White, fluffy snow covers the lightly wooded rolling hills. The red noses and rosy cheeks on the friendly faces of the employees and snow-goers emphasize the chill of the winter air. People of all ages trudge through the snow in multiple layers of clothing, including specially-designed boots that snap into skis and snowboards, in order to partake in these wintry activities and enjoy the snow-covered landscape at this ski resort.

“[The snow at Hidden Valley] is pretty comparable to real snow,” senior Ean Thielbar said, “You can’t roll it up and make a snowball, but it’s soft and slick so you can go faster on skiis.”

When Wildwood Missouri’s Hidden Valley opened in 1982 about 30 miles from St. Louis, the initial focus of the 30-acre resort was placed on skiing. However, the resort now offers visitors a wide range of outdoor activities, such as snowboarding and tubing, as well as indoor activities, like watching movies in the lodge. Another unique feature of Hidden Valley is the man-made snow composed of chilled water dispersed by sprinklers throughout the resort. These activities, along with a snowy atmosphere, create a unique place for friends and family to enjoy themselves.

“Hidden Valley is different because it’s something you don’t get to do very often, and it’s nice to do something different,” sophomore Zach Mills said.

Hidden Valley also tries to accommodate to all levels of snowboarding and skiing experience, from newbie to expert, with their various slopes with different levels of difficulty. Slopes are marked with different colors for difficulty levels- green being easy, blue being medium and black being expert. They also have what they call the “park”–an area for skiers and snowboarders to learn and perform tricks–for those who want to be challenged with something more than the expert slopes.

“In the park, people can ride rails and do flips and tricks,” Jessica Lemery, a skiing and snowboarding instructor of nine years at Hidden Valley, said.

Hidden Valley also offers various levels of lessons for both skiing and snowboarding for $59-$85, depending on the student’s age and date of the lesson. These lessons range from a beginner to more advanced levels in order to build a foundation of basic techniques, boost confidence for first-timers, and provide an opportunity for veterans to hone their skills.

“I like to see the joy others get when they start to get good,” Lemery said, “The biggest struggle for people is turning and inexperience. Just be courteous, know the rules and take a lesson if needed.”

Hidden Valley is a common place for people to take lessons to prepare for larger skiing or snowboarding trips. For example, Mills took lessons at Hidden Valley before skiing in Switzerland. Although skiing and snowboarding may be challenging for some, many come back because of the unique experience it provides.

“You can get a whole group together, and it’s pretty inexpensive for a whole day,” Lemery said, “It’s a big family-friendly, social place with exercise. It’s just fun.”