Vail Resorts Expands into Chicago Area

Vail Resorts has acquired Wilmot Mountain, located near the Illinois state line in Wisconsin. Only 65 miles away from Chicago, Wilmot Mountain has been a favorite of city-dwellers for years. This acquisition will add to Vail Resort’s existing portfolio of nine world-class mountain resorts and two urban ski areas.

Wilmot Mountain has been open to snow sport enthusiasts since 1938. It currently offers 25 trails, four terrain parks, a ski and snowboard school, a ski racing program and tubing hill with 23 lanes. In addition to the acquisition of the mountain, Vail Resorts also announced the new general manager, Taylor Ogilvie. Ogilvie actually grew up skiing at Wilmot Mountain and has a background in both ski operations and ski instruction.

Plans for transforming the mountain include redesigned and updated terrain parks, coaching and instruction for all levels of skiers and riders, expanded dining and entertainment options at the base, dedicated racing programs and integrated technology and social media programs. Vail Resorts also has plans to invest in the ski area’s infrastructure to improve snowmaking, parking and access to the slopes.

Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Vail Resorts, Rob Katz said,

“We are thrilled to welcome Wilmot Mountain to the Vail Resorts family. Wilmot is steeped in skiing tradition and enjoys tremendous brand recognition among Chicago and Milwaukee skiers and snowboarders, thanks to the passion and dedication of the Stopa family over the last 75 years. We plan to offer our Chicago and Milwaukee guests new season pass offerings that will provide the chance to experience the best skiing and snowboarding locally and in the West and will use our best-in-class technology to create more sophisticated channels of communication with everyone who skis at Wilmot. 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.”

For more information about Wilmot Mountain and Vail Resorts, visit the Vail Resorts consumer website.