Wilmot Mountain Opens for 80th Season

For years, I've been reading about Wilmot Mountain, a ski resort just over the Wisconsin border from where I live in the Chicago area. I got a news release last week announcing all of the fun coming up this season, which kicked off this past Saturday and includes several special events, including one celebrating their 80th season. The resort has also undergone $13 million in improvements by new owner, Vail Resorts. Read more below and make your plans to check it out this season!

WILMOT, Wisc. – Dec. 7, 2017 – Wilmot Mountain, a long-time favorite Midwest ski destination, announced today its opening date of Saturday, December 9, 2017. In addition to welcoming guests back to the ski slopes, Wilmot Mountain is celebrating its 80th anniversary season with even more improvements and new events!

Last season, Wilmot Mountain unveiled more than $13 million worth of improvements by new owner Vail Resorts and continues their commitment to excellence this season. Wilmot Mountain is conveniently located in Wisconsin just 45 miles north of Chicago and 30 miles south of Milwaukee on the Illinois/Wisconsin border.

Additions this season include the new “Learn to Ride/Learn to Ski” program from Wilmot Mountain’s Ski & Snowboard School which introduces guests to skiing and snowboarding and providing them with the equipment to begin their lifelong passion of snow sports. First time skiers and snowboarders ages seven and older will experience Wilmot Mountain's outstanding multi- week instructional program and upon completion of the program take home FREE skis and snowboards. Other new additions include a brand new lunch and dinner menu at the full-service restaurant Walt’s Tavern, Trivia night every Wednesday, weekly live and local music in the main lodge as well as a Terrain Park Tip with the Park Crew at 6 p.m. on Friday’s.

The 2017-2018 event line-up includes:
Ski with Santa, Dec. 17
New Year’s Eve Fireworks & Celebration, Dec. 31
Terrain Park Competitions on Jan. 6, Jan. 25, Feb. 10 and March 3

TIWELL (This is What Epic Looks Like), Jan. 27 80th Season Celebration, Feb. 10
Spring Fling, March 10

“We are excited to welcome our guests back to experience our amazing amenities here at Wilmot Mountain and invite everyone to help us celebrate 80 years of winter fun in Wisconsin!” – Taylor Ogilvie

Vail Resorts recent improvements completed fall of 2016 at Wilmot Mountain encompass every aspect of the guest experience, from the terrain and lifts, to base area facilities and snowmaking technology:

• New Lifts. Three new four-person chairlifts, a new high-speed rope tow in the terrain park, and two new surface conveyor lifts in the beginner area have been added. These additions have increased uphill capacity by up to 45 percent, allowing skiers and snowboarders more time on the slopes.
  
• Base Area Transformation. The entire base lodge has been transformed and modernized along with an upgrade to the mountain dining offerings to accommodate more guests. In addition, the facility added 400 seats – which more than doubles room for families, groups and adults. In addition, guests will enjoy signature cocktails at the new bar as well as Wi-Fi throughout the space. Approaching completion, The Iron Kettle restaurant will be completely redesigned, and re-named Walt’s Tavern after the founder of Wilmot Mountain, Walter Stopa, and will include a new lounge where parents will be able to watch their children ski and snowboard and enjoy a full-service bar and food service in an energized, comfortable setting.
  
• Expanded State-of-the-Art Snowmaking. Significant improvements to the snowmaking infrastructure have increased the snowmaking capacity and allow Wilmot Mountain to open this season with substantial terrain and offer better snow surface conditions throughout the season. More than four miles of new snowmaking pipe and 56 new snowmaking guns have been added.
  
• New Kids’ Ski and Snowboard School and Enhanced Beginner Area. The learning terrain has been completely re-graded to be more accessible for beginners, including two new surface conveyor lifts. A dedicated and state-of-the-art children’s ski and snowboard center has been built adjacent to the learning terrain at the base of the ski area, featuring a playful open space for kids along with their own lunch and break rooms.
  
• New Terrain Park and High-Speed Rope Tow. A newly expanded terrain park offers unique and innovative features designed and created by terrain park staff at Vail Resorts’ western resorts. The addition of a new high-speed rope tow enables skiers and snowboarders to spend more time in the terrain park.
  
  2017-2018 Ticket Options for Wilmot Skiers and Snowboarders:
  

• Wilmot Mountain Single Day Tickets: Daily tickets can be purchased both on site and online. Monday through Thursday, full day lift tickets will run $54 for adults and $49 for children and seniors. Friday through Sunday and holidays, prices will be $64 for adults and $59 for children and seniors. For same-day tickets purchased after 3 p.m., all ticket prices drop $5 off the respective prices listed above.
  
• Wilmot Mountain’s Preferred Program: Join the Preferred Program to enjoy local savings in addition to savings at Vail Resorts’ Western ski resorts. Preferred Program participants will save $5 daily on each lift ticket, can skip the line with online access, and can deduct the full value of their daily Wilmot Mountain lift ticket from the price of a lift ticket at any of the eight Epic Resorts out West in Colorado, Utah and Tahoe. Guests will need to sign up at Guests Services for the free program.
  
• NEW this season, the Wilmot Mountain 3-Pack. For a limited time only, guests can enjoy three times the fun for less than the price of two visits! Guests can enjoy 3 times the fun for the price of 2 visits! For just $119 adults/$99 child & senior, guests purchase two days of skiing/riding at Wilmot this season and get their third day free. Purchase your holiday three pack and allow your friends and family to keep embracing winter all season long! For complete details, visit: wilmotmountain.com
  
  About Wilmot Mountain
  For 80 years, Wilmot Mountain has offered its guests one of the Midwest’s premier destinations for snow sport activities. Situated in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, Wilmot Mountain is conveniently located between Chicago and Milwaukee, affording skiers and snowboarders quick and easy access to 23 trails, seven lifts, two surface conveyor lifts and progression terrain parks with a double, high-speed rope tow. Wilmot Mountain’s recent capital investment of more than $13 million for the 2016-2017 winter season delivered an entirely re-imagined guest experience – from new lifts and restaurants to significant snowmaking improvements, a dedicated children’s ski and snowboard school, enhanced beginner area and expanded terrain park. The ski area’s focus on families, learning and fun, combined with the opportunity for guests to take their passion and skills to Vail Resorts’ iconic western resorts, ensure Wilmot Mountain is truly the place Where Epic Begins. For more information, please visit www.wilmotmountain.com.
  
  About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
  Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 11 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher in Australia; Stowe in Vermont; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resortsowns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.