Midwestern ski resorts don't get the love of their Rocky Mountain counterparts, but that could change. Vail Resorts is investing $13M to upgrade Wilmot Mountain, the "Matterhorn of the Midwest," 55 miles north of Chicago and 40 miles south of Milwaukee.

Founded by Walter Stopa in 1938, Wilmot Mountain was formed by glaciation. It doesn't have the vertical drops of bigger mountains out west, but the downhill runs are technically challenging and largely free of obstructions.

Vail plans to replace chairlifts with three four-person lifts, new snowmakers, upgrades to the resort's lodge and bar, and add Wilmot to its season pass program, which will give users additional access to the company's resorts in Colorado, Utah and Nevada. Vail hopes to have the improvements in place for the 2016-17 skiing season.