Buck Hill, a small ski area in Burnsville, Minnesota, opened in 1954 and has long provided an accessible urban-area destination for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing near Minneapolis. Its name predates the resort, recalling early settlers’ account that Mdewakanton Dakota watched male deer gather at nearby Crystal Lake from the summit. Founded after Chuck Stone identified the hill as a promising local ski site and secured a lease from Grace Whittier, Buck Hill relies heavily on artificial snow and uses the hill’s east face for its runs. Though modest in size, it became an influential training ground for elite ski racers and a notable site for professional racing.