Budget Skiing/lodge options? (Chicago, Fox Lake: hotels, home, activities)

[psychoidiot]

Hi,

I know that there was a thread about skiing, but being that but friends and I (complete beginners pretty much, we've gone once or twice) was looking to spend a weekend just skiing along some very basic beginner/bunny slopes. What would be our most budget conscious options near Chicago?

To give you an idea, we've gone to Devil's Head, and we could maybe do the first beginner's 1 lift.. and that's it. (pretty scary as it is)

Would love any thoughts or advice. So far I know there's also:

Villa Olivia
Granite Peak
Something about Rib Mountains?

Also would be nice to comment on the amount of people on these slopes being that crashing and falling down will be constant activities....

[chet everett]

As long as weather cooperates and you are OK with equipment issues Granite Peak (which is the name of the ski facility on Rib Mountain) is hard to beat within an easy drive of Chicago. If you wanna drive home Wasua is pretty close and there are a decent range of hotels / motels nearby due to the fact that Wausau is a actual business destination in Wisconsin and not just a tourist town.

The hill itself is larger and somewhat more challenging than Devil's Head but still has LOTS of day skiers and learners. I think that is was once run by the local Park Distirct so it is not likely to be a as costly as a true resort...

Vila Olivia is practically a sled hill.

[cubssoxfan]

Closer in you also have Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI and Wilmot Mtn. (Actually a hill) just over the WI line north of Fox Lake. Not sure about $$, could probably look it up on the web.

[dan1024]

Been to them all that you have listed...Granite Peak I would say is the most complete with the most easy runs...that said compared to anything out West (like Heavenly in Tahoe) it is peanuts.