Wild Mountain Explained

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 City:Taylors Falls, Minnesota
Number Trails:25
Longest Run:5,000 feet
Liftsystem:4 chairlifts, 4 rope tows, 1 surface lift
Snowmaking:Yes
Nightskiing:Yes
External Link:http://www.wildmountain.com/

Overview

During 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

Wild 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

In 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

Wild 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 1981no recordsno records
1982October 18[5] Earliest opening since opening of ski area in 1960.
1983 & 1984no recordsno records
1985October 31
1986no recordsno records
1987November 9$8 ticket
1988October 26$7 ticket
1989November 4$14 ticket, closed April 9
1990October 19
1991October 181st ski area in the U.S to open.
1993October 31
1994November 15
1995November 3
1996no recordsno records
1997October 27
1998November 4
1999November 3$20 ticket. November 20–26, Daisy trail only for $6
2000November 15
2001November 20$20 ticket, Open November 24–27, November 30-5, then December 7 and beyond
2002October 23$10 ticket
2003November 6$12 ticket for Expressway, Daisy and Sunshine
2004November 11Snow on the ground by November 8, $6 Daisy ticket
2005November 17$15 ticket for Daisy and Sunshine
2006November 1$15 ticket for Expressway and Daisy. 100% open on January 3
2007November 7$16 ticket for Expressway
2008October 28$16 ticket for Expressway
2009November 15$16 ticket for Expressway
2010October 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]
2011October 29$10 ticket for Front Stage, Expressway added on November 18. Rained on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend
2012October 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.
2013October 22[9] $15 ticket or $10 with coupon. Front Stage trail open.
2014October 31[10] $20 ticket for Front Stage. Added Expressway and Dandy on November 1
2015November 20[11] Front Stage, Dandy and Expressway for $20. 100% open on December 30.
2016November 12 [12] $20 ticket for Front Stage, Dandy and Expressway
2017October 29[13] $20 ticket for Front Stage trail
2018October 21[14] $25 ticket for Front Stage
2019October 29[15] $26 ticket for Front Stage
2020October 19First ski area in North America to open.[16] $25 ticket for Front Stage.
2021November 13$15 ticket for Front Stage and Dandy
2022October 18First ski area in North America to open.[17] [18] $25 ticket for Front Stage.
2023October 30[19] Closed November 14–25, then reopened for remainder of season.

References

http://www.wildmountain.com/frequently-asked-questions#Two

External links

45.4889°N -92.7056°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wild Mountain - Capital Improvements . 2024-02-13 . wildmountain.com.
  2. Web site: 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) . 2024-02-13 . www.nps.gov . en.
  3. Web site: Golden Eagle Awards . 2024-02-03 . www.nsaa.org.
  4. Web site: Wild Mountain - Responsibility Report . 2024-02-13 . wildmountain.com.
  5. Web site: 2012-10-07 . 2012-13 U.S. Ski and Snowboard Season Opens…in Minnesota First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine . 2024-02-13 . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2010-11-27 . Minnesota Ski Area Now Fully Open in November First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine . 2024-02-13 . en-US.
  7. Web site: WILD MOUNTAIN IS FIRST SKI AREA TO OPEN IN NATION - Ski Area Management . 2024-02-13 . www.saminfo.com . en-gb.
  8. Web site: Zemens . David . 2012-10-12 . Wild Mountain/Taylor Falls - First Ski Area to Open for 2012/2013 Winter . 2024-02-13 . agnarchy.com.
  9. Web site: O'Neill . Donny . 2013-10-23 . Wild Mountain, Minnesota opens for the 2013/14 ski season . 2024-02-13 . FREESKIER . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2014-10-31 . Slopes Open For Ski Season At Wild Mountain - CBS Minnesota . 2024-02-13 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2015-11-20 . Wild Mountain Opens For The Season - CBS Minnesota . 2024-02-13 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  12. Web site: Wallner . Chris . 2016-11-12 . 6 Ski Resorts Are OPEN In North America This Weekend: . 2024-02-13 . SnowBrains . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2017-10-29 . After October Snow, Wild Mountain Opens For Weekend Skiing - CBS Minnesota . 2024-02-13 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2018-10-21 . Wild Mountain Opens To Skiers Sunday - CBS Minnesota . 2024-02-13 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2019-10-28 . Wild Mountain Opens For Skiing, Snowboarding Tuesday - CBS Minnesota . 2024-02-13 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  16. Web site: Dave . Wild Mountain, Mt. Norquay First North American Resorts to Open - Ski Area Management . 2024-02-13 . www.saminfo.com . en-gb.
  17. Web site: BringMeTheNews . 2022-10-18 . Wild Mountain is first ski hill to open for season in North America . 2024-02-13 . Bring Me The News . en.
  18. Web site: 2022-10-18 . Wild Mountain in Minnesota opens for skiing . 2024-02-13 . FOX 9 . en-US.
  19. Web site: SnowBrains . 2023-10-31 . Wild Mountain, MN, Opened Yesterday for the Season . 2024-02-13 . SnowBrains . en-US.