Wisconsin Ski Resort Saves Snow All Summer With New Tech

Being a seasonal business, ski resorts are always fighting Mother Nature. The goal is simple: open earlier in the fall and stay open as long as possible in the spring. Traditionally, that means relying on colder temperatures, snowmaking, and a little luck. Now, some resorts are trying something that sounds almost ridiculous at first glance.

They are storing snow during the offseason.

Fighting the Clock and the Weather in Wisconsin

At first, the idea of storing snow through the summer sounds nearly impossible and wildly expensive. Ski hills already spend massive amounts of money on snowmaking systems, water usage, and energy costs. Adding long term snow storage to the mix seems like it would only make that worse.

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Surprisingly, it turns out that storing snow is not only possible, but can also be cheaper than many of the other options currently available to ski hill operators. One Wisconsin ski destination is now putting that theory to the test.

A Finnish Idea Makes Its Way to Wisconsin

Snow Secure, a company founded in Finland, specializes in a process designed to store snow during the off season. The company has recently brought its technology to North America, and several resorts have begun experimenting with the method. One of the first in the region is Tyrol Basin in Mount Horeb, just outside of Madison.

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The process itself is surprisingly straightforward. There are no chemicals or additives added to the snow. Instead, large insulated blankets are used to cover massive piles of snow, protecting them from heat and sunlight. Snow Secure claims the system can preserve up to 80 percent of the stored snow.

Proven Results and Growing Interest

The concept has already drawn international attention. Snow Secure was named one of TIME’s best inventions of 2025, and its technology is being used beyond Wisconsin. Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia, Canada, successfully opened in early November using a supply of stored snow, giving skiers an early start to the season.

The company plans to expand to Ski Apache in New Mexico and Soldier Hollow in Utah in the spring of 2026. With winters becoming more unpredictable, there is little doubt that ski hills across the Midwest, including several in Minnesota, will be watching closely. For resorts battling warmer starts and shorter seasons, storing snow may no longer sound so ridiculous after all.