Grab some coffee and join us for Ski Resort Sundays (SRS), where each week, we take a brief look at a ski resort from around the Midwest. SRS episodes are uploaded every Sunday at 8:00 AM (CST) so make sure you check in each week to see which ski resort we are covering. Today, we will be examining Powder Ridge.
Powder Ridge is a small ski resort located in Kimball, Minnesota, about 25 minutes south of St. Cloud or about an hour west of the Twin cities.
Powder Ridge started in 1954 when a group of investors from St. Cloud bought a homestead to build their future resort. The resort officially opened that winter with just a rope tow and a couple of runs.
Over the next few years, Powder Ridge would continue to grow and develop, adding a chalet, more runs, and lifts, but the owners but fell on some challenging years in the early sixties forcing the resort to close for the 1963-1964 season.
Shortly after, Buck Hill purchased the hill in a bankruptcy sale, and Buck Hill reinvested heavily in the hill, cutting new trails and giving the resort its first chairlift in 1971. Serval years later, in 2004, the hill was sold to the General Manager Jerry Wahlin and Ooutdoor Manager Layne Anderson, and they have continued to grow and develop the resort since.
Today, this family-owned and operated resort boasts 15 runs and 300 vertical feet - all serviced by five lifts. Among these lifts, you will find the Midwest's only J-Bar still in operation today. Powder Ridge is a perfect ski resort for families. They offer a great variety of beginner and intermediate terrain, ideal for those just starting or working on improving their skills.
More advanced skiers and riders will find their parks to be some of the best in the area. They offer a great variety of unique and well-sculpted jibs and jumps to keep park rats busy for hours. And the dedicated rope
tow in the park makes lapping a breeze.
Lastly, Powder Ridge's large chalet coupled with the "Minnesota's nice" customer service creates an excellent environment for families looking to grab some food and drinks while resting from a long day of skiing or riding. All of this makes Powder Ridge the Ideal destination for families looking to get outside over the winter months.
If you want to learn more about Powder Ridge, we will drop some links below. But until next time, I hope all of you have a great week, pray for snow, & we'll see you out there!
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