Sundown Mountain

I've never been skiing before, Sundown was my first experience. I didn't take lessons from the staff, but they are offered -- my brother more or less told me what to do and I learned by trial and error haha.

The process to check in and get rental gear was very simple. We also came right when they opened and had no lines. I've also learned that coming right at opening is great because then you get the powder snow.

They have a nice bunny hill to use to get the hang of it and then, for me, it was kind of a big jump to the next "easiest" hill. Granted I had to get all the way down the mountain somehow, but I stuck to that hill the whole time because I practiced turns, slowing down, and actually having control.

Staff was very friendly and helpful, I fell down (many times) and I think a fellow skier gave me tips for how to get back on my feet. Once it got busier, there was staff to help fill up ski lift seats so lines moved quicker. *pro tip: ski by yourself and you'll get lots more runs in because the singles line is the shortest and they'll pair you up with groups

Food is expensive so I packed a lunch and ate in the car because the lodge was packed.

Great find for those looking to ski/snowboard in Iowa!

Fun fun day! I came here with my landlord to kill some time. We went to the indoor to the lodge and enjoyed a few drinks at the bar. We had a great time!

The one and only! The GOAT of the midwest! Sundown has it all! Get out on your skis or snowboard and enjoy the slopes!

Absolutely the worst experience I've ever had!
Do not waste your money!
Today was my sister's birthday I took her and my fiance out here for the day because that's what my sister wanted to do.
Upon arriving we were told there was no equipment available for us to rent we were told we could sit and wait until someone returned equipment but we would have to buy are passes in order to sit there and wait.
Fortunately we didn't wait very long but after we got our equipment the girls went to the Bunny Hill where they were told it would be an additional $24 a piece to take lessons, after all the money we just spent on passes and equipment rentals and you would think that they would want people to know what they're doing so they don't get hurt?
I started hitting the slopes right away and I could tell you right now it is not a family-friendly environment by any means.
I'm guessing a lot of the kids that go out there are season ticket holders because they all knew each other and they had no filters. These kids, and I say kids ranging from I would say eight or nine up to 15 -16 averaging probably 12 or 13 we're cursing at each other dropping the f-bomb every other word calling their friends and other patrons fagots! They were up on the ski lifts dropping stuff down on people.
A lot of people out there were first timers these kids were making fun of them and then taking off because they knew they couldn't catch them.
At one point there was a group of them standing next to a ski patrol officer yelling up at me while I was on the ski lift calling me a faggot because I used my motorcycle helmet instead of just a basic helmet that they provide.
I feel they need to mention that I started the day with one of their helmets but I had a fall on my face and busted my nose so that's why I went to go get my motorcycle helmet.
When I fell no one stopped to help even though I had blood gushing out of my nose not one person patron or ski patrol or anyone that worked there said anything to me no one asked me if I was okay some of the kids were pointing and laughing and making fun of me but I must have passed at least half a dozen staff members and I know at least two of them saw me fall and I didn't receive any kind of attention.
It was almost an hour later after the blood had already dried on my face that one kid at the bottom ski lift the operator asked me if I fell and if I was okay.
Another thing that really irritated me and this is going to make me sound old but there was a group of older teens that were there that were not wearing any shirts! They were skiing in overalls with no shirt on no coat just the straps that go over the shoulders first off I don't see that being very safe as the entire mountain was pretty much ice and if they fell it wouldn't have been a good outcome but second and I don't know if it's just me having kids or not I was really upset and bothered by it because they were basically promoting stupidity and giving these kids the impression that it was okay to be outside half naked in the middle of winter like hey let's get sick!
There's no way that the staff is not aware of this I talked to a couple of them and they said it's pretty bad out there if you're not a season ticket holder and not out there every weekend like I'm sure some of these kids are then you're basically not welcome and it's free game for them to make fun of you.
Between passes rentals food drinks I probably spent over $400 on this trip and I was hoping for a nice day with my sister and fiance and it was just ruined by all of these things that could have been avoided if the staff actually gave a shit because clearly they do not.
I brought all this up to the attention of one of the managers when we left and let me tell you something I've been in customer service all my life I was not looking for reimbursement I was not looking to get a free ride I just wanted him to be aware of what was going on and he knew that it was but he had at least to me no care in the world about it.
They didn't offer me anything to make up for it again wasn't looking for a handout but being in customer service as long as I have been if it were me I would have at least offered to refund my customers trip.
That's mostly why I'm writing this review because lack of care about anything out there.

I go skiing at Sundown Mountain frequently with my daughter and friends and it is always a BLAST! There are many slopes there ranging from very easy to hard (nothing too hard like you can find in Colorado though lol). When we go skiing, we always get there when they open and then ski until about 6pm. We always eat lunch at their Keep Your Tips Up restaurant (which is all very overpriced, so we usually get just minimal food). They have live music on some afternoons as well, which is nice to go into the lodge to grab a quick drink, use the restroom, and listen to some live music.
In addition, I very much appreciate their University worker discount. I have my own gear, so it makes skiing much more affordable.
Overall, for a good skiing experience (in Iowa) I definitely reccomend Sundown Mountain!

Absolutely amazing! This was my first time skiing and oh my god did we need lessons! Checking in took an extremely long time as they were super busy, but you could tell they were all doing the best they could and were still super nice! The only issue my group (me, my husband, and our couple friend) had was that when we asked to buy ski lessons they said they were out for the day. Fast forward to us going outside, our friend fell and someone helped her get up. This someone was the best thing to happen to our group as it was Lauri, a ski instructor who said that there were actually THREE available instructors!!! She ended up giving us our lesson for free but was still so invested in us and teaching us! We would have come back broken if it wasn't for Lauri!! I hope I'm spelling her name correctly as there are two Lauri's there. She taught us how to use our sticks, how to fall, how to break, and most importantly how to enjoy! Our experience would have been terrible without her, so I highly highly HIGHLY recommend purchasing lessons if you can!

Now a little about the mountain. They had a little simulator to teach beginners how to slide down a small slope, they had different areas for different levels of experience, they had THREE ski lifts!! Our group for the most part stayed in the beginners area (and still managed to fall a bunch of times haha) and truly learned to get the hang of skiing! Thanks to Lauri I'm excited to go back and learn to be a better skier!! I would recommend this place to everybody! Also, remember to get there bright and early or else they run out of ski gear!

Wasted 25$ on a lift ticket to sit in the restaurant for 2 hours waiting on a burger. Cafe staff has no respect payed for a danish and they never gave it too me had to pull up the transaction to prove I bought it 10 seconds prior. No one here has any common sence slopes are ice and bumpy. Lift lines are completely cover in sheets of ice. Have had fun here before but it has really gone too crap.

I was waiting in the lodge on a Sunday when no one was in there and we had a table but the lady told us we can't order so it took another 2 hours get are food and it wasted skiing time on the last day they where open

everything is amazing EXCEPT for the north lodge & tips up. the service is terrible. waitress took forever and the workers ignored us when we walked up to the desk. i've been up there to get food multiple times, it's been terrible every time. who ever is managing the restaurant needs to fix everything.

Highly recommend this place. We visited all the way from Oahu, HI to visit family here in Iowa and Sundown Mountain was thee place on our agenda. We've never seen snow before and never experienced lift rides, skiing, and snowboarding and coming here two days in a row gave us a great experience. Our family had such a great time. It was well worth driving the hour and half from Bettendorf to play here. Luckily the first day we were here, our family members was chosen to be on the local news. It was awesome.

The staff here is very welcoming. They are awesome. Our instructors, Nick and Jon, was so nice, informative, and they were very patient to our kids. Wish I could give them more than 5 stars. Even the General manager and rental manager had some time to chit chat with us. The second day we came back they even recognized us n welcomed us back. There facility here is clean and organize. Big area to have some fun.

If you're near sundown mountain come and visit these guys.