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A look at West Virginia's ski resorts for 2008-2009 season
Despite warm winter temperatures, Snowshoe Mountain Resort has been able to make snow and keep trails open for guests to enjoy. The resort also enjoyed six inches of fresh snowfall during storms this week.
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Snow bunnies start your swooshing.
Snowshoe Mountain opened early, and Timberline opens on Thursday.
Blessed with some big drops of November mountain snow, West Virginia's five downhill ski resorts are gearing up for one of the best starts in recent years.
While ski numbers dropped in the South last year, West Virginia resorts drew a steady 800,000 ski visits making the Mountain State the top ski destination state in the Mid-Atlantic and in the Southeast, according to Joe Stevens of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association.
With the season just under way at Snowshoe and set to get started at Timberline, Winterplace, Canaan Valley and Oglebay, we put together a quick guide to what they've got, some hot early season specials and what's new at West Virginia's downhill ski resorts.
Here's a closer look at the resorts. For the latest news, go online at www.westvirginiaski.com and www.herald-dispatch.com.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Davis, W.Va.
OPENING DAY: The resort tentatively plans to open the Ski Area and the Snow Tube Park, with 600 feet of tubing runs, on Dec. 12.
WHERE: In Davis, W.Va., about 180 miles northeast of Charleston, and just north of Elkins. About four to four-and-a-half hours from Huntington.
WHAT'S THERE: Canaan Valley Resort offers downhill skiing and snowboarding on 91 acres with a vertical drop of 850 feet and the longest run at 6,000 feet. The resort also offers snow bodyboarding (airboarding), snow tubing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and a full-size ice skating rink. Night skiing and night snow tubing are available on Friday and Saturday evenings.
WHERE TO STAY: With 250 guest rooms, including several executive king rooms and suites and more than 20 secluded cabins and cottages, the resort offers a good range of lodging options. When it's time to relax, enjoy the amenities of the Beech Club with an indoor lap pool, sauna, fitness room and whirlpool spa. Massage services are available on request.
WHAT'S NEW: This year, the American Mountain Theater will host performances on Jan. 24, 25 and 31 and Feb. 7, 14 and 28. Visit the resort during these dates for some foot-tapping, hand-clapping music and comedy reviews. Canaan has also added to its regular terrain park.
A couple years ago, Canaan Valley opened an Airboard Terrain Park. It is still one of the few places in the country that has airboarding, a European-developed super sledding sport that is also called snow bodyboarding. The sport lets you make sharp turns and do freestyle aerials. Check out more online at www.airboard.com.
SPECIALS: Value Season runs from opening through Dec. 25, and from March 9-22. During Value Season and weekdays during Prime Season, lift ticket rates are $30 and $22 for children.
SEASON-LONG PROMOTIONS: West Virginia residents receive special rates on Wednesdays throughout the ski season. Fridays are College Days, when students with valid college identification can get discounted rates. Members of the military (active and retired) receive a 20 percent discount on all winter recreation Monday-Friday and a 10 percent discount on weekends with proper identification (lodging discounts are also available). Visitors celebrating a birthday throughout the ski season will receive a free lift ticket for that day.
SKI THE VALLEY: For the second year, Canaan will partner with its neighbor, Timberline Resort, to again offer a Ski the Valley Pass. This two-day lift ticket allows guests at either resort to ski both mountains when and how they want. The Value Season weekday and weekend price for the Ski the Valley Pass is $53 and $60, respectively. During Prime Season, the cost is $65 during the week and $98 on the weekends. The Ski the Valley Pass may be purchased at either ski resort ticket window. Go online at www.SkiTheValley.com.
A COOL EARLY SEASON WEEKEND: To celebrate the ski area's 37th year in operation, discount lodge rates of $37 per night, as well as $37 lift ticket/ski rental combo tickets, will be offered the weekend of Dec. 12-14.
CALL: Call 800-622-4121.
ON THE WEB: www.canaanresort.com.
Oglebay Ski and Snowboard Area, Wheeling W.Va.
OPENING DAY: Tentative open date is mid-December.
WHERE: Located an hour south of Pittsburgh in Wheeling, off of Exit 2A.
WHAT'S THERE: West Virginia's newest and smallest ski resort, Oglebay has brought skiing back to the northern panhandle area of the Mountain State. They have a triple chair lift, accessing a 815-foot slope with a 168-foot vertical drop.
WHERE TO STAY: Special overnight packages available at the 271-room Wilson Lodge, which recently completed a major expansion and renovation project that added 59 premium rooms and the new 5,000-square-foot West Spa. Ask about Stay and Ski packages.
WHAT'S NEW: Oglebay has added two new snowmaking hydrants for the 2007-08 season to increase the ski area. The new-and-improved location of the terrain park features rails of varying sizes plus exciting snow-made jumps. There is also a fire pit and barbecue area located just outside the upper level of the ski building.
DID YOU KNOW? Oglebay started more than 100 years ago as the summer estate of Earl W. Oglebay in Wheeling. Today, Oglebay Resort and Conference Center offers 1,700 acres of year-round recreational opportunities from tennis and golf to the Good Zoo and a planetarium.
SPECIALS: Kids 5 and under get free lift tickets and rentals with a paying adult. Adult rates (lift ticket and rental) are $52 weekend and $36 weekday; child rates (6 to 17) are $38 weekend and $26 weekday.
A COOL WEEKEND: If weather permits and Oglebay opens, hit the holidays as Oglebay's famous Festival of Lights runs through Jan. 4. The light display is designed by famous Mason, Ohio, resident Carson Williams.
CALL: Call 800-624-6988 for more information.
ON THE WEB: www.ski.oglebay-resort.com.
Snowshoe Mountain, Snowshoe, W.Va.
OPENING DAY: Snowshoe Mountain opened early on Friday, Nov. 21, after getting 38 inches of snow the week before.
WHERE: Located in Snowshoe in Pocahontas County. About four to four-and-a-half hours from Huntington.
WHAT'S THERE: The highest ski resort in the state at 4,848 feet, Snowshoe also is the largest with 60 slopes and trails and a 1,500-foot vertical drop (that is the highest in the Mid-Atlantic and in the South). Snowshoe has 40 trails; Silver Creek has 18 and the Western Territory has two, 1.5 mile expert runs. The Mountain also has two terrain parks and two terrain gardens. Snowcat and snowmobile tours are also available.
WHERE TO STAY: Snowshoe Mountain has more than 1,400 condo units and lodge rooms covering all prices ranges and amenities. On the Mountain there are 19 restaurants/bars. There is also Split Rock Pools, an indoor/outdoor pool and hot tubs and Big Top, a 15,000 square-foot entertainment center featuring video and arcade games, climbing wall and more.
WHAT'S NEW: The resort installed a new mid-station to its Western Express lift, allowing Snowshoe to open the upper portion of both Cupp Run and Shay's Revenge earlier in the season. It also allows skiers and snowboarders to access 26 acres of terrain in the Western Territory area. There also are 15 new snow guns, updated piping and increased snowmaking capabilities across the mountain.
SPECIALS: Early season warm-up specials (through Dec. 19) include two nights lodging and two days lift tickets starting at only $55 per person per night.
DID YOU KNOW? Snowshoe has a lot of fun off the slopes with the Split Rock Pools as well as Big Top, a 15,000 square-foot gaming space filled with arcade games, a rock climbing wall, Eurobungy, movies and more.
A COOL WEEKEND: Subaru Demo Days Weekend is set for Dec. 5-7, with free equipment demos from all the top ski and snowboard manufacturers, ski parties, live entertainment and much more. There's also a Home for the Holidays Craft Fair that weekend as well. Also on Dec. 14, Snowshoe begins celebrating its 35th anniversary with "A 35 Year Photo Retrospective" that runs through Jan. 1.
On Dec. 20, Red Bull delivers the resort's newest terrain park feature, sponsors a Rail Jam and premieres its newest snowboarding film, "That's It, That's All," featuring Travis Rice. Afterparty is set for the Connection.
CALL: 877-441-4FUN.
ON THE WEB: www.snowshoemtn.com.
Timberline Four Seasons, Resort, Davis, W.Va.
OPENING DAY: Opening date is Thursday, Dec 4. Timberline is kicking off the opening weekend with a homegrown blast of original Southern rock by Huntington's own regionally-traveling indie rockers Bud Carroll & The Southern Souls.
WHERE: In Davis, about 180 miles north and east of Charleston, and just north of Elkins. About four to four-and-a-half hours from Huntington.
WHAT'S THERE: With a top elevation of 4,268 feet, Timberline has 37 slopes and trails. The resort has a vertical drop of more than 1,000 feet. Timberline also boasts the two-mile-long trail, Salamander, that is the longest trail in the South. Twister is a new one-mile intermediate trail that curves across the western side of Timberline and past the resort's exclusive slope-side community, Winter Haven. There's also a terrain park and telemark skiing at the resort and in the adjacent national forest.
WHERE TO STAY: Timberline Four Seasons Realty and nearby Canaan Realty have hundreds of options, including condos and cabins of every size and location from ski-in sites to ones located just down the road from the resort. There's also something for every budget as Timberline has been overnighting Scouts at Sitzmark Village bunkhouse for more than 20 years.
WHAT'S NEW: The state's only family-owned ski resort has added Timberline Resort Hotel & Suites. It is the only slope-side hotel in the area and offers 20 rooms ranging from standard rooms to family Jacuzzi suites. The hotel sits on Winterset Trail and is only a few steps from the chair lift and a short walk to the main lodge. The hotel will be completed for Christmas week, but reservations are being taken now at 1-800-SNOWING.
SPECIALS: The early season (value season) runs Dec. 4 through Dec. 25. Late season runs March 2 through April 5 with adult ski lift plus rentals for $49 mid-week and $57 on the weekends. Go online and book at www.timberlineresort.com.
A COOL EARLY SEASON WEEKEND: Opening weekend (Dec. 5-7) looks hot with some great early season snows on the outside and inside, guitar blasts from hometown guitar hero Bud Carroll. It's also Military Appreciation Weekend with discounts to all those serving in the Armed Forces. Timberline, which has live music at Timbers Pub every weekend, hosts its Value Weekend, Dec. 12-13, with free live music from James Michel Woodyard and Saddle Tramps, as well as some great early season ski specials. Winterfest is Dec. 26 through 31, with almost around-the-clock celebrations on the slopes and in the lodge -- skiing from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, children's programs daily, on all holidays and weekends. Dinner nightly at the Fireside Grille and nightly live music with Teacher's Pet (from Reading, Pa.) at Timber's Pub.
SKI THE VALLEY: For the second year, Timberline will partner with its neighbor, Canaan, to offer a Ski the Valley Pass. This two-day lift ticket allows guests at either resort to ski both mountains when and how they want. The Value Season weekday and weekend price for the Ski the Valley Pass is $53 and $60, respectively. During prime season, the cost is $65 during the week and $98 on the weekends. The Ski the Valley Pass may be purchased at either ski resort ticket window. Go online at www.SkiTheValley.com.
DID YOU KNOW? Timberline has bunkhouse accommodations for scout troops, church and other youth groups. Bunkhouse packages (two nights lodging, two-day rental and skiing) meals and lesson are as low as $79 a person for early season skiing. E-mail biggroups@timberlineresort.com for more information.
CALL: 304-866-4801 or 800-SNOWING.
ON THE WEB: www.timberlineresort.com.
Winterplace Resort, Flat Top, W.Va.
OPENING DAY: Tentative open date is Dec. 12.
WHERE: Winterplace is located two minutes south of Beckley off I-77, Exit 28, in Ghent/Flat Top, W.Va. About two-and-a-half hours from Huntington.
WHAT'S THERE: It features 28 trails and a terrain park. Winterplace has a top elevation of 3,600 feet with a vertical drop of 603 feet and more than 90 acres of skiable terrain. The longest run is one-and-a-half miles long.
With the user-friendly Super Carpet Lifts, it is an ideal place for little kids and beginners. Winterplace also has West Virginia's largest Snowtubing Park with two Super Carpet Lifts
WHERE TO STAY: On-site lodging is limited; however, there are lots of places to stay in Beckley and Princeton, both a 15-minute drive. Glade Springs Resort, which has a free shuttle to the slopes, is about 10 minutes away.
WHAT'S NEW: Winterplace, the closest ski resort to Huntington, has added additional snowmaking guns to some of the favorite trails, including Drop Off, Wanderer, Easy Street, Cascade and the Snowtubing Park. That means the trails and the snowtubing park will be open earlier than ever.
DID YOU KNOW? Winterplace has 14 hours of skiing per day (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) on weekends and holidays; and 13 hours on the weekdays (9 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
SPECIALS: Get a free weekday lift ticket (one per room per night) when you stay at nearby Glade Springs Resort. Also, special discounts for military personnel and college students. Weekday prices are $31.95 (lift) and $28.95 rental; twilight (3 to 10 p.m.) lift tickets are $29.95 (lift) and $25.95 (rental). Also, free night skiing with an all-day lift ticket. When you buy your lift tickets, you can also get a $12 add-on for two hours of snowtubing.
A COOL WEEKEND: Holiday festivities planned for Christmas and New Year's.
CALL: (800) 607-SNOW.
ON THE WEB: www.winterplace.com.
