(Boone, IA) -- Winter is right around the corner in central Iowa, and with that come ski season near Boone. Joel Bryan, an owner of Seven Oaks Recreation Area, says it'll be one of the first in the country ready for the season.
"There are ski areas in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan that are not going to be able to open this weekend," Bryan says.
He says that's because they have top-notch snow making materials, and not a ton of area to cover.
"Our snow making to ski-able acre is very strong," Bryan says. "To think that we're probably in the top 10 percent of ski areas opening in the U.S. is awesome."
While Iowa may not be the first place that comes to mind when it comes to skiing, Bryan says it's a similar experience to other places.
"All of our snow making equipment is the same you would find anywhere," Bryan says. "The grooming equipment is the same. The chair lifts are the same. We just don't have the length of run or the vertical.
Seven Oaks opens for the season on Saturday.