Chestnut Mountain

During the 1800s the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) was one of the most widespread and useful tree species east of the Mississippi River. By 1940 an estimated 4 billion trees were killed by the blight. The failing of this tree species had a negative impact on the economy of rural Appalachia. In Illinois, the Chestnut has been recorded in the wild in only seven counties, including Jo Daviess — the only county with Chestnuts in the northern half of the state. This ski resort is located in Galena, Illinois, and 20 miles southeast of Dubuque, Iowa. Galena Illinois is a part of the Jo Daviess county. It is visible from a 10 mile radius. The ski resort opened in 1959 and features two restaurants, a lodge with 119 rooms, an indoor pool and hot tub area, as well as several other accommodations. There are 19 named ski runs: 4 Beginner, 11 Intermediate, 3 Advanced, plus "The Far Side", a snowboarding terrain park. The park has two quad chairs, four triple chairs and three surface lifts that take you to the top.