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Alpine Valley Resort
Category: Hotels & Travel Ski Resorts Ski Resorts [Edit]
W2501 County Rd DElkhorn, WI 53120
(262) 642-7374
26 reviews for Alpine Valley Resort
26 reviews in English
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Review from Thongsy S.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
First time snowboarding ever so I really don't have anything to compare to. But boy I had such a great time. The weather was just right. The check-in process was simple. A bit pricey for the lift tickets and about $24 bucks to rent equipment without the helmet. They have several hills to choose from -- ranging from easy to hard. I stuck around in the easy slopes and it was just fine.
The staff were all helpful and nice. They also have a pretty large cafe if you're in need of food or drinks. I came here on a Christmas Eve so there wasn't a huge crowd which was good for me. I was able to maneuver down the slopes without running into anyone. -
Review from Shawn R.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2012
First time visit, the hill is pretty good, much better that Grand Geneva. Went on Friday from 10am till 2pm, there was a max of 100 people there - Awesome. All high speed Quads were moving. More boarders than skiers. Tailgate the parking lot for lunch vs the $6 buck for a slice of Tombstone and Gatorade - gross! Snow base was good, kinda warm, with NO real snow this year (WTF mothernature). Stuck to the green/blue side of the hill, the black diamond runs have a noticable steeper grade.
Staff was cool - lady at boot rental was effecient and ski Patrol was friendly. Actually saw some boarders help a skier on the EZ run.
So yes I'll be back, exactly 2hrs from home, big enough to spread out, would not go on holiday, could be boring for intermediate and advanced. Great for ditching work!
PS make sure you know how to stop - there is an actual river at the bottom of the hill for motivation(why its not ropped off I have no idea). -
Review from Luis C.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Considering that i frequent the west coast to sky, i am giving Alpine Valleys 3 stars. It is conveniently close to Chicago which is a plus for me. The trails are fairly easy which works great for beginners and intermediate snowboarders/skiers. The food is good, and the service is average.
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Review from Dawn H.
1/30/2011
Disclaimer: I cannot give any Midwest ski resort greater than 3 stars. Those who've skiied out West should understand.
::nose in the air::
Now that we've got that awkwardness out of the way, I'll go over the pros and cons:
PROS
-- close to Chicago
-- fast quad lift
-- average lift ticket prices ($42 for weekends)
CONS
-- super crowded
-- extremely icy, especially on the black diamonds
-- too many damn kids
-- long lines to get on the lifts
-- gets monotonous real quick
I can't comment on the food other than that it's overpriced (but this is expected).
I'd skip out on this one. There are several other decent ski areas in WI that are worth the trip. -
Review from laneka g.
2/28/2012
the hotel looks as if you would catch something from it, more like a dirty motel. very run down looking, was here with a group i did not ski just sat in the bar and watched people come down the hill, there is a little pond at the bottom and this poor little girl came down the hill went straight through the fake fence and into the water. they have $4 drink specials, hot and cold and they offer to go cups, everyone who skied had a good time. maybe next time i will ski
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Review from Andrew M.
Fox River Grove, IL
4/14/2011
Okay I give Alpine a 4 based on MidWest Ski Standards.
I will also say that I am a lifelong Volkl skier so the ice here in the MidWest can actually provide for good skiing with the right boards.
That said, there is a time and place for everything. If you happen to only have a day to ski and are in Chicago, Alpine is your best option because of it's close proximity.
The skiing is typical MidWest - it'll get old after awhile so you'll have to improvise by mixing up runs and hitting the terrain park.
This is a fun and in-expensive place for couples or just a bunch of guys. It's also good for families - we take our 12 year old and despite the "State Law" that many other bars claim, she's always allowed in the bar where the food is actually pretty good and reasonably priced - moreso then Devils Head or Cascade.
The atmosphere in the bar is light and fun - service has always been good.
If you're looking for great skiing and have the time - head to Granite Peak. But if you're just out for some quick skiing, good food, music and a few drinks, definitely head on up to Alpine! -
Review from Frank N.
1/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Let me say that this is the first time that I have had time to ski - in YEARS!
I figured that the snow has amassed once again and it would be a perfect time to hit the slopes again.
It was an easy drive up to Alpine and once there...it was packed!! Now, I don't have problems with crowds, but finding a parking spot was a pain. I immediately noticed that the snowboarders outnumbered the skiers at least 5 to 1 tonight. I also noticed that my "old-fashioned" K2 550 190cm skis made me look ancient to these kids!
No big deal...I'll show these kids how skiing should be done!
Now I don't mean to brag, but I ski like a machine!
Ok, broken down has-been machine... :(
I'm nowhere near old but the place was chock full of high schoolers and junior high aged punks and punketees.
The runs were in great condition and the lines were reasonable. The rental area was jam packed and I think I'll rent next time to the newer elliptical skis.
I also spent a little time partaking in the forbidden juices in the bar upstairs. There was a handsome crowd in there tonight and the liquor choices were aplenty.
A good time and I will be back...if they'll have me!Listed in: All things sports
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Review from Ryan M.
Rolling Meadows, IL
10/18/2010
As for the Southern Wisconsin snowboarding scene, this is one of my favorites for several reasons.
1. Fun runs, very well groomed (has trees!)
2. Great if your just starting out
3. Night ski/snowboarding
4. Has "resort" that looks like its going for the Swiss look
5. Fairly close to Chicago
Its a good place to learn, and get better at snowboarding or skiing.
Kind of pricey, but that comes with the sport...Listed in: Snowboarding
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Review from Nicole B.
Chicago, IL
11/12/2010
If you end up paired with a chatty stranger on the chairlift, the conversation invariably starts with "So, where do you *really* like to ski?". Love it.
If you live in Chicago, this is the best it gets. Sure, you could drive 3+ hours to get to a slope that is only slightly better than Alpine Valley, but in my opinion, nothing else within day-trip driving distance is worth the travel time.
The runs mostly go straight down, and there aren't many of them; as another reviewer pointed out, skiing here can get monotonous. But that's true of anywhere in the Midwest, unless you go to northern MN or the Upper Peninsula.
The food is actually decent (for a chalet), and they have Spotted Cow, from the lovely local New Glarus brewery, on tap! That alone is almost worth the drive. -
Review from Mike K.
1/19/2010
This is probably the most newbie-friendly place I've ridden at. I don't want to give you the impression I know what I'm talking about when it comes to snow or mountains or activities that involve the said two items but let me try to sell you this review anyway. Ok?
Someone tried to make a point about this place and mentioned "snow base" and I immediately had to google the term and yet I still don't understand how that impacts a mountain or snowboarding conditions. Like I said, I'm not one of THOSE people. I have no idea what's going on.
If, you too, have no idea what you're doing on a mountain or why you've decided to look up a review of one, then we're probably on a similar vocabular level and you'll understand and appreciate that Alpine Valley is built for people like you and I.
The bunny is overly crowded but at least the hill is decently maintained and there is no sign of the dreaded Rope Pull (of DEATH) here. Instead, Alpine Valley, in accordance to their Pro-Newbie Regulation, have installed the Magic Carpet system which is like a conveyor belt to the promised land.
If you have ever dealt w/ the rope-pull, you will thank a higher power when you first lay your eyes upon the Magic Carpet (http://en.wikipedia.or...). It's as if a rightful, just, mechanical god had collected your dreams of a better way to traverse the bunny hill (for crying out loud) and have manifested them in steel and rubber. It will make you cry.
If and when you do work up your skills and confidence to brave the green runs, you will no doubt appreciate the gentleness of the slopes. Many purists will obviously balk at the mountain labeling such runs in the green category but for us beginners, this is the very sweet spot of the mountain. There are 2 lifts that feed into the green area (by the bunny hill) and each run is evenly tempered and most importantly, manageable for the aspiring rider.
You can easily generate a decent amount of speed on these runs but there are enough flat parts for you to collect your thoughts and try your hand at progression. Mercifully, the runs don't snake on and on and you'll be back at the bottom in no time.
Having said all of this, it'd be helpful to point out that this place gets crowded. The side effect for running such a newbie friendly place is that all the newbies show up. En masse. Right when you show up. This can hamper your riding time as you wait for the family of 6 as they try to navigate the entire run as a single unit or the cute couple where invariably one is at wits' end in teaching the other while the other just wants to get it over w/ and head straight for a nice bath.
Either way, you'll need to pace your runs so you don't cause a pileup while trying your first stabs at those dreaded toe-side turns midway down the mountain.
The food is edible if not decent. The lodge is reminiscent of a high school cafeteria gone horribly wrong. This is where you'll find burgers, hot dogs, mysterious chicken bits, pizza, fries and of course, the sugary drinks. There was an outdoor grill the last time I visited but the line seemed to be perpetually put on pause so we dared the madness inside.
Fries are good. Stay away from the chicken bits. Cash only.
Here's a pro tip - when you first enter the lodge from the lifts, there is a hallway to the right. Go down that hallway and discover another of set of bathrooms. These are the bathrooms you want to use.
First of all, EVERYONE uses the bathrooms to the left (near the cafeteria) b/c those are easily seen and identified. It also helps there is a steady stream of people moving in and out of these doors to signal their importance. But, if you like to buck the system like I do, you'll cleverly (and appreciatively) use the other set of bathrooms as they are less crowded and better maintained. -
Review from Bella J.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2011
Came back from Alpine Valley Resort just yesterday!
They have good deals on Tuesdays, buy one ticket for 2 people. Really great deal if you go with a bigger group, you can save a lot.
I haven't boarded in a while so this place was perfect for me. They have several runs and many lifts for such small hill. Half of them weren't working. However, on weekends I heard it gets pretty crowded so they turn on all the lifts.
The runs are mostly straight and they are similar to each other. However, if you stay creative you can merge from one run to other, go through a forest and you will never get bored.
The resort is fairly close to Chicago, that's a big plus. -
Review from Roberto F.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2009
I'm not a big ski export but I thought that for my first time that this place was pretty. The green and red slopes weren't to bad for me and I had a heck of time out there. They have a pretty descent group discount and can make a great outing for people looking to do something different. Beginners should enjoy this place. It seems like it's pretty crowded on the weekends but if your patient it's not that bad.
Probably the biggest downer for this place is the lack of good eating and available seating inside the lodge. If your not going upstairs to dine, be prepared to have cash on you in order to avoid paying the atm fees. -
Review from Jeff S.
Naperville, IL
3/11/2011
This year I hit three of southern/central Wisconsin skiing places - Alpine Valley, Cascade, and Devil's Head, so I thought I'd compare them all real quick...
- smallest of the three.
- short lines for the lifts
- closest - took about 2 hours from the western burbs.
- lots of food and drink available. huge seating areas in the bar and 2 or 3 different small snack shacks.
- very muddy parking lot on my 35 degree day
- adequate rental setup
they allowed renters to switch from skis to snowboard for a 10$ change fee.. not bad
- great for beginners with 4 magic carpet areas that didn't feel very crowded
- not so great for advanced riders, the man-made "mountain" that the black runs come down are very short and get monotonous after awhile.
- The newer lifts up to the top are very fast though.
- For practically the same price, drive the extra hour to Cascade or Devil's Head. However, beginners or people just coming to eat and drink might be better off here. -
Review from Tuyen T.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2009
My first experience snowboarding.
This place is really nice because it has a range of slopes for different experience levels. You can go with an expert snowboarder and still have fun if you've never been before. Well, expert snowboarders probably wouldn't go here, but hey, you gotta get out of the Midwest for better slopes.
The place gets kind of crowded and that's when it hurts more when you fall because it's just ice when there's lots of people. Wish they put fresh snow up more frequently so my tailbone doesn't hurt for a month later... -
Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
2/16/2010
Well, it'll do pig.
For a Midwestern Ski Resort, it is ok. But I do believe that Michigan and Wisconsin offer better. But are these better resorts only 2 hours from Chicago? No. So, Alpine won this time out of convenience for sure. I actually grew up in Michigan and my go-to ski hill there was Alpine Valley as well! Isn't it Ironic? Don't you think? Ok, not really. But I will say that they remind me of each other. Limited lifts, limited runs, limited amount of time to hold my interest. But, the 3 runs that were labeled "most difficult" on the main part of the mountain were nice rides - but felt more intermediate to me. Either way, Alpine Valley is good for Beginner, Intermediate or just warming up your ski legs. Otherwise, doesn't satisfy the desire to shred it up for reals! But would be good for a group to go, as many different levels can enjoy this place.
I'm glad we went snowboarding and overall I enjoyed myself. As the day went on, riding down the same few runs helped me prepare for what was ahead and work on my speed and carving. Going on Monday President's Day was a good idea. Not too busy and thinned as the day went on, but I'm sure it was better than a weekend day.
I should tell you, that I am spoiled. Growing up I did frequent northern Michigan and went to Boyne Mountain often - of which my memory tells me is MUCH bigger and many more runs to choose from. But, I was younger - maybe it just felt big? But, then I moved out to California and visiting Tahoe a few times a season. Damn. I will never be the same. After riding a hill FOREVER 'til you get to the bottom and seeing the views, snowboarding Tahoe has changed me. Lived out here and hit up 4 or 5 seasons... then moved back to Midwest. Whoops.
We are going to try a little further north, at Devils Head in the next week or two, and see if that serves a better fix. Oh, by the way - bring your own food like we did - the food court was all grease, and looked nasty. -
Review from Tricia L.
12/30/2009 5 photos
All of Alpine's runs go straight down. This means a few things:
1. You could spend more time on the chair lifts than you do snowboarding down the slopes.
2. Little variety.
3. Any signs of icyness, which Alpine is known for, will send you flying straight down these runs even faster than usual.
4. This makes for a potentially monotonous day. Oh well - just head out to Culver's sooner! -
Review from Taylor P.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2006
I grew up right behind this hill and have fond memories of them making snow during the winter ski season. This was also the first place I strapped up my boots and skis. Today I am used to skiing Squaw and Heavenly but in middle school growing up back in Elkhorn, Mr. Hocker and the rest of the students would pile into two yellow buses, windows fogged up with condensation and we would motor down Hwy. 43 ten miles away to ski for a weeknight.
When we used to drive into the resort, I recalled the tiny resort complex at the base of this mostly man made hill tucked into a natural valley (Alpine Valley) seemed so imposing, and the hill so big. My times have changed, although I contend that this truly is one of the best ski hills in Southern Wisconsin and the proof is in the parking lot -- where most of the cars are from Illinois.
Back then, when I had little ski skills, I would tuck myself into a ball and fly down the black diamond run. Now, when I go back home for the holidays, I pine for a chance to do a few more runs down the face of Alpine. They recently built a quad chairlift that takes you uphill in a few short minutes.
After a few hours of night skiing, it feels great to park your skis out front and head inside to the lodge for some cheap beers and fried food. -
Review from Justin W.
Chicago, IL
2/26/2007
It's not the Rockies but it's my favorite south-Wisconsin place to snowboard. I like the layout with a lot of area at the bottom to avoid people hanging around by the bottom of the slope.
Most of the ski patrol proved themselves helpful and friendly, but one in particular seemed to have it out for snowboarders. He yelled at me for something, but upon learning that I'm 27 and not some teenage punk, he quickly sang a different tune. It was obvious at that point he just wanted to make their lives hell. Whatever, I won't let one irritating guy ruin my experience! :) -
Review from Kevin W.
2/23/2010
I come here to snowboard every winter. I travel from downtown Chicago, so its a little under two hours, not too far considering other places like Cascade, Devil's head or Granite Peak which are 3+ hours from where I live. The slopes are normally well groomed, the "black diamonds" and "blues" are pretty easy, if you want any speed, you're gonna have to be on the "blacks" in this resort. The larger quad ski lifts are smooth and fast, getting off the lifts are easy.
There are a couple older lifts to the left of the mountain, but they still run smoothly.
I typically board on the weekends, which is probably not the best time to go if you prefer less kids and a smaller crowd, so beware that on weekends, there are lots of kids and lines could get long.
Also, if you are 21+ there's a nice Alpine valley lounge at the top to avoid all the screaming kids. It's pretty nice, just grab a few beers order food that isn't like their cafeteria downstairs... relaxing. -
Review from Tracy K.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2008
A bunch of us came here on a Sunday to try snowboarding for the first time.
We had originally planned on going during a weekday, which would have been better to avoid crowds, but outside the initial lift ticket purchase line, the waits really weren't that bad.
The variety of slopes seemed to meet the needs of everyone in the group. My clumsy self was happy that no one gave me hard time for sticking to the "little kid" areas and struggling even there.
We had a snack up in the lodge and our waitress was less than stellar. It was really busy in there, but while on the way to the bar to get our own drinks (which she didn't bring for another 20 minutes after we went to get them ourselves), we saw her just standing and talking to co-workers. Oh well, we were here to snowboard, not to have an amazing dining experience.
Personally, I wouldn't come back (because I have no skills and no real desire to flop around on a snowy hill again) but I would recommend it to others.
NB: AVR is located on County D east of the ampitheatre.. about equidistant between 120 and Bowers Rd. -
Review from Drew J.
Schaumburg, IL
2/25/2010
Yea snowboarding is great, but come July, this place becomes home to the real magic. With the right weather, this place explodes with life with almost every musical act that enters town.
The most energetic and outrageous crowds coming from Jimmy Buffett followed by a close second with Dave Mathews. I could herald the greatness for many acts that come here, but I will comment on buffett as it is, in my opinion, the most incredible act to be showcased here.
Buffett is great for the following reasons and they are in no particular order: The ALL-DAY tailgating on the highway and in the parking lot. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes decked out with ridiculous decorations. Every age bracket is represented with 30-40 somethings barely leading the way. The incredible friendly atmosphere of what would appear to be the USA's largest drunken grill out. The awesome music. The incredible drinking games inspired J.B. and engineered by people who have way too much time on their hands. Many, many other reasons as well.
Do yourself a solid and go to the valley of pines for your winter activities, but remember to catch an act there in the summer, preferably Buffett. Buffett is sold out as it is every year, but I'm sure you can stub hub some tickets. -
Review from ivory z.
Downers Grove, IL
3/8/2011
Friendly and helpful instructors. Nice little variety of slopes for the family, considering its not too far from Chicago.
Came here with the entire family, experience ranged from first timers to experienced snow boarders. Everyone had a great time.
We were able to pack a lunch, but they did have a small snack place with hot dogs. They also had a very cute bar/restaurant, that had a live band at night. -
Review from Patricia L.
Chicago, IL
3/1/2010
This place is pretty nice and fairly close to Chicago. It's about a 2 hour drive from there, not as close as Wilmot, but closer than Chestnut or the other slopes. Compared to slopes on the East Coast, the trails are not nearly as long or big, but they're fairly well groomed. In addition, it's a nice ascending level of difficulty from the green to the black diamond (I think there's 1).
The bunny hills are tiny and small, but great to learn snowboarding on. Sometimes there are lines to get up on the lift, but usually they aren't too long.
On the furthest side, there are the green slopes and on the other side, there is the all terrain park.
Alpine has a good variety of hills, so it's a pretty interesting ski resort to go when you want to go somewhere near Chicago. -
Review from Martha Z.
Chicago, IL
2/20/2007
This is a good option for a quick getaway ski trip that doesn't involve going too far from Chicago. The fearlessness of little kids amazes me. They shoot down those hills at the speed of lightening with no regard to what's in front of them and what they will knock down. I took a lesson with Randy a ski instructor and his input helped me a lot...I can now get off the chair lift without falling on my ass and causing a complete pile up. Also being a beginner skier it makes me nervous that if you don't learn how stop you will end up in a half frozen creek. We rented a room for the night and the accommodations weren't fancy but it was a nice advantage to have a room in to be able to change in and out of ski clothes. If you haven't been do check it out, but I would definitely pick Devil's Head over Alpine.
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Review from Christyn R.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2009
We went this past Sunday thru Tuesday and it was a fantastic experience for all involved. The staff at the hotel was the only negative aspect of the entire trip as they are uninformed about their local surroundings (how to get to the closest gas station) as well as not certain if they had charged our room or not (the only reason I'm not giving full 5 stars). The room we had looked out right onto the "mountain" and the sliding glass doors were successful at keeping out the constant noise outside of fellow guests, employees and snow making machine and lift that were only about 200 yards away from the window.
I only went skiing so I only came into contact with that part of the staff and they were wonderful!! Making jokes, very understanding and experienced. One thing I was hoping is that they would be more informative with those of us that have NEVER been skiing before. i.e. how to get your skis together and apart. Now, this may seem like a simple task for those that are experienced but it's a nice little detail that would've helped me out greatly :) Also, if someone told you to keep that damn slip with you the entire time, that would be helpful so I didn't have to continuously zip it up in my pocket just to take it out over and over and over again.
The lodge restaurant was amazing! If you end up here ask for Renee (the brunette) to serve you. What amazing service!! The drinks were nice and strong, the food comes hot and quick and you HAVE to try the Turkey BLT panini! I'm thinking about it right now and getting hungry.
Overall this place is great and well worth the short trip from Chicago. Skip the room coffee and hit up the free coffee station next to the reservation station in the hotel while avoiding communication with that particular staff as much as humanly possible. -
Review from A G.
Lake Forest, IL
1/9/2011
Skied Alpine Valley a few times now and while I had reasonable expectations (any skiing is better than no skiing), was pretty disappointed.
Pluses:
- Good snow cover/snowmaking and they do a nice job grooming the runs
- High speed quads
- Close to Chicago
- Decent food/facilities inside
Minuses:
- Waited close to an hour to get lift tickets. While it was holiday week, people were about to riot. No signs outdoors for tickets, mass chaos inside - even the employees said it was a mess.
- Lifts broke down multiple times, between the tickets and the lifts, we lost close to two hours of the day.
- Biggest minus - the idiot employees who were constantly "grooming" the jumps in the terrain area. Given it's not a huge area, no moguls, and no technical runs, this was the main "fun" for my kids and I. I'm all for safety and maintenance, but these goofballs were mostly sitting, throwing snowballs at each other, and chatting while blocking the few jumps there. Total slackers and seemed pissed off when people gave up and started jumping while they were sitting there. Terrible attitude and thought they owned the place - has to be something for them to do then block the trails constantly...
I've skied many a small east coast/midwestern place and they definitely don't make the most of what they have, especially given the price of tickets.
