Cascade Mountain — Attraction in Town of Caledonia

Was very excitedly looking forward to do some snow tubing, possibly skiing with my son my new daughter-in-law and her family. We have been looking forward to this weekend all week. We were celebrating coming together as a new family and my 52 birthday. I tried about an hour to buy tickets online. It’s the only way they sell you tickets and you have to register to buy tickets vice checking out as a guest. After 30 minutes because you have to create an account to buy tickets trying every password possible EVERY you could think of and using chrome and safari everything, I called Cascade. A young lady picked up the line. I explained what I’ve been doing for the past 30-40 minutes. I asked if I could please purchase tickets through her with my credit card PayPal whatever they needed. I wanted to the 2:30 snow tube session and ski too. She was condescending asking just to get on the website and buy the tickets. I told her I’ve been doing that for over 40 minutes and why do I have to create an account? I just want to buy tickets. She kept repeating herself like I was an idiot, not helpful at all talked to me and told me I needed to purchase them online, all she kept repeating. She kept insulting me by telling me how to use my iPhone that I’ve had since it first came out in 2007 then told me get on my computer to buy the ticket. What?! I told her I’m on the road, I pulled over to buy these tickets and I was heading to Cascade. I needed to buy tickets now. she kept repeating herself being condescending rude. I eventually did not buy tickets because I couldn’t. I ended up meeting my family there because they reserved already weeks before. They bought me a beer because I refuse to give cascade any business whatsoever. I had a beer and waited to leave. I am shouting out to Tamarack Pizza in Portage for having great customer service great food great bloody Mary’s, which is a place I suggest by the way. I needed to go somewhere to wait for my family. I got to portage early and I would’ve gone to the bar food area in Cascade but with that customer service I would not give you a dime. I will not be back. I will let friends and family know. I told my daugter in laws family that own a lake house in Lodi my experience we will not be going back. Customer Service is huge. I see why you lack it because many people go there you are busy and have business. I noticed international people and obviously you make money. I hope many read this. I will take my business to Tyrol basin because I was looking forward to snow tube and I will this winter, but not with you. Being helpful to new customers pleading for help or any customer is huge and important. Business is my career for the past 30 years, I am also a Veteran and many careers following. A simple helpful gesture would of made a huge difference! I would’ve bought many tickets reserve two sessions to snow tube and ski. I live in Evansville. I traveled with a car full of snow clothes and more very excited to enjoy my family and birthday. Big disappointment and frustration. Due to your lack of respect and only selling tickets through online and no one could walk me through You lost a customer. I will pray for you all because...

Cascade Mountain is such a fun place to ski! From Janesville it’s just about an hour drive. They have a very conscientious set up for COVID. If you buy your lift tickets and pay for rentals before you arrive, you can scan your ticket at an outdoor tent and get your lift ticket without ever going inside a building. The rental building has little free shoe cubbies for storing your shoes while you ski, even if the lockers aren’t open this year. The parking lot is close enough to the bottom of the hill that you can easily store snacks, spare clothes, etc in your car to access during your trip. There was a downstairs lodge area with a fireplace to warm up and eat your lunch (not busy during the week). If you have your own skis you can park at the top of the hill in the Daisy lot and ski down to get your lift tickets. There’s a lodge (Daisy Lodge) by that parking lot with bathrooms and tables to eat on as well, and that one was even less busy than the one at the bottom of the slope. The Daisy Lodge usually sells food but is closed this year.

The runs and lifts on the far left side of the hill are only open until dusk (this time of year it’s 4:15 but can be as early as 3:30) because the trails aren’t lighted. If you’re there in the daytime be sure to hit them up first! The long blue square runs like Ewok are really pretty! I (a skiing novice) found the long blue square runs more challenging than the short black diamond runs like Narrow Margin; though they were plenty wide and not as steep, they were so long that my speed really got up there unless I worked very hard to slow down.

They’re serious about their COVID safety. People have been asked to leave for refusing to wear face coverings in the lines for the ski lifts. I deeply appreciate their commitment...

Coming off the awful trip to Alpine Valley recently, I decided to try out Cascade on a friend's recommendation. I'm SO glad I did.

First and most importantly, the atmosphere and measures taken to combat COVID were SO much better. Masks and distancing around and employees asking skiers to mask up if they weren't. Just such a 180 from Alpine and exactly what I wanted! Also, it was not crowded at all due to the limited crowd sizes imposed by having to pre-order tickets. Only one line was ever more than a quick wait and it was mostly avoidable.

Unrelated to COVID, I was actually extremely impressed by the variety of runs here! They had long, winding runs that my girlfriend loved as well as several different terrain parks for me, seemingly specializing in specific things like big jumps, boxes and rails, or smaller rollers and also at different general skill levels. Being able to dial in exactly what I needed to progress helped me hit my first grab and 180° spin! The black diamond runs were pretty cool and interesting (one winded through the woods on a tight, fast run and over a bridge!).

Possibly the only problem I could identify is that the snow got a bit crunchy and hard to ride in the middle of the day. But that's the Midwest for you and also I think it'd normally have been groomed, but they want to avoid shoving everyone off the hill to have them packed in one space (so that's good!).

Cascade has 100% replaced Alpine as my go-to snowboarding hill for day trip and such. Already planning a trip for next year to hit it twice with a loooong Dells water park and hot tub between the days to soak...