24/25 SEASON PASSES ARE ON SALE NOW!

OPEN HAUGEN IS COMING QUICK! | SKI SHOP SALE = 10/2, 10/3, 10/4 | SKI SWAP = 10/3 + 10/4 | RAIL JAM & LIFT RIDES = 10/3 + 10/4 
Trollhaugen Logo - Dresser, WI - Since 1950

THE HISTORY OF TROLLHAUGEN

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR THE HISTORY OF TROLLHAUGEN (1950 – 2025)
1940S: THE IDEA TAKES SHAPE

In the late 1940s, rural mail carriers Lee Rogers and Walter “Wally” Peterson were tired of driving over a hundred miles to the nearest ski area. This frustration led them to establish Skyline Ski Area in 1948 in St. Croix Falls. However, recognizing the need for more space and hills, they purchased the Paul Nielson farm near Dresser for $4,500. They used a two-man cross-cut saw to clear trails and employed a team of horses, all while holding down their full-time postal jobs.

 

In November 1950, Rogers and Peterson held a naming contest for the new ski area, which was won by local schoolteacher Miss Beatrice Engh, who suggested “Trollhaugen.” This Norwegian term means “hill (or hill home) of the trolls.” Trollhaugen opened for the 1950-51 season with three runs and two rope tows. The chalet, built from locally milled jack pine, had a glass front facing the hills. Former owner Paul Nielson would often stop by to play his accordion for skiers, adding a touch of community spirit.

Three more runs were added in 1951.  A new 30×125 foot chalet was built for the third season with large plate glass windows facing the hill, a fire place, and a sandwich shop.  Trollhaugen was open on the weekends and Holidays during their first ten years.  By 1955 attendance had climbed dramatically, with Rogers estimating their best weekend saw over 4,000 skiers.

During the late ‘50s a cycle of mild and almost snowless winters set in.  In the days prior to snowmaking, nature was relied upon to do all of the work of getting the area open.  Snow would be gathered from adjacent hills and parking lots and were added to the on-hill snowpack – which was “groomed” by using snowshoes, skis, and by the late ‘50s a farm tilling device.  One of these mild seasons had only three days of operation, and during the 1960-1961 season Trollhaugen was open for only one Sunday for the entire season.

The early 60’s was a time of expansion.  By 1961 Peterson and Rogers had had enough of these snow scarce seasons and decided to invest in snow making equipment.  This gave Trollhaugen the ability to open every day over the course of the winter, nearly 100 days of skiing regardless of snowfall.  The initial system pumped 200 gallons of water a minute and could make snow at temperatures in the mid twenties and lower.  This allowed Trollhaugen’s attendance to soar to 30,000 skiers during the first year, almost doubling the best attendance during the previous 11 seasons.  The lower chalet was completed in 1962, and the upper chalet followed in 1965, much of which remains the same today.  By 1965, Trollhaugen was operating with 10 runs, 3 T-bars, and 10 rope tows, averaging about 80,000 visits annually.  

By 1967 Peterson and Rogers were feeling the fatigue of running what was now a major Midwestern Ski Area and decided to sell their business.  In October of 1967 they sold Trollhaugen for $700,000 to Dr. Ray and Dr. Anne Rochford, dentists from St. Paul, and their partner Herman Ecklin, whom would remain on for the first season, before selling his stake back to the Rochfords.  That year, 17 year old James Rochford, known as “JR”, would begin his first season at Trollhaugen.  

The Rochfords invested heavily in Trollhaugen during the 1970s, adding the two-person Hall Chairlift (Chair 1) in 1969. They constructed two four-person Borvig chairlifts in 1974 and 1977, and in 1979, a water-retaining pond was created to triple snowmaking capacity. Lighting was installed across the entire ski area, which allowed for night skiing.  By 1980, Trollhaugen had expanded to 21 trails, and JR was named President and General Manager at just 31 years old.

Dr. Ray Rochford passed away in 1983, and James and his wife Jeanne (who came on full time in the late 1970s) took ownership of the business. They continued to improve snowmaking technology, achieving 100% terrain coverage with quality machine-made snow.  The original Summit Expansion took place in 1983, adding 4 more trails and the “iconic” double rope tow.  The chalet was connected to the ticket office/rental shop in 1987, enhancing the visitor experience. 

While Doc and Anne Rochford were not present in the day to day operations, opting instead to hire general managers, JR and Jeanne would become fixtures of everyday life at Trollhaugen.  They’ve held nearly every position and never turned away from helping in any department.  They began making a name for Trollhaugen outside of our little area, becoming members of local, regional, and national area associations, with Jeanne serving on the board of directors for both the Midwest and National Associations.

In 1990, the original chalet was torn down to make way for the Trollhaugen Banquets and Convention Center, a venue that has hosted various events from weddings to the Governor’s Fishing Opener. Dr. Anne Rochford passed away later that same year, marking a significant transition for the family.

With the boom in snowboarding, Trollhaugen developed its first dedicated terrain park on the run known as Valhalla in 1996. This previously little used trail, was already serviced by a rope tow which was rarely operated.  This addition was one of the first in the metro area and attracted a young crowd, with beginners able to more easily get repetitions, and veterans eager to bring their street style riding onto the slopes.  

2002 saw the revival of an old ‘80s promotion called “Late Nite Fridays”.  It’s first season back saw an average of only 50 participants per week. In 2003, James Rochford Jr. (Jim Jr) began working full-time as the rental shop manager, having worked part-time since age 11.  Jim Jr, who had  just graduated from college, made a few tweaks to the Late Nite program, and the attendance doubled the next season.  By the end of the decade, the program was hosting over 500 participants per night.

In 2004, the Trollhaugen Tubing Park opened, with the first conveyor belt lift servicing a tubing hill in the metro area.  The Tubing Park was completed with its own chalet and parking lot, offering an exciting new activity for families.

Jim Jr and his wife Laura, who joined the Trollhaugen team in 2009, began taking on more duties as JR and Jeanne Rochford slowly parted with daily responsibilities over the decade, with Jim Jr being named General Manager in 2013.  Jeanne retired in 2017 and JR “officially” retired in 2021.  Jim Jr and Laura continued in their predecessor’s footsteps, raising their young family and being fixtures at the ski area.

The Trollhaugen Aerial Adventure Park opened in 2012, featuring a six-line zip line tour and a 120+ element aerial challenge course, one of the largest in the Midwest. The new park brought a fresh thrill to the area, attracting both summer and winter visitors.

In summer 2021, the 2-person Hall Chairlift (Chair 1) was removed, making way for the new Partek quad chairlift (Chair 2), completed in winter 2022. Expansion efforts continued with new runs being cut during the summer of 2022, and opening for the winter of 2023-24 with another brand new Partek quad chairlift to service the runs. The newly envisioned Summit area has been an amazing bonus for snow loving guests, opening up an underutilized part of the resort.

As Trollhaugen celebrates its 75th season, it employs roughly 20 full-time and over 400 seasonal employees, with the Rochford family still at the helm. Jim Jr and Laura’s sons, Owen and Liam have both worked at the area since their middle school days, and are now both in high school.  Jim Jr. emphasizes a commitment to preserving the nostalgic atmosphere while integrating modern amenities. He wants visitors to feel they are returning to their second home, filled with top notch customer service and impeccable snow conditions.

Trollhaugen consistently enjoys around 120 days of skiing and snowboarding each year and remains a beloved gathering place for the community. The story of Trollhaugen is one of resilience, community spirit, and family legacy, with each generation contributing to its rich history.

Trollhaugen Logo - Dresser, WI - Since 1950