SAM Magazine—Taylor Falls, Minn., Feb. 7, 2024—Wild Mountain snowsports manager Nathan Hakseth has been promoted to general manager of the Taylor Falls, Minn., ski resort. He will oversee all operations of the mountain and also retain his duties within the Snowsports School and Competitions department.

Hakseth has worked in the ski industry for 27 years, and at Wild Mountain since 2021. Previously, he held several leadership positions at Minnesota’s Afton Alps Resort, where he worked for 15 years.

“I’m really excited to take this on and build on what the Larsen family has done in the last few years,” including adding a new lift and remodeling the mountain’s base area, Hakseth told SAM. “It should be fun and it’s great to be part of it all.”

The family-owned Wild Mountain is a year-round destination in western Minnesota, close to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. Winter operations include a snow-tubing hill and a 100-acre ski area with 300 feet of vertical and 26 trails served by nine lifts. All trails are covered by snowmaking and lit for night skiing.

Summer offerings include the Wild Adventure Island waterpark, Avalanche Alley water slides, the 1,700-foot Arctic Rush Alpine Slides, Formula "K" go-karts at the Tall Timbers Raceway, and a free-fall experience with a two-story tower and platforms at 18 and 27 feet. 

“I’ve been one of the summer operations managers for the past two seasons, so that part won’t change too much for me,” Hakseth noted.

—Reported by Bob Curley