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Minnesota’s ski season is underway with Wild Mountain already open, Lutsen scheduled to open this weekend, and snowmaking underway at several other ski areas scattered across the Gopher State.

While this winter’s great season is still underway at a few resorts across the upper Midwest, now is the time to be thinking about your 2014/15 season pass. Some Heartland ski areas are currently offering their best prices of the year for a limited time. Many of these price incentives end this month.

Several Minnesota ski areas have been busy this summer making improvements for this season. Afton Alps and Lutsen led the way with major capital improvements.

Many season passes add extra value through discounted rentals, food, ski shop apparel, and other perks, but several Heartland season passes also include alliances with western and eastern ski resorts. Check them out. There are some good benefits if you’re planning a ski vacation outside the Midwest this winter.

Vail Resorts purchased two Midwest ski areas, Michigan’s Mt. Brighton and Afton Alps in Minnesota last winter, promising $10 million in improvements for each area during the off season, and it looks like they are on schedule.

The Twin Cities Independent Ski Areas Association and MnSNO recently combined to form the Minnesota Ski Areas Association. This new group will champion Minnesota’s spread out ski areas that account for 24 percent of the winter tourism economy.

Vail Resorts’ officials have announced the company is pumping a record $130 million to $140 million in capital improvements into eight of its nine ski resorts in four states. 

Vail Resorts has announced they will spend around $20 million this summer improving the two Midwest ski areas they bought in December, Afton Alps near the Twin Cities and Mount Brighton in the Detroit suburbs.

Conditions are some of the best the Heartland has seen in the last few years, and Minnesota ski areas are enticing skiers and riders with some sweet lift ticket deals to get out and enjoy the great snow.

Vail Resorts announced Thursday they are expanding into the Heartland with the purchase of Afton Alps, near the Twin Cities, and Mt. Brighton near Detroit. The news caught many Midwest ski industry people by surprise.

Many ski resorts across the Midwest were able to open this past weekend, even as far south as southern Indiana where Perfect North Slopes was open.

It may be the middle of August during one of the hottest Heartland summers on record, but several of the region’s ski areas are currently offering their best season pass deals for the 2012/13 season.

Winter sports aren't the only games in town for a couple of the Twin Cities' most popular ski areas.