Minnesota’s Lutsen Mountains Resort likes to think big and for good reason. After all, it’s got a reputation as mid-America’s largest, and tallest, ski resort with more than 1,000 feet of vertical that’s dripping with 92 runs as long as two miles, served by the Midwest’s only gondola. 

In anticipation of its scheduled opening ski/boarding weekend, this 1,000-acre resort two hours north of Duluth is not only offering the usual pre-season pass deals, but has a special ready to go for getting in first tracks of the season, which the resort anticipates to be Nov. 16-18. 

Stay for two nights and get two lift tickets for as little as just $69 per person. Or, simply pick from several full-service resorts in the Lutsen community that include names like Caribou Highlands, or Lutsen Resort on the shore of Lake Superior.

It’s one of a handful of deals that the mountain is offering. Here's another: its half-price holiday package includes 50 percent off lodging between Nov. 16 and Dec. 25. And, there are even more deals when you buy your lift tickets online before Nov. 15. Lutsen Mountain also has a great season pass deal: Tap yours by Nov. 15 and save $50 off the standard price, meaning you’ll pay just $399 for adults.

Look for more guaranteed snow, too. Lutsen’s also doubled the number of its state-of-the-art fan snow guns that are expected to drastically change how the resort makes snow, particularly for early season. Each gun can sense the temperature to automatically adjust water flow for optimum snow production, not only saving water and energy, but making more snow.

Get all the details at their website.