Raging Buffalo To Get New $500K Lodge

ALGONQUIN, IL – An agreement between the Kane County Division of Transportation and Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park could mean the local snow hill could get a new lodge, expand upon its current offerings and may even consider year-round operations, the Daily Herald reports. The deal would mean the county can use the snowboard park, which is located in the Buffalo Park Forest Preserve, as a dumping ground from excess soil from the Longmeadow Parkway project. The soil would be used as part of an expanded snow hill and the could would, in turn, pay $500,000 to construct the new lodge, the Daily Herald reports.

Forest Preserve District commissioners got their first glimpse at plans for the new lodge last week, which will replace a dated lodge built in the 1950s, and construction could start next summer.

"It's a pretty old lodge," said Jerry Culp, who is overseeing the project for the forest preserve district, told the Daily Herald. "It needs quite a bit of work.A lot of the fascia and soffits are rotting. We had to take a hard look at what we are doing with the building."

The Daily Herald reports on what the changes could mean for Raging Buffalo:

Culp said the new construction will create a larger area for snowboarding and an area for tubing. The new hill will rise about 30 feet higher than the existing hill. A lined, asphalt parking lot will replace the existing gravel area. Renderings of the new lodge include a plethora of windows to view the entire hill. There will also be a new, free sledding area for the public.

Forest preserve commissioners are also hopeful the changes could mean Raging Buffalo, which is located along Route 31, will move to year-round operations and will be seeking proposals from potential new operators, according to the Daily Herald.

Currently, Raging Buffalo is a seasonal hill with half-pipe, tabletops, rails, five runs for various skill levels and tow lifts, according to ski hill's website.

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