to maintain not only its tradition of being first to open in the Midwest, but it also has allowed Wild Mountain to be the first to be 100% open, typically by Thanksgiving weekend, and to sustain one of the longest Midwest seasons! In 10 of the past 25 years Wild Mountain has opened in October, and typically closes for the season the last weekend in March.
Fun Dates:
October 18th, 1992 Wild Mountain was the first ski area to open in North America.
November 27, 2010, Wild Mountain was the first ski area in North America to be 100% open!