Fun video from opening day, thanks to SeekJoy Productions.

Wild Mountain, a Minnesota ski resort 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 7th, 2012 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!

The Wild Mountain Snowsports School and its dedicated team of professional Ski and Snowboard instructors offer lessons seven days and nights a week. We are the only metro area offering children specific lessons or programs seven days a week. Wild Mountain is proud of its commitment to introduce the lifetime sport of skiing or snowboarding to all ages of our community.

We would like to encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy Minnesota winters and be happy, healthy and fit. We hope you’ll come out and join our Wild Mountain family! You’ll be happy you did!