Wisconsin's Biggest Ski Area Conducts Successful First Snowmaking Test

Preparations for first chair have begun.

This morning, October 16, 2024, the snow guns at Granite Peak, Wisconsin's largest ski area, came to life for a snowmaking test. See below.

Granite Peak fans will have to wait a bit longer before they can enjoy those first turns. The ski area opened last winter on December 6th. This ski season, Granite Peak plans to open on November 27th, 2024—just over a month away.

Still, this morning’s snowmaking test proved cold enough to coat the ground in a light dusting of powder, providing a tease of more wintry things to come.

The artificial snow harvest was so bountiful that one member of the crew managed to make a tiny snowman. See below.

With 700 vertical feet, 400 acres of skiable terrain, and seven lifts, Granite Peak is Wisconsin’s largest ski area. On average, the ski area receives 60 inches of natural snowfall each winter. Its towering vertical—for the Midwest, that is—makes it stand apart from other ski areas in the region.

Elsewhere in Wisconsin, another ski area, Trollhaugen, has already blown a bit of snow. On October 4th, Troll fired up its snow guns as temperatures dipped below freezing. Last season, the ski area opened on November 2nd, beating out numerous Western destination resorts like Alta Ski Area or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Nationwide, snowmaking is a vital early-season crutch, allowing ski resorts to open earlier than otherwise possible. One odd moment from last winter exemplified this fact when Ski Ward, a small hill outside Boston, Massachusetts, became the first ski area in the country to open thanks to its Latitude 90, an advanced snowmaking machine capable of operating when outdoor temps are as high as 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

Video: First Snowmaking Test of Winter '24/25 at Granite Peak, Wisconsin

This year, ahead of the ski season, Granite Peak has instituted demand-based pricing for its tickets. Now, like numerous other ski resorts throughout the U.S., ticket prices will fluctuate based on demand at Granite Peak. To make the most of it, you’ll want to plan ahead and decide when to ski as early as possible unless you’re planning on grabbing a season pass.

As snow guns click on across the U.S., winter’s pending arrival is becoming more and more real by the day. I’d tell you to do your snow dances, but with a storm about to blow across the Mountain West, it looks like Mother Nature already got the message. It’s time to get those skis waxed.

Related: Seattle Area Ski Resort Logs First Snowfall of Season

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