Better snowmaking, tubing and more additions at Wisconsin ski resorts in 2019

By the time Christmas rolls around, Tyrol Basin near Mount Horeb will have a new snow tubing park to entice visitors, in addition to two new slopes for skiers and snowboarders to strut their stuff. 

Tyrol spokesman Matt Miley said new owner Nathan McCree — who took over the Dane County resort last season — has gone big with additions. He’s invested nearly $900,000 for the tubing course, which has its own 4,000-square-foot warming building where customers can get food and drinks. 

Miley said the tubing area will have between 12 and 15 lanes and a moderate, but fun, 12% grade for sliding. 

“We’re adding some finishing touches to the tubing hill now, but we should be open for the holidays,” he said. 

On the skier/snowboarder side of the resort, he said, two new runs have been added and the top of the slope is steeper. The resort will also offer glade skiing through trees and some cliff drops for experts. 

He said Tyrol also installed new snowmaking machines to give better coverage on the hill and purchased a used grooming machine that had been used to build some terrain parks at Western ski resorts. 

At Devil’s Head near Baraboo, general manager Joe Vittengl said his resort opened up the bottom of the beginner area by moving a diesel tank and creating a new area to park grooming machines. 

“We also took out some trees to make it easier for skiers and snowboarders to get to the base lodge,” he said. The resort also moved some snowmaking towers and repositioned lights for better night-skiing visibility. In addition, the resort renovated 50 rooms at its slope-side hotel. 

Down at Wilmot Mountain on the Illinois border east of Twin Lakes, spokeswoman Claire Naughton said Wilmot — which was purchased three years ago by Vail Resorts — has launched an introductory Threes on Skis program aimed at preschoolers to get them comfortable with the sport. It includes activities on and off the snow and will be offered Wednesdays, Fridays, weekends and holidays.

She said skiers and snowboarders will be able to get on the snow faster with the new Mobile Express, an advanced ticket offering that is available through mobile purchase and redemption at the resort. They can also take advantage of the Epic Day Pass, a customizable pass created by selecting the number of days (up to seven) that participants plan to ski or ride at any of Vail Resorts’ North American-owned resorts — including Wilmot. 

Also new this season is a Kid’s New Year’s Eve Bash on Dec. 31, a Super Hero’s Day on Jan. 12, a Leap Year Party and Mogul Mash on Feb. 29, and live acoustic music at Walt’s Tavern on Dec. 27; Jan. 3, 10 and 24; Feb. 7 and 21; and March 6. 

At Cascade Mountain near Portage, operations director Jamison Vaughn said the resort upgraded its Mogul Monster lift, which means it will be able to carry more skiers and snowboarders up the hill faster. 

“It’s so much better that we’ve taken a couple of chairs out to make it easier for customers to get on and off the lift,” he explained. 

In addition, he said the resort improved the learning area by widening the space around the Magic Carpet — something akin to a moving sidewalk — and adding a new retaining wall. He said Cascade also invested in new snowmaking machines to cover more of the slopes. 

Up at Granite Peak just outside Wausau, spokeswoman Lisa Zilinsky said the resort laid new piping during the off-season for its snowmaking system, which will allow it to blow more and better manmade snow on slopes. 

She said Granite Peak has added a “teach yourself” terrain area with instructors at each of five locations in the beginner areas. Zilinisky described it as similar to a mini terrain park with mini rollers and a mini-half pipe where newbies can practice their tricks. The cost for access to this area is $28 for the entire day. 

She said the resort also has a new loyalty program that gives skiers and snowboarders who buy lift tickets points toward purchases and discounts. In addition, the resort is offering what she described as “more family friendly” hourly, combo, midweek and other tickets aimed at attracting additional travelers. 

To the west at Chestnut Mountain in the hills above the Mississippi River near Galena, Ill., spokesman Stewart Stoffregan said his resort is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year by offering free lift tickets to guests who stay at the slope-side hotel from Dec. 6 through 15.