Industry News
Wild Mountain in Minnesota teased an imminent opening yesterday, sharing an image on social media of its impressive snow piles with the caption “The Not-Too-Distant Future!” By running a tow rope, will Wild Mountain be the first resort in North America to offer lift-served turns this winter?
According to OpenSnow’s Midwest meteorologist, Croix Christenson, “Wild Mountain had another colder night on Monday night and will have one more on Tuesday. If they are going to open I would think it happens on Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Wild Mountain is traditionally the first resort to open in the state.
The Not-Too-Distant Future!
👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿Posted by Wild Mountain on Monday 14 October 2024
Twice in the previous three years, in 2022 and 2020, Wild Mountain won the race to open and was the first resort in North America to open for the season. The last few years have seen them open on October 30, 2023; October 18, 2022; November 15, 2021; October 19, 2020; October 29, 2019; and October 21, 2018. The earliest the resort has ever opened is October 7, in 2012.
On October 6, the resort shared that its snow guns were in position and ready.
It is human nature to be competitive, win, and be first. It is also fun and exciting for skiers and riders to look ahead to the upcoming season to see what mountain will open first. Here is a list of the ski resorts that opened first since the 2008-09 season:
- 2023-24: Ski Ward, Massachusetts – October 22
- 2022-23: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 18
- 2021-22: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 16
- 2020-21: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 19
- 2019-20: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 11
- 2018-19: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 13
- 2017-18: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 13
- 2016-17: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 21
- 2015-16: Killington, Vermont – October 18
- 2014-15: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 17
- 2013-14: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – October 13
- 2012-13: Wild Mountain, Minnesota – October 18
- 2011-12: Wolf Creek, Colorado – October 11
- 2010-11: Sunday River, Maine – October 23
- 2009-10: Loveland, Colorado – October 6
- 2008-09: Loveland, Colorado – October 7
Wild Mountain is a ski and snowboard area in Amador Township, Chisago County, near Taylors Falls, Minnesota. It features 26 runs, including four terrain parks, including jumps, rails, boxes, quarter-pipes, and half-pipes, both man-made and natural. During the summer months of June, July, and August, a water park, an alpine slide, and a go-kart track become operational. The site is also the first ski and snowboard resort in the Midwest to open every year, and it is usually broadcast on local news networks.
