Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Rochester, Minnesota
Tel:
(507) 843-3000
The beautiful Zumbro River Valley, just 70 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, is home to Steeplechase Ski Area with its 40 acres of skiing available over 19 trails and served by 4 chairlifts. Snowboarders and skiers alike have a terrific choice of terrain for this small town ski area.
While the 950 foot summit is not something to write home about, the North, Main, and West regions of the mountain make up for it, with the eight beginner, seven intermediate, and four advanced slopes, to give plenty of variety, no matter what level of a rider the guest may be.
The "Holtorf Airfield" terrain park has a variety of rails and boxes along with natural features. There is also a half pipe on which to catch some air. Helmets are required in the terrain park, however, so if style is more important to you than personal safety, stay out of the terrain park area and just go for pure riding.
Lessons are given from age 4 and up, with the "Ski Chasers" program, available for kids from 4 to 12 years of age, offering lunch in addition to lessons in a full day program designed to guide and nurture younger riders who come to Steeplechase. Group lessons are only given on holidays and weekends, so make sure to factor into your trip planning process.
Full or half day (starting at 5pm) weekday and weekend/holiday lift tickets are sold for the daily 10am to 930pm operating hours. Sundays the mountain closes down at 8pm, so be aware and plan ahead. Junior through senior prices are available, both for both lift tickets and for rental packages which also offer standard ski or snowboard equipment for daily use. There are also passes sold for the snowtubing park at a daily or hourly rate.
Steeplechase's name comes from the cathedral ceilings and authentic clock tower which adorns the chalet, created from a restored church, that features a massive stone fireplace to warm up by and watch the scenery outside through the windows. Cafeteria style seating and food are available inside.
Wabash, Minnesota, the town where the famous movies "Grumpy Old Men" and "Grumpier Old Men" was filmed, is where guests to Steeplechase come to for eating and sleeping when vacationing in this ski area. Fourteen restaurants and pubs including VW Posts, French and Asian cuisines, and a fresh, crispy pizza joint are available to banish any hunger pains. There are also more than twelve lodging options, including bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and even national chain motels to make sleeping comnfortably that much easier. Twelve miles away is Rochester, which was ranked the #1 US city by Money Magazine in previous years. It also provides lodging and various eateries if Wabash doesn't suit.
Rich history, Hollywood history, and pure skiing and snowboarding – Steeplechase is the place to visit this winter. Hollywood can't be wrong, can they?