This Small Ski Resort in Southern Wisconsin Makes for the Perfect Day Trip From Chicago
Lift 1, on the far west side of Wilmot Mountain, gives riders a look at two medium-difficulty runs: Stateline on the left and Shenanigan on the right
Winter can just be the pits, can’t it? The snow, the cold, the relentless wind whipping at your face — it’s almost enough to make you start a countdown clock for Memorial Day weekend at times. But you know what’s better than sitting at home and waiting for the cold to pass? Heading outside and taking advantage of it.
If not for winter sports, the chilliest season of the year would be downright, nonstop depressing, but thanks to the ancient man or woman who decided to strap a couple slats of wood to their feet for a simple means of transportation thousands of years ago (allegedly), we have the option nowadays to ski (or snowboard) recreationally at resorts the world over. And thank eight-pound, six-ounce baby Jesus for that, am I right?
Once that’s out of the way, the next people you ought to express your gratitude to are the fine folks over at Vail Resorts, who operate a number of skiing and snowboarding destinations across the U.S. (along with Canada and Australia). While some of their better-known offerings like Keystone and Breckenridge can be found in Colorado, they have locations from coast to coast, including in the Midwest.
Which brings us (finally, you might say), to the reason this post exists in the first place: to introduce you to the only Vail-owned resort in Wisconsin. Wilmot Ski Resort, found along the Wisconsin-Illinois border in a town bearing the same name, is home to 25 trails, seven ski lifts, four terrain parks, and a snow tubing area — and has been providing affordable winter fun to people from nearby Chicago and Milwaukee (and beyond) for decades.
A recent trip to Wilmot with friends from Chicago made for a good case study concerning the reasons thousands return to the resort each winter.
Getting Our Bearings
Wilmot has been marketing itself as the “Matterhorn of the Midwest” since opening in 1938, but that has never been truer than now, given the $13 million dollars worth of improvements that were made beginning in 2016, when Vail purchased the resort
Don’t have your own gear? No worries: Wilmot has on-site ski and snowboard rentals. No idea what you’re doing? That’s okay, too, because the resort’s Ski & Ride School offers lessons for mountain-goers of all experience levels (Photo: Lexi Midkiff)
Wilmot, Why Not?
If, for some reason, you feel the need to be reminded you are but a small and insignificant speck within the vastness of the universe, this giant red chair at the bottom of the mountain does a fairly good job of making even the tallest members of your friend group feel tiny (Photo: Lexi Midkiff)
Pro tip: avoid wearing all black or grey like the individual in the center of this photo (who shall remain nameless), and instead make it easier for your friends to pick you out of a crowd by making a mountain-worthy style statement (Photo: Lexi Midkiff)
Refueling
When the time is right, take advantage of Wilmot’s on-site dining options, including the Ski Hill Grill (pictured here), Walt’s Tavern (named after the resort’s founder), and the Main Lodge Bar (which constitutes the original lodge/vacation home from which Wilmot sprouted)
You can also enjoy your food with a view (that’s it, that’s the caption)
Down For The Count
Remember to take time for breaks if you need to catch your breath — we don’t need you out here getting avoidably injured (or falling into the trap of these other conventional “don’t’s” while on the mountain) (Photo: Lexi Midkiff)
Postscript & A Parting Shot
Trading in a day trip for an overnight stay in the area? There isn’t any on-site lodging at Wlimot, but one place to look for overnight accommodations is in nearby Kenosha, where, close to the downtown area, you’ll find Capt. Mike’s Beer & Burger Bar, a fun spot for build-your-own creations
Pro tip number two: make sure you bring at least one friend with long arms to capture that all-important group selfie after a successful day on the slopes (Photo: Timo Bach)
-LTH