Vail Resorts, the company that started in Vail, Colorado, but now owns a dozen ski areas in the US and Australia, has snapped up another small ski hill on the eastern side of the US: Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin.

The small ski area, established in 1938 close to the town of Wilmot, once a stagecoach stop, is the third small eastern ski hill Vail has acquired in recent years, to help promote travel to their eight destination resorts in Colorado, California and Utah. Wilmot Mountain is located near the Illinois state line and approximately 65 miles north of Chicago. Vail Resorts says it plans to transform both the on-mountain and base-area experience at Wilmot Mountain, with new upgraded snowmaking, redesigned and updated terrain parks, new ski school programmes for all levels of skiers and riders, expanded dining and entertainment options at the base area, dedicated racing programmes, and integrated technology and social media programmes, including the company’s EpicMix digital service.

“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,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. Wilmot Mountain currently offers 25 trails, four terrain parks and a tubing hill with 23 lanes.