The Milwaukee Milkmen's 2026 season ended in late September. They won the East Division Championship Series, then lost the Miles Wolff Cup Final to the Kansas City Monarchs in three straight games. The ballpark at Franklin Field goes quiet until spring. For the rest of 2026 and into March, the hill on the other side of Ballpark Commons sets the schedule. It starts with a haunted attraction, moves to a ski swap weekend, and then becomes a ski hill again.
A Postseason That Ran Out of Runs
The run to the final was a real one. Milwaukee beat Kane County 3 games to 2 in the East Division series and closed it with a 7–1 win in Game 5. That win also stopped the Cougars from winning a third straight title. The Milkmen led the series 2–1 after a Game 3 shutout.
The final went much worse. Game 1 was at Franklin Field, and Kansas City won it 2–0 after getting out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh inning. The Monarchs won Game 2 by 4–0, with starter Jimmy Endersby throwing seven scoreless innings. They finished the sweep 3–1 at Legends Field. Milwaukee scored one run in three games. Kansas City had the league's best regular-season record at 59–41, and this was the club's fourth Miles Wolff Cup.
That leaves Franklin Field dark until next season, and the rest of the site's fall schedule happens elsewhere on the grounds.
October Belongs to the Haunt
The Hill Has Eyes opened Friday, September 25, and runs on selected Fridays and Saturdays through October 31 at 7005 S. Ballpark Drive. The organizers describe it as 60 minutes across four outdoor haunted attractions on 45 acres. One ticket covers all four:
- Failed Escape
- Hunger Hollow
- CARNIvore
- Dead End
Tickets are sold for three time windows: 6 to 8 p.m., 8 to 10 p.m., and 10 p.m. to midnight. Each window has a limited number of tickets, and the event recommends buying online ahead of time. The attraction is recommended for ages 13 and up. For families with younger kids, that age guideline matters more than the dates. For everyone else, the late window is the one that runs until midnight on a Saturday in Franklin.
Once October ends, the haunt closes and the hill starts getting ready for winter.
The Weekend in Mid-November
The weekend of November 13 to 15 moves Ballpark Commons from fall to winter. Two separate events share it, right next to each other.
The first is Snowvana, a winter sports festival built around a used-gear swap and sale of more than 10,000 square feet, with discounts of up to 70%. It also includes deals from regional resorts, ski films and live music. It takes place at the MOSH Performance Center, 7095 S. Ballpark Drive, Suite 100. That 77,000-square-foot building is a sports medicine and fitness facility. It houses Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, along with an indoor soccer field, a 100-yard football field and two indoor baseball and softball fields. Crystal Ridge calls Snowvana the largest ski swap in the Midwest.
The second is Crystal Ridge's 26/27 season kickoff open house on Saturday, November 14.
| Snowvana at MOSH | Crystal Ridge Open House | |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Nov. 13 | 1 to 8 p.m. | None |
| Saturday, Nov. 14 | 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Sunday, Nov. 15 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | None |
| What's there | Used and new gear, resort deals, films, music | Season pass pickup, free s'mores on the patio, chairlift rides if weather allows, prize scavenger hunt |
Saturday is the only day both are open. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., you can shop the swap and then walk over to The Lodge. Crystal Ridge describes the open house as a chance to "scope the hill, see the fall colors," and ride the lifts before they start running for the season. Snowvana's page still has an older FAQ saying ticket details haven't been announced, even though the top of the page lists show hours and admission promotions. Check with the organizer before you go.
Then the Hill Goes Back to Skiing
Crystal Ridge's ski season usually runs from December to mid-March. No opening day for 2026/27 has been announced. The resort has posted job openings for the season.
The hill has 230 feet of skiable vertical and 100% snowmaking coverage. Lifts include a double chair, a high-speed rope tow, two beginner conveyors and a handle tow. There are three terrain parks for different ability levels.
If the name still sounds new, it's actually the original. John Kaishian opened the hill as Crystal Ridge in 1987. Owners renamed it The Rock Snowpark in 2012, and it went back to Crystal Ridge on August 14, 2024. General manager Riley May told OnMilwaukee that the old name made it clearer that this is a ski hill and honored Kaishian's place in local history. The name change did not change who runs the hill. The Schmitz brothers have operated it since 2017, the same year they started upgrading snowmaking, grooming and lift equipment. Snow tubing has been there since the 2012 Rock Snowpark era.
What a Season Pass Costs Compared to Day Tickets
The 26/27 ticket page lists adult online prices starting at $29 for a weeknight ticket, $39 for a four-hour flex ticket and $49 for an all-day ticket. Window prices are higher. Prices change by date, demand and how far ahead you buy, so those numbers are the lowest you'll see, not the usual price.
At the time of writing, the season pass page lists an individual pass at a $449 sale price, compared with $649 regular. A new two-person pass is $878 on sale, and a family pass for three or more is $1,299 on sale. At the starting all-day price, the $449 individual pass pays for itself on the tenth visit. At the $29 weeknight price, it takes 16 visits. The real number will usually be lower, since most day tickets cost more than the lowest price. The SNO pass also covers Little Switzerland and Nordic Mountain, and it includes discounted guest tickets. These prices come from the live website and may change before the season starts.
Holiday Tubing Hours
The tubing park runs extended hours over winter break:
- December 21 to 23: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- December 24: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- December 25: closed
- December 26 to January 2, 2027: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The season ends with Rukus at The Ridge, the last-day party in March 2027. Details haven't been posted yet.
The Storefront Still Waiting for a Name
The rest of Ballpark Commons has less on the schedule. On July 10, Brick Pizzeria & Ristorante announced it had permanently closed its location at 7065 S. Ballpark Drive, next to Luxe Golf Bays. In its goodbye post, the restaurant said "an exciting new entertainment experience is on its way to Ballpark Commons." Coverage in mid-July reported no timeline and no named operator, and the company said more details would come "in the weeks ahead." We didn't find a later announcement in the coverage we reviewed.
Luxe Golf Bays is open year-round, and Hinterhof shows games and posts its beer specials. The Enchanted North Pole at Hinterhof is promoted as a December attraction, but its page lists no 2026 dates and sends visitors elsewhere for dates and prices. When we checked, the main Ballpark Commons events page showed no upcoming events. For now, the hill has the only dated events through New Year's.
If you're trying to work out how places like Ballpark Commons fit into everyday life in Franklin, The Siewert Group is happy to talk it through honestly, whether you're nearby already or just looking at the area. Reach out and connect with Zack and Kim whenever it works for you.
