So, this is our first time ever attempting to ski, so I cannot compare this resort to ANY other resort anywhere. For all you first timers, here's my experience. The two busiest weekends of their season are the ML King weekend in January and Presidents weekend in February. We were there Feb. 15th & 16th, 2014. We got our gear on Friday evening for the weekend from another vendor, thinking this would help us get on the slopes quicker. However, equipment rental AND lift tickets are all in the same line, so we still stood in a very long and slow line trying to get our lift tickets. There were only two lines available, one was CASH ONLY, which I didn't have enough to pay for 5 people with CASH, but had I known I would certainly have had the cash available and could have avoided a good hour + of waiting in line!! If you want to rent a locker (you'll need one to put your shoes and/or personal items in) you'll also pay for this along with your lift tickets. WARNING....you will pay $10 for the locker rental with the promise of $5 when you return the key...however, you MUST show them your receipt to get your $5 back and they don't tell you this or have a sign posted to my knowledge! If you go for multiple days, you can keep the locker for multiple days, just don't forget to bring your key & RECEIPT when you come back! SKI LESSONS - If you want/need ski lessons, you'll have to go to ANOTHER line to pay for ski lessons. We got group lessons. We sat and waited for a VERY long time with several other people and finally we were instructed to go the the "bunny slope". I think there were 12 people in our group, TOO MANY. Our lessons were extremely minimal. I didn't think it was worth the $22 per person that I paid. If you REALLY want to learn, I don't know if the one on one lessons are worth the price you pay, but I'd consider that before I would group lessons again or just watch lots of youtube videos prior to your trip! The bunny slopes were WAY TOO CROWDED!!! This area needs to be MUCH larger, at least on a crowded weekend. finally, we attempted the slopes. Ultimately we had learned to ski a bit and enjoyed our time at the Wolf. I think it's a good place for first timer's to go to learn to ski, the slopes aren't too steep or too long, but I wouldn't go on one of these two weekends!! They told us that if you go during the week you'll have a blast because there's no crowd. As for the parking..the parking lots get very full and if it's icy, they're slick and you have the possibility of sliding into someone else, I recommend the OVERFLOW parking lots farther down the mountain. One lot is a church parking lock at the corner on the left and the other is a littler further up the road on a hill on the left across from a realty office. A bus will come by and pick you up and bring you back later. The bus runs continuously throughout the day, it takes about 8-10 minutes for him to make a full circle. In the afternoon session, don't wait until right at 4:30 to try to catch the bus, there's a VERY long line and wait! Stop skiing earlier and get to the bus prior to 4 p.m. at least. Overall we did enjoy our trip, we would like to go back. We would consider going to Wolf Ridge again.
Conditions were excellent and we had a great time. The slopes were groomed and the crowd was minimal due to mid week.
We loved everything about Wolf Ridge! The people were super nice and the patience they had with the new skiers like us was unbelievable. We apparently went during one of their busiest weekends so it was crowded but it was still a blast! I never had one bad experience with an employee! Management should be prideful with their service! It defiantly made our experience an enjoyable one!
Went with my 3 kids ages 8-12. Ski hill is great, lodge is great. Wasn't too crowded when we were there so they only had one lift open. I could see them needing the other one on a big weekend. Conditions were great and it was super cheap. We rented skis from the place before you get to the actual gate to the community. Awesome deal on rentals. Overall the place was outstanding, the scenery getting there was outstanding. I would highly recommend this place over the more crowded places in Boone
Instructors were very thoughtful and played well with my children! I plan to return and have more lessons done with my children there.
Wolf Ridge was wonderful for us, but would be disappointing for an experienced skier. The check-in line was long, and there was only one guy working it. The ski rental was easy and fast, and my equipment was perfect. There was only one lift out of two working, and the lift lines were a bit long, but not terrible. They have a conveyer-belt bunny slope on which to learn, which would be really nice for beginners or for families with small children. The snow was good the first day, but the second day it was icy and there were places where the ground was visible--they needed to blow snow overnight to improve conditions. There was only one green run, and it was very short --it took about ten minutes to ski down! The lodge is wonderful, with good fast food and two big huge wood-burning fireplaces. For east-coast skiing, it was okay, but for skiiers used to big resorts with lots of trails, it would get boring fast. I definitely recommend it for a weekend getaway!
This place has the cutest little snack store outside the pool. The pool is completely enclosed for warmth during the winter months and is a great place to have birthday parties for kids of all ages with a great pool slide. The vistas from the whole area are awesome!
Always have fun, usually make it there once or twice a year. Fun to go to and get a lot of runs in. Prices are reasonable too
I must say, our first (only) trip to Wolf Ridge left MUCH to be desired. Lockers missing hardware, the mostly empty pole bins with poles tangled in bins, wrong bins, no one to help, leaving renters to lean over and almost fall in trying to search for the correct "color", or NOT BROKEN, pole. Rented a bib. Went back 3 times to check to see if there was one available that did NOT have a zipper broken. Gave up and TIED the straps so they would not fall off. "Groomed" snow with ice patches and slush. Not sure what your definition of "groomed" is. One lift open, leaving a trail of skiiers/boarders overflowing onto the bunny hill / learning area. My daughters first time skiing, after lesson, was ruined by a crowd of people congregating in that area. No workers out there to help control or move the line along. She was scared to death she was going to run into someone..and gave up/ lost hope, immediately. Terrible learning experience for her. Was it too slow to open another lift, or so busy that there were no decent poles and / or unbroken bibs? The upkeep of this place was horrible. With other ski slopes not that far away, I would recommend people stay in their car and drive a little further to have a better experience at a better ski resort. Maybe even pay a little extra. Regardless, the money we spent for the 2-2.5 hours we were there was NOT worth it.
Great ski resort. Maybe not thee biggest, but a great value. Friendly courteous staff. Food was good. Location was good. Slops were good.