Local Pride

            ‘Local culture’ according to David Inglis is not so simply defined by a local event or group that is completely exterior of larger global forces and trends; i.e. going to a local night club and hearing songs that are played on the radio or featured in the “Rolling Stones Billboard Top 100”.  However, smaller populations can maintain some sort of rooted activity as long as it stays local, not spreading to far out of it’s borders, even if they do use commercial products in the actual event itself. An example of this would be a local bluegrass festival with local artists who use factory made instruments like Yamaha or Taylor. For this assignment I explored in my own hometown, Eureka, MO, to find something that was very locally founded and maintained. There is a small ski resort that has been locally owned in the back roads of my hometown called Hidden Valley.

            Hidden Valley was started over 20 years ago. The original owner is still alive and still running it. Working along side of her is her two daughters and a friend of daughters. They also seasonally employ many local high schoolers looking for a winter job and a discount on skiing. During the winter the few small snow covered hills (albeit fake snow) are filled with people from around town enjoying the holidays are having some after school fun, Because the hills aren’t mountains, most non-locals would rather spend the extra money to go to a resort that is more challenging. A few years ago, when the economy drastically declined Hidden Valley almost closed down. St. Louis city officials wanted to buy the land and use it to build expensive houses. When this news was made public to the people of Wildwood and Eureka, many were infuriated and raised heavy support to keep Hidden Valley in business. A large reason for this underground support’s success was because of local high schoolers who took a stand in the town by making Facebook groups and passing out flyers. In no way is Hidden Valley secluded from the outside world. They sell commercial foods like hot dogs, hot chocolate, Red Bull, and popcorn. They rent out factory made skis and snowboards. They use fake snow to keep the slopes full, since it doesn’t snow consistently in the winter. Skiing and snowboarding itself is not at all a local invention, but seen as a nation-wide vacation or leisure type activity. However, none of these things define what Hidden Valley is all about. Hidden Valley is a local phenomenon that strives to entertain locals of all ages (even though more targeted toward children and young adults) and provide a sporting activity that is not provided anywhere else in the St. Louis region. It remains one of the pride businesses of the Eureka-Wildwood area.

Hidden Valley