Year-Round Ski Hill Considered In Round Lake

ROUND LAKE, IL — A developer is proposing village officials in Round Lake annex more than 100 acres of land and consider approving his pitch to bring downhill skiing, tubing and snowboarding to an area south and west of Fairfield Road and Route 120.

The year-round ski facility would include a man-made hill about 200 feet tall at its peak, with ski runs covered in a synthetic material, Snowflex, plus four magic carpets lifts, according to village documents. The Snowflex will be misted with water to allow for use all year, and the site will also include a parking lot, stormwater retention and a visitor’s lodge, which would have retail space, a restaurant and locker rooms.

Village officials say the ski hill, if approved, will be constructed in three phases over the course of 12 years using fill dirt material.

During an informal committee of the whole meeting Monday night, residents shared their concerns regarding the proposed plan. Those speaking during the meeting said they were worried about increased traffic in the area, noise, pollution, wear and tear on the roadways and what type of oversight would be in place regarding the material dumped at the site and used for the ski hill, according to the Daily Herald.

Kenneth Ashman, an attorney representing nine clients who live along Townline Road, said construction of the hill would require 150 truckloads of fill added more than five days per week for several years, according to the article.

On June 28, the advisory planning and zoning commission approved the annexation, preliminary planned unit development, zoning and plat of subdivision in a 3-2 vote, according to the Daily Herald.

More via the Daily Herald