Paoli Peaks

A must do if you are in the area. We went tubing on a family trip and had a blast. The price was really reasonable.

Paoli Peaks is a hill. But it’s a really nice hill to teach a 5-​year old to ski, and it’s the only option for miles, so appreciate the good in your hill, Indy/​Kentucky/​Tenn. Very family friendly, reasonable prices, cute little chair lifts (albeit nearly horizontal), and great lessons for newbies. My baby girl had a super fun day here and really enjoyed her lesson on the bunny hill. So she was very excited to get a postcard thank you note from her instructor last week. What a sweet touch! They don’t do that in Vail… and they really don’t have to. But thanks for trying, Paoli Peaks.

I have been going to Paoli Peaks since the 90s and it’s still a decent place to go if you live close. Yes, it is pretty much a giant hill with mostly fake snow, but it still does the job for a nearby place.
There have been times when I was there when there were actually spots where the snow had melted and you had to avoid mud holes, but most of the time that is not the case. You just have to go there at the right time. But you should never expect a real snow powder experience like you would get in Colorado. It is always going to be more like soft ice, which does make it harder to ride on, especially if you are a noobie.
I have also done the tubing there and you do pick up some nice speeds. Just be careful though because the lines can get long during certain times of the year.
PROS
–Great for a nearby place
–Decent runs for a giant fake snow hill
–Fun for kids
–Lift lines never too bad
–Decent tubing
CONS
–Mostly fake snow, which is more like soft ice and not powder
–Have to go at perfect weather times or it’s not a good experience
–Tubing lines can get long
TIPS
–If you are renting a snowboard, pay the extra money to rent a real name brand board like Burton. Generic rental boards are just horrible and you will waste your time using one.
–Check weather forecasts and go when it has recently snowed.

hey it is what it is – one weekend =one day in CO $$$

If you were trekking in the Sahara, are out of water, and come across an oasis with some water, would you complain that the water is not filtered, is not cold, does not come in a nice clean cup, etc. Should you?
Living in metro Indianapolis is the Sahara equivalent of mountains — there are none around here. There are very, very few skiing options within short driving distance. There are no clean, cold water options here.
Paoli Peaks is pretty good in that context. The staff is friendly and helpful, especially towards newbies, which make up almost all of the skiers there. Yes, the slopes can be very crowded. Yes, the group lessons can be very full — but you can get private lessons for not much more. Yes, the prices seem steep — but how much more is it to fly to somewhere else for the weekend?
If you are used to skiing out west, you’ll probably be very disappointed. Remember where you live and what your options are and be realistic.
One tip: If you are staying in French Lick, do not take County Rd 25 to Paoli Peaks no matter what your GPS says. That road is very steep and unplowed and you will almost certainly crash. We have a 4×4 SUV and had to put it in 4×4 Lo (not even 4×4 Hi) just to barely make it *down* the hills in first gear using engine braking. Three kids from Tennessee crashed and we tried to pull them out, but to no avail. Take state road ⁵⁶⁄₁₅₀ instead.

2.5
How to Give the Nephew a Day of Fun:
1) Pick up his BFF and breakfast bagel sandwiches.
2) Drive the hour from Louisville to Paoli which mostly consists of a 2 lane «highway» through the flat, snowy countryside.
3) Assure your skeptical Tahoe-​loving Better Half that there IS a ski resort here. Lower the expectations.
4) Arrive at Paoli Peaks and fork over $$$ for adult day passes ($ 41 each), children’s day passes ($ 35, only $ 6 less than adults?), and adult and children equipment rentals ($ 29).
5) Wrestle with ski boots, grab some skis, and skip the sad and beat up looking poles.
6) Attend a complete-​waste-​of-​$ 20-​per-​person-​group-​ski-​lesson where you learn how to put on skis, shuffle around in a circle, get up a hill, wedge, but are given COMPLETELY INADEQUATE instruction on turns. Unacceptable!
Have the Better Half give the kids a better lesson and take away their poles.
7) Cruise the bunny slope. Reply to friendly employees who ask how you are doing and if you are having fun!
8) Go inside to defrost and eat junky cafeteria food like greasy cheesy pizza.
9) Gear up to rock the green run which is icy in parts and slushy in others. Beam with pride as they swoosh down without falling. Not bad for first time skiers!
10) Hightail it home for homemade soup and smores.
¹²⁄₁₂

Drove 2 hours. Paid $ 100 for half day ticket (2 adults /​2 children) on tubing hill, got to ride three times. Staff didn’t seem to care and was not notifying arriving customers of long line delays. Only 3 of 8 runs open. Feel ripped off.

May be good for Indiana? Spent more time on lift than on the hill, and I do mean hill. Staff was friendly. Possibly good for beginners but space will be a real issue if crowded. Park was closed when I went