Nestled in the picturesque Des Moines River Valley, just a short drive west of Ames, lies Seven Oaks Recreation, Central Iowa's premier destination for snow skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. With a rich history spanning three generations, Seven Oaks continues to offer thrilling winter activities for all ages.
A Family's Passion for Skiing
The story of Seven Oaks began with a family's love for skiing. Joel Bryan is the current owner of Seven Oaks, which has been in his family since 1997. “I’ve been here all 27 years that my family has owned Seven Oaks. I was general manager and then became owner,” he said.The Bryan family history has been involved in the ski business for several decades. “My grandparents started a ski area in 1969 in Montezuma, Iowa, called Fun Valley Ski Area,” Joel Bryan said. “That’s where it all kicked off.” The Bryan family purchased Seven Oaks in 1997, which had been called Ski Valley.
The Des Moines River Valley recreation area just west of Boone had been closed for about a decade before the Bryans bought it. Fun Valley in Montezuma closed about 15 years ago. “My grandparents’ names are Edwin and Kay Bryan. That’s where the passion came from - from them starting a little ski area on their local farm,” Joel Bryan said.
Man-Made Snow Creates Winter Fun
Seven Oaks was in full operation for much of December, thanks to their state-of-the-art snow-making machines. Iowa has received several inches of snow in the past week, but December was virtually snow-free. “One of the highlights of Seven Oaks is that we continue to invest in our snowmaking system,” Bryan said. “This, of all years, is one that has really proved itself that it was worth those dollars going toward snowmaking.” Seven Oaks, however, has had snow since at least Dec. 1, when the ski and snow tubing runs opened and remained open throughout the month.
On an average cold night in December, Seven Oaks was converting about 1,600 gallons of water to snow each minute. “It’s a very robust system,” he said. “We have 21 snow machines that are the lifeblood of the business.” Because a lot of ski areas in the Midwest struggled around that time, we found ourselves with a huge uptick in the number of people coming from out-of-state,” he said. “That’s always a good feeling when you have people from Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois that are coming over. They’re filling hotel rooms, eating at restaurants, spending money while they’re here.”
Read also: Maximize Savings on Mount Snow Skiing
Slopes and Activities for Everyone
Seven Oaks has 11 ski runs and several snow tubing lanes. They also have a pair of triple-chairlifts, two rope tows and two handle tows. Seven Oaks’ ski runs can accommodate up to 1,200 people at a time. The runs are open daily for skiing and snowboarding. Advance tickets can be purchased online, but people can also just walk-in.
Free Lessons and Online Reservations
Seven Oaks offers free beginner ski and snowboard lessons as well, every day they are open for business. “We bring in instructors for both ski and snowboarding every day to do nothing but give people free lessons,” Bryan said. “We do that every 30 minutes, and lessons last 15 to 20 minutes. It gets you started and you can take it as often as you want.”
The snow tubing runs are immensely popular, with each lane filled throughout the day and night. Bryan recommends buying tickets online a week in advance to secure a reservation on the hill. He estimates that 600 guess use the tubing area each day. “We take you from never-ever to expert in one run,” he said of the snow tubing. “It’s pretty straightforward and easy to do. Definitely exhilarating. It’s a fast trip down the hill - we’re pretty steep for our snow tubing. We pretty much sell out every day.” Tubing is available Friday nights and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Snow Tubing at 7 Springs
Important Information About Tubing Tickets
To purchase tubing tickets, select the date you want from the calendar below. Tickets may be purchased up to 4 weeks in advance. Tickets may be purchased any time leading up to your visit date if they are not sold out. Your tubing ticket is everything you need to get you access to the tubing park. It will include your tube rental and tube lift ticket. All tube tickets are for a one hour or two time slot. Ensure you are booking the 1- or 2-hour ticket at the correct time for the correct duration/day.
Snow tubers, once you have parked, please stop by the white shack in the parking lot to pick up your tickets- please have your reservation confirmation ready. Once you and others with you have signed the waiver and have a snow tubing lift ticket you may follow the sidewalk around the lodge, past the heated patio and firepit. Screenshot this barcode to check in with your order number. Alternatively you can establish an account to view your upcoming orders. No one under 42" tall will be allowed in the tubing park. All riders must ride in their own tube.
Read also: MLine Pro Deck: Three-Season Performance
If you cannot use your tickets/rentals, you will not receive a refund. Unused tickets are forfeited and non-refundable. We will consider refunds if due to poor road conditions. We reserve the right to refund any tubing ticket at any time due to mechanical failure/hill conditions or inclement weather. The tubing hill remains open during rain/warmer days if conditions remain operational. Weather related reschedule requests must be submitted 48 hours in advance of your ticket time to be considered. Extended periods of above averge temperatures may result in the snow tubing runout being wet. Phone requests will not be taken. Reschedules for tickets/rentals must be completed online 5 days in advance of time/date. Reschedules must be completed using the "my account" feature in the online store. Click on my account to see upcoming visits. Use the checkbox to select items to reschedule. Tickets/Rentals are NOT exchangeable during the 5 days before the pre-purchased date/time. If in doubt if your order went through check your payment method as charges will normally appear right away. We recommend if you have any issues during checkout to check your form of payment to see if any charges are pending before attempting to place another order. If you have duplicate charges you must contact us PRIOR to the ticket date in order to receive credit.
Food and Beverages
Seven Oaks also boasts a large patio with a fire pit and several outside heaters, providing a “very relaxing area,” Bryan said. The patio is located between the lodge and the conference center.
Seven Oaks’ cafe offers a fairly extensive menu of food, including burgers, nachos, fries, cheeseballs, soda, apple juice, energy drinks and monster cookies. The coffee shop offers gourmet coffees, hot chocolate, and chai tea. It also sells giant muffins in a variety of flavors along with hot, freshly made State Fair Mini Donut’s that come in four sugared flavors: cinnamon sugar, apple cider, salted caramel and pumpkin spice.
Freshly made pizza is available in the bar area, which is often a big hit. “The pizza is awesome,” Bryan said.
A Winter Activity for a Lifetime
A passion for skiing and snowboarding often provides people with a lifelong sporting experience, Bryan said. “It’s a true sport for life. That’s the part of it I love so much,” he said. “We participate in many different sports as kids, but this is a sport you can do your entire life. And you can participate in the sport with your kids and grandkids.” The generational aspect of the business is something Bryan has enjoyed through the longevity of his career. “We’ve been here long enough to see mom and dad bringing their kids. And then 15 years later, those kids are having families and bringing their own kids here. It’s just awesome to see that,” Bryan said. “Now I see three generations of families that come out. It’s pretty neat.”
Read also: Summit County Ski Report
Plan Your Visit
Seven Oaks is just south of Highway 30, located at 1086 222nd Drive, in Boone. Seven Oaks is the place to ski, snowboard and snow tube in central Iowa! Seven Oaks Recreation is family-owned and operated and offers year-round outdoor recreation in central Iowa.
Our seasonal activities include skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, canoeing, kayaking, river tubing and paintball. Our winter activities include skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. We offer 650 ski rentals, 250 snowboard rentals, and 120 snow tubes to outfit all ages. Our slopes consist of 12 runs varying from beginner to expert and offer a terrain park, rail yard, beginner area and a 4-chute snow tube park. “The Lodge at Seven Oaks” provides ample seating with a great view of the slopes, fast food, hot drinks and Coal Creek Lounge.
Skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing at Seven Oaks makes for a great family or group activity for all ages - group rates and FREE ski and snowboard lessons available. Seven Oaks also offers several nightly discount programs. Seven Oaks Recreation’s summer activities include full-service canoe, kayak and river tube floats on the Des Moines river 7 days a week. We are excited to be celebrating 19 years of full-service river floats! We offer 64 canoes, 50 kayaks and 300 river tubes and plenty of cooler tubes for your paddling or floating adventures. Even if you don’t know how to canoe or kayak, you will enjoy our canoe/kayak/river tube floats. Our river trips are fun for beginners as well as experienced canoe/kayak paddlers. You can paddle your way down the river, or simply relax, float, and enjoy miles of wooded bluffs.
Address: 1086 222nd Drive, Boone, IA
What Customers Are Saying
Positive Feedback: Many visitors praise the friendly staff, clean facilities, and the overall fun experience, especially for families and beginners. The snow tubing is a highlight, and the instructors are commended for their patience and enthusiasm.
Areas for Improvement: Some customers have noted that the lifts are slow, which can reduce the amount of time spent skiing or snowboarding. Addressing this issue could significantly improve the overall experience.
Seven Oaks Activities & Rental Information
The table below shows the activities and rental options available at Seven Oaks recreation center.
| Activity | Gear Rental | Lessons |
|---|---|---|
| Skiing | 650 ski rentals | Free beginner lessons |
| Snowboarding | 250 snowboard rentals | Free beginner lessons |
| Snow tubing | 120 snow tubes | Not applicable |
| Canoeing | 64 canoes | Available |
| Kayaking | 50 kayaks | Available |
| River tubing | 300 river tubes | Not applicable |