Vail Resorts Could Be Building A Fancy New Ski Resort 65 Miles From Chicago

By Kate Shepherd in News on Jan 20, 2016 8:10PM

https://www.facebook.com/wilmotmtn

Good news for Chicago skiers. The owner of the famous Vail Ski Resort in Colorado has purchased Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin, just 65 miles from Chicago and is planning to update the facility.

Vail Resorts is planning to improve the skiing experience on the mountain and around the base area at Wilmot, the company announced in a statement. Wilmot is Vail's third "urban ski area"—they already operate the Mt. Brighton and Afton Alps resorts near Detroit and Minneapolis.

"We also plan to bring the same state-of-the-art lifts, snowmaking, lodges, racing, terrain parks, coaching and technology to the guest experience at Wilmot Mountain, much like we have done at Mt. Brighton and Afton Alps, all while honoring the important legacy of the ski area," Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts, said in the statement.

Chicago skiers would have access to Vail's highly-successful season pass program. For somewhere around $769, participants will not only get to ski at Wilmot, but at other sister mountains including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Park City, Heavenly, and Northstar.

The Stopa family, who founded Wilmot in 1938, has run the resort for the last 75 years. The resort has attracted Chicago and Milwaukee skiers and snowboarders thanks to its proximity to the cities, but it's considered a smaller-than-average ski resort.

[H/T Curbed]