Winters in Chicago are long. If you like outdoor adventure, drive to the Illinois/Wisconsin border and spend the day at Wilmot Mountain. Many people from the Chicago area have learned how to ski and snowboard at this little hill, including me.
Our family started skiing when I was seven years old. My mom loaded us kids into the station wagon and led a caravan of cars filled with our friends to Wilmot Mountain. Our 1970 Country Squire had rear-wheel drive, plus the tires were bald. I can’t count how many times we ended up in a snowbank. It was all part of the adventure and left us with some funny stories!
© Photo by lmagineGolf from Canva
Getting There
Wilmot Mountain, 11931 Fox River Rd., Wilmot, WI 53192
From Chicago, your trip will take about 1.5 hours.
You’ll drive scenic winding roads past beautiful old farms and small towns that have been there since the late 1800s.
Parking
As you drive into the main entrance, you will see a bright red Sno-cat from Wilmot’s 1960s fleet of grooming tractors with a beautiful view of the ski hill sparkling behind it. A few feet further, under the pine tree, there’s a stone with a bronze plaque. It used to be part of the jumping rock on the Exhibition run. It was removed in the 1980s when they added height to the hill. It’s now a monument for Eugenia and Walter Stopa.
The main lot is large, with plenty of free parking. A small drop-off area is next to the lodge for unloading your equipment and passengers.
As I walk up to the main entrance, employees always greet me. It’s such a happy place. If you need information you can find someone in a red uniform. They can help you with any questions you have. The customer service is off the charts at this place. Every employee that I walk past says hello and is very helpful.
Lift Tickets
You can purchase your lift ticket online or at the indoor or outdoor ticket window. If you plan to ski all season, I recommend buying an Epic Local Pass at the beginning of the ski season. It pays for itself after a few visits. It’s also good for a few additional visits at any Vail-owned resort. They will print you a lift ticket the size of a credit card. As you approach the chairlift, the “lifty” will swipe you with the scanner to confirm you’ve paid. No more lift tickets that hang from your jacket zipper. We used to keep them on all season long to show off how many times we went skiing. Eventually, our coats wouldn’t stay zipped!
Rentals
They have a large inventory of skis, boards, and boots. Before you arrive, you might want to reserve your skis or snowboard equipment on the Wilmot website so that your size will be available.
There are also ski shops in the Chicago area where you can rent equipment. Viking Ski Shop, Williams Ski and Patio, and REI all offer rental equipment.
Lockers
If you need a locker for your belongings, you can find them in the main lodge near Ski Patrol and also at the rental area downstairs from Walt’s.
Ski and Ride Lessons
Wilmot has approximately 250 highly skilled instructors. Nearly 75 % of the instructors are PSIA/AASI certified. These guys mean business. They love teaching, talking, and thinking about their snow sports. Don’t let the small hill fool you. They can teach beginners to the best expert skiers. They’ll help you bring your skiing to the next level.
The school also offers a terrific children’s program that graduates the skiers/riders as they progress.
There are several children’s ski clubs in the area. Blizzard Ski Club, Snowflake Club, Trolls, and Avalanche Ski Club. They are supervised and will bring children to the hill on buses. Part of the day is spent in a lesson. Afterward, there’s time to practice and free ski with their friends.
This is perfect for busy parents who have kids who love to ski. It’s also a fantastic way for them to make life-long ski friends.
Racing Program
Professionally trained race coaches run the Race Training and Jr. Race Team programs. Check the Wilmot website for more information.
Ski Patrol
Hopefully, you won’t need them, but just in case, the ski patrol is located at the far North end (opposite end from the ticket counters) of the main lodge. They have over 100 staff that have been trained in first aid and ski/board rescue techniques.
The Main Lodge, Ski Hill Grill, and Walt’s Tavern
Before Vail renovated Wilmot, the main lodge was very old-school. It had a massive fire pit in the center of the room. I always loved how my clothes would end up smelling like a campfire. Skiers used to warm themselves and socialize around the fire. The furniture was heavy wood with red vinyl cushions. There were beautiful, vintage Tiffany hanging lamps. It offered an old-fashioned cafeteria line, a large ski shop with a selection of the latest ski fashion and equipment, the Pizza Barn, and a small bar with live music. It’s impressive what Vail did with the building, but I miss opening the door and stepping back in time.
Photo courtesy of Charles C. Roberts Jr.
Lodge 2023
At the new lodge, the ski shop has been relocated and downsized. They offer a good selection of name-brand ski clothing, helmets, and goggles but no longer sell equipment.
The Ski Hill Grill is set up with food stations. They serve pizza, soup, chili, hot dogs, burgers, fries, and cheese curds. You can also get fresh salads, wraps, and sandwiches in the self-service cooler. I love how environmentally friendly they are. There are no single-serve utensils, plates, or cups. Also, be aware that since Covid, they do not take cash.
Walt’s Tavern is in a separate building. It used to be the Iron Kettle lodge. Walt’s is a beautiful room. It has floor-to-ceiling windows with a spectacular view of the hill. I can sit and watch the skiers come down all day. It can be exciting, funny, or sometimes frightening to watch.
There’s a patio with picnic tables and a fire pit. Some days they will have a live DJ or a band. You can also purchase a s’mores kit and cook over an open fire! Check the events schedule so that you don’t miss anything.
The Hill
It has a thrilling 230 ft vertical drop, 120 acres of skiable terrain with 25 trails, 7 chairlifts, 2 surface lifts, and terrain parks with high-speed rope tows.
Beginner Runs
Turtle & Bunny Hill- The perfect runs for beginners to learn in a safe environment. Vail has replaced the rope tows with surface lifts (magic carpets). I am so grateful for this upgrade! I used to need to buy a new pair of gloves every year.
Meadows/Fanny Hill- Chair 2 is the best for people trying to ride the chairlift for the first time. You can get to Fanny Hill by exiting to the right of the chair and then staying to the left and taking the catwalk around the back of the hill. There’s also a nice view of the tubing lanes from here.
Broadway- This run is directly off of Chair 2. It’s the short beginner run above the Bunny Hill. I like to learn and practice new skills on this run. It has two points of entry so don’t forget to look out for traffic. On the weekend it can get very busy.
Intermediate Runs
Shenanigan, Sunnyside, Paradise, Walter’s Folly, Sundance, and Inspiration.
Advanced Runs
State Line, Exhibition, Superior, Sidewinder, Competition, Heartland, Snowbowl, and Ridge Run.
The hill has lots of open space with few obstacles. Enjoy skiing the top of one run and crossing over to the bottom of the next. There’s a little something for everyone here. Challenge yourself on the moguls on Superior, or you can catch a slalom race on Competition. Experience the exhilarating drop on Ridge Run or throw some beads on Stateline’s Mardi Gras tree. I highly recommend sticking around for the breathtaking sunsets from the top of Exhibition. You can wait for the lights to go on and continue to ski into the evening. Night skiing can be enjoyable because the crowds are gone. The short lift lines are a nice bonus too! Skiing on weekdays is also a great way to avoid crowds.
Terrain Park
If you’re just getting started, head over to the progression park. This is a small area set up next to chair 6. Build your skills on some of the features before dropping in to play with the park rats.
There are three runs for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. The Gully, The Pasture, and The Rope. You’ll be challenged with rails, jumps, boxes, steps, and other features. The terrain park staff does a great job of laying out the perfect playground to show off your best tricks!
© Photo by JMSilva from Canva
Snow Tubing
In 2011 the snow tubing area was built. It has an impressive twenty-two lanes that run over 1,000 feet long. There are two surface lifts and a beautiful lodge next to the runs.
If you’re looking for something fun and different, tubing might just be your thing!
The snow tubing area also has a separate parking lot. It’s located just south of the ski lodge entrance on Fox River Rd.
Hotels and Lodging
Unfortunately, Wilmot does not have a hotel. A quick search will help you find lodging nearby. Consider staying in Antioch, Kenosha, Richmond, or Lake Geneva.
History
In 1938, a local architect, Walter Stopa, wanted to build a ski hill near Chicago. He rented a small hill from a local dairy farmer and created Wilmot Hills. He started with one rope tow powered by a Ford tractor and a warming hut heated by a coal-fired cook stove. The Stopa family owned and operated Wilmot until 2016 when it became part of Vail Resorts.
© Photo from Amazon
Charles C. Roberts, Jr., one of Wilmot’s longtime ski and snowboard instructors, wrote a book documenting its history, Matterhorn of the Midwest. It can be found on Amazon. Along with the history, it is filled with nostalgic black-and-white photos. It’s interesting to see where the old tow ropes were located and the original look of the lodge.
I hope you visit this little hill and grow to love it as much as I do. It’s a great way to enjoy Chicago’s long winters.