Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of expectations and an outline of how we are planning to operate this season. These are subject to change.
Last updated: January 1, 2025.

Your Responsibility Before You Arrive

If you are sick, have COVID, Flu, or any other symptoms of a viral illness, please do not put our team and other guests at risk, and please come to King Pine another day.

Your additional responsibilities include:

• We continue to urge all to pre-purchase lift tickets, rentals, and lesson programs online well in advance of the day you are planning to visit King Pine this season. In addition to expediting the process and providing an opportunity to pick up tickets at our outside ticket windows, please understand that tickets may not be available the day of or we may indicate "sold out" for some busier dates of the season, our rental shop may not be able to accommodate the day of alpine ski or snowboard rental package purchases on Saturdays or during peak holiday periods. If you have not reserved or purchased your rental equipment online prior to your visit, it’s possible we will not be able to provide you with equipment.

When You Arrive

• At times when King Pine ambassadors and parking attendants are positioned to assist with coordinating the main parking lot area, please use caution and observe their direction on where you should park. Do not park in the employee parking areas or smaller lot reserved for Purity Spring Resort overnight guests that are adjacent to the upper floors of the King Pine Base Lodge.
• The King Pine main base lodge is open for restroom access, and changing, or putting boots on/off, but no bags or items are allowed to be left or stored in the Base Lodge. Please use available outside cubby storage racks or return and store them in your vehicle.
• Please note that if you choose to park at Milt's Lodge, the Black Bear lift (and backside trail access) closes at 4 p.m. Milt's Lodge is open for restroom access, changing, or putting boots on/off. No bags or items are allowed to be left or stored in Milt's Lodge. Please store any bags or items in your vehicle.

In the Parking Lot

• Tailgating is allowed with the following restrictions:
  • There can be no open fires, no alcohol, and no glass. We appreciate your assistance in advance in observing these restrictions.
  • We ask all guests to please carry in and carry out all trash and recyclables.
  • RVs and oversized vehicles will not be allowed in our main lot.
  • There will be no overnight parking.
  • There is no tailgating allowed in the employee parking areas or the smaller lot reserved for Purity Spring Resort overnight guests that are adjacent to the upper floors of the King Pine Base Lodge.
  • To help keep tailgating activities enjoyable, our staff will monitor the lots. We appreciate your assistance in advance.  Please note (and we hope that this will not happen!) that if there’s any resistance to enforcement efforts, Madison Police or the Carroll County Sheriff’s department will be called for assistance.

At the King Pine Base Lodge

• When picking up your online ticket orders or trying to purchase them the day of, please use the outside ticket windows unless instructed to go inside.
• The King Pine main base lodge is open for restroom access, and changing, or putting boots on/off, but no bags or items are allowed to be left or stored in the Base Lodge. Please use available outside cubby storage racks or return and store them in your vehicle.

At Milt's Lodge

• Milt's Lodge is open for restroom access, changing, or putting boots on/off. No bags or items are allowed to be left or stored in Milt's Lodge. Please store any bags or items in your vehicle.
• The King Pine Race Team will be allowed to use Milt’s Lodge with considerations to be observed by race team members and coaches when doing so.
• Please note that if you choose to park at Milt's Lodge, the Black Bear lift (and backside trail access) closes at 4 p.m.

Tickets

• Lift tickets may have limited availability or not be available at all during peak periods. We highly recommend purchasing tickets online at least 24 hours in advance.
• When picking up your online ticket orders or trying to purchase them the day of, please use the outside ticket windows unless instructed to go inside.

Permitted Equipment

• Visitors to King Pine Ski Area are permitted to use the following equipment only: Downhill Skis, Snowboards, Telemark Skis and Snowdecks.

Ski School & Seasonal Programs

• Advanced reservations are highly recommended and lessons often sell out.
• Nursery/daycare services are not available.

Rental & Tune Shop

• We continue to urge all to pre-purchase lift tickets, rentals, and lesson programs online well in advance of the day you are planning to visit King Pine this season. Please understand our rental shop may not be able to accommodate day of alpine ski or snowboard rental package purchases on Saturdays or during peak holiday periods. If you have not reserved or purchased your rental equipment online prior to your visit, it’s possible we will not be able to provide you with equipment, and you will want to seek alternative sources/shops for your rental needs.

Pine Cone Cafe

• In addition to ordering in person, we are offering food and beverage items through an online ordering system to facilitate minimal time required inside the Base Lodge. View menu and order online

Wi-Fi & Cell Service

• We have continued to improve Wi-Fi and Cell Service throughout the resort, but demand on our system can, at times, exceed capabilities, and the increased usage may slow connections or create interruptions/downtime.
• Network: KingPine Password: SkiSafely

We have a no drone fly-zone policy without prior approval and planning through King Pine management or the marketing department.

Yes, and you can find that information on the Uphill Policy page of our website.

The key to enjoying your first time skiing or riding is being comfortable, warm and dry.

• Dress in layers, including a base layer that wicks moisture away from your skin (like polypropylene long johns), a warm layer (like fleece or wool), and an outer layer that protects you from moisture and is wind resistant. There are many brands and materials available for your outer layer.
• Don't forget a helmet or a warm hat—since the majority of the body's heat is lost through the head.
• Waterproof gloves or mittens are important to protect your hands from the elements.
• One pair of warm socks will do the trick. Make sure not to double-up on socks, because this may restrict circulation and cause your feet to be cold and uncomfortable.
• A good pair of sunglasses or goggles will make your day much more enjoyable, especially if it is snowing.
• If you’ve forgotten something, head to The Ice House Gift Shop located slopeside in the lower King Pine Base Lodge next to the Rental & Tune Shop to pick up whatever you need to protect yourself from the elements.

Stop first at the Guest Service Desk in the lodge to obtain your pre-purchased lift tickets and lesson program, once you have collected your pass from guest services, they will direct you to your next location. The Guest Services Desk opens one-hour prior to the lifts.

We recommend that you sign up for the Beginner Package which includes your lesson, surface-lift-only ticket and rental equipment. If you have your own equipment and/or a lift ticket, you can purchase a Private Lesson instead.

We recommend that you either sign your child up for the Junior Beginner Package—which includes a lesson, surface-lift-only ticket and rental equipment—or a Private Lesson.

Yes! We recommend making reservations for all lessons as they tend to sell out.

If you are renting equipment, we recommend that you arrive at least 60-90 minutes prior to your lesson time. If you are in the first lesson of the day the rental shop will open one hour prior to the mountain. Please assemble 15 minutes prior to start time at the Ski School Meeting Place located on the snow across from the Base Lodge.

We assign instructors to group lessons by ability level, so the only way to request a specific instructor is to schedule a private lesson in advance.

Yes! We require advanced reservations for Private Lessons to ensure that we will have an instructor available for you.

No. You will need to purchase lift tickets and rental equipment separately.

All classes meet in the base area. Please assemble 15 minutes prior to start time at the Ski School Meeting Place located on the snow across from the Base Lodge.

When you rent your equipment, we recommend renting it for multiple days. Doing so is cost-effective and alleviates having to return to the rental shop multiple times during your stay. You may hold onto the equipment during your stay without returning it everyday. Be sure to return the equipment on final departure.

We don’t recommend that parents stand outside to watch lessons, because it makes it more difficult for children to focus on their instructors. However, there are locations from within the Evergreen Room of our Base Lodge where you may be able to view your child during their lesson without risk of distracting them.