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Wild Mountain is a ski area and snow tubing park in the winter and a waterpark during the summer. It is located in Amador Township, Chisago County, near Taylors Falls, Minnesota.
| Wild Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Location | Amador Township, Chisago County, Minnesota |
| Nearest major city | Taylors Falls, Minnesota |
| Trails | 25 |
| Longest run | 5,000 feet |
| Lift system | 4 chairlifts, 4 rope tows, 1 surface lift |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | Yes |
| Website | http://www.wildmountain.com/ |
Overview
editDuring the winter months, Wild Mountain delivers 25 runs and 4 terrain parks across 100 acres of terrain. The ski area has 4 chairlifts, 4 rope tows and one conveyor. Wild Mountain enjoys a vintage base lodge which was originally constructed in 1960 and has had numerous additions.[1] The base lodge was upgraded between 2021 and 2023 including a new bar, new flooring, updated bathrooms, new deck and an updated entrance.
Wild Mountain also has a snow tubing park that has a conveyor lift and a 100 vertical foot decent. The tubing park has a sound system thumping music during all sessions. Then, at dusk the tubing park hosts Starlight Tubing which features a laser and colorful lights spread across the park.
Throughout the summer, Wild Mountain is a water park which features the Wild Adventure Island, Avalanche Alley Waterslides, FreeFall XP, Arctic Rush Alpine Slide, Tall Timbers Raceway, lazy river, and kiddie pool, Wild Mountain has tents across its base area for guests to use. Additionally, the waterpark hosts birthday parties and group events.
Wild Mountain is owned by Sara Larsen (President). The general manager is Nathan Hakseth.
Geography
editWild Mountain is located one hour northeast of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. It is located 7 miles north of Taylors Falls. From North Branch you can take interstate 35. The resort lies on the western bank of the scenic St. Croix River[2] and has many tall bluffs and hills next to its shores, some being 300–400 feet tall.
Environmental Excellence
editIn 2023, Wild Mountain was honored by the National Ski Areas Association with the Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence. This award is given annually to a ski industry leader in sustainability with broad programming and a holistic approach leading to overall environmental achievement across their operations.[3]
Additionally, Wild Mountain has achieved carbon neutrality since 2020, an environmental milestone, through reducing energy use, diverting waste and offsetting carbon. Wild Mountain was the first ski area in North America to achieve this recognition.
Environmental stewardship is a key pillar to Wild Mountain’s operations, and we achieved the CarbonNeutral® Certificatio (R) from Climate Impact Partners, the leading experts on carbon neutrality, which works with organizations around the world to deliver solutions that ensure immediate, positive impacts on the world’s natural capital.
To achieve carbon neutrality,[4] Climate Impact Partners worked with us to calculate and offset the property’s unavoidable emissions by supporting a project to reduce the equivalent emissions. Natural Capital Partners identified the Seneca Meadows Landfill Gas project in New York and reforestation projects in the Amazon as offset projects that could not exist without funding from organizations like ours.
Historical Opening Dates
editWild Mountain is known nationally for its early opening dates for skiing and snowboarding. Below is a historical list of its opening dates.
| Year | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 to 1981 | no records | no records |
| 1982 | October 18[5] | Earliest opening since opening of ski area in 1960. |
| 1983 & 1984 | no records | no records |
| 1985 | October 31 | |
| 1986 | no records | no records |
| 1987 | November 9 | $8 ticket |
| 1988 | October 26 | $7 ticket |
| 1989 | November 4 | $14 ticket, closed April 9 |
| 1990 | October 19 | |
| 1991 | October 18 | 1st ski area in the U.S to open. |
| 1993 | October 31 | |
| 1994 | November 15 | |
| 1995 | November 3 | |
| 1996 | no records | no records |
| 1997 | October 27 | |
| 1998 | November 4 | |
| 1999 | November 3 | $20 ticket. November 20–26, Daisy trail only for $6 |
| 2000 | November 15 | |
| 2001 | November 20 | $20 ticket, Open November 24–27, November 30-5, then December 7 and beyond |
| 2002 | October 23 | $10 ticket |
| 2003 | November 6 | $12 ticket for Expressway, Daisy and Sunshine |
| 2004 | November 11 | Snow on the ground by November 8, $6 Daisy ticket |
| 2005 | November 17 | $15 ticket for Daisy and Sunshine |
| 2006 | November 1 | $15 ticket for Expressway and Daisy. 100% open on January 3 |
| 2007 | November 7 | $16 ticket for Expressway |
| 2008 | October 28 | $16 ticket for Expressway |
| 2009 | November 15 | $16 ticket for Expressway |
| 2010 | October 29 | $15 ticket for Expressway and Daisy through October 31. Reopened November 5–8, then November 14 and beyond. 100% open on November 27. First area in northern hemisphere to have 100% coverage.[6] |
| 2011 | October 29 | $10 ticket for Front Stage, Expressway added on November 18. Rained on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend |
| 2012 | October 7 [7] | First ski area in U.S. to open.[8] $18 for Daisy and Front Stage. 100% open on November 29 - First in North America to achieve that. |
| 2013 | October 22[9] | $15 ticket or $10 with coupon. Front Stage trail open. |
| 2014 | October 31[10] | $20 ticket for Front Stage. Added Expressway and Dandy on November 1 |
| 2015 | November 20[11] | Front Stage, Dandy and Expressway for $20. 100% open on December 30. |
| 2016 | November 12 [12] | $20 ticket for Front Stage, Dandy and Expressway |
| 2017 | October 29[13] | $20 ticket for Front Stage trail |
| 2018 | October 21[14] | $25 ticket for Front Stage |
| 2019 | October 29[15] | $26 ticket for Front Stage |
| 2020 | October 19 | First ski area in North America to open.[16] $25 ticket for Front Stage. |
| 2021 | November 13 | $15 ticket for Front Stage and Dandy |
| 2022 | October 18 | First ski area in North America to open.[17][18] $25 ticket for Front Stage. |
| 2023 | October 30[19] | Closed November 14–25, then reopened for remainder of season. |
References
edit- ^ "Wild Mountain - Capital Improvements". wildmountain.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ Falls, Mailing Address: 401 North Hamilton Street St Croix; Us, WI 54024 Phone: 715 483-2274 Contact. "Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Golden Eagle Awards". www.nsaa.org. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ "Wild Mountain - Responsibility Report". wildmountain.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "2012-13 U.S. Ski and Snowboard Season Opens…in Minnesota | First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine". 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "Minnesota Ski Area Now Fully Open in November | First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine". 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "WILD MOUNTAIN IS FIRST SKI AREA TO OPEN IN NATION - Ski Area Management". www.saminfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ Zemens, David (2012-10-12). "Wild Mountain/Taylor Falls - First Ski Area to Open for 2012/2013 Winter". agnarchy.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ O'Neill, Donny (2013-10-23). "Wild Mountain, Minnesota opens for the 2013/14 ski season". FREESKIER. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "Slopes Open For Ski Season At Wild Mountain - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "Wild Mountain Opens For The Season - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ Wallner, Chris (2016-11-12). "6 Ski Resorts Are OPEN In North America This Weekend:". SnowBrains. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "After October Snow, Wild Mountain Opens For Weekend Skiing - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. 2017-10-29. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "Wild Mountain Opens To Skiers Sunday - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "Wild Mountain Opens For Skiing, Snowboarding Tuesday - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ Dave. "Wild Mountain, Mt. Norquay First North American Resorts to Open - Ski Area Management". www.saminfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ BringMeTheNews (2022-10-18). "Wild Mountain is first ski hill to open for season in North America". Bring Me The News. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "Wild Mountain in Minnesota opens for skiing". FOX 9. 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ SnowBrains (2023-10-31). "Wild Mountain, MN, Opened Yesterday for the Season". SnowBrains. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
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