Charleston, WV – This week’s cold temperatures have allowed snowmakers at all of West Virginia’s Ski Resorts to get back to work, covering the slopes with manmade snow. Winterplace in Raleigh County and Timberline Ski Resort in Tucker County have both resumed on-slope operations today, joining Snowshoe Mountain in Pocahontas County and Canaan Valley Ski Area also in Tucker County, in offering skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing in West Virginia. Oglebay Resort in Ohio County is currently making snow and will open soon.

The natural snowfall in the state’s mountains also allowed West Virginia’s Nordic areas, White Grass Touring in Tucker County and Elk River Touring in Pocahontas County to provide cross-country skiers a chance to get on the trails.

Due to the state’s resorts extensive snowmaking capabilities, West Virginia continues to offer the most open terrain for skiing and snowboarding in the southeast region. The snowmakers at all of the state’s ski resorts can produce manmade snow whenever temperatures permit, allowing the industry’s unsung heroes to cover the slopes for skiers and snowboarders. When snowmaking conditions are at their best (in the low teens), over 20,000 tons of snow is being produced in West Virginia per hour, enough snow to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour.

Meanwhile, January is being celebrated as National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and all of the state’s resorts have special deals for newbies to learn to have fun on the snow. Today, all of the resort’s are celebrating National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Day.

Charleston, WV – The recent mild temperatures have created some challenges for West Virginia’s Ski Industry. Despite still having the most terrain open in the southeast region, that includes, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, a number of slopes have had to be closed. Winterplace and Timberline Ski Resorts have suspended on-slope operations until temperatures drop which will allow snowmaking to resume. Winterplace officials plan to provide skiing and snowboarding again this Friday, as subfreezing temperatures are in this week’s weather forecast. Timberline officials have indicated they will also reopen when snowmaking resumes and the slopes are covered.

In the meantime, January is being celebrated as National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and all of the state’s resorts have special deals for newbies to learn to have fun on the snow.

Charleston, WV – Skiers and snowboarders have started heading to the mountains of West Virginia as the first downhill area plans to open for the 2018/2019 season, tomorrow. Snowshoe Mountain will be opening for the season Wednesday morning (November 21) at 9 am. The Pocahontas County will be providing skiers and snowboarders with 42 acres of available terrain, that includes 11 trails and three lifts and a terrain park.

For visitors at Canaan Valley State Park during the Thanksgiving holiday, snowtubing will be available at the ski area, Thursday – Sunday.

For the other alpine areas in the state, slopes at Timberline, Winterplace and Canaan Valley Resort will be opening in the weeks to come. The natural snow that fell earlier this month allowed one of the state’s Nordic areas, White Grass Touring Center, to begin providing cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Recent seasonal temperatures across West Virginia have been cold enough for snowmaking operations to commence in preparation of the various opening days.

The snowmakers at all the state’s ski resorts can produce manmade snow whenever temperatures permit, allowing the industry’s unsung heroes to cover the slopes for skiers and snowboarders. When snowmaking conditions are at their best (in the low teens), over 20,000 tons of snow is being produced in West Virginia per hour, enough snow to cover 20 football fields with a foot of snow each hour.

The mountain state’s resorts annually attract over 800,000 skier visits, but that figure depends on winter like conditions. “It’s always important to open as soon as possible and thank goodness we are on schedule this season,” says Terry Pfeiffer, President of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association and President of Winterplace. The top states providing skiers and snowboarders to West Virginia slopes are Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Florida.

The ski and snowboard season traditionally, weather permitting, continues from Thanksgiving through early April. The five-month long ski season in West Virginia has an estimated economic impact of over $250 million and 5,000 jobs at the resorts and other related companies. For more information on skiing and snowboarding in West Virginia go on-line at www.goskiwv.com or www.skisoutheast.com

Hit the slopes by day and lodge in a luxurious room or fireplace suite in the evening when reserving one of our Stay & Ski Packages. The packages include:

• Nightly lodging in a standard room with (1) king bed
• Next day ski lift ticket(s)
• Beech Club privileges (indoor pool, fitness center, whirlpool & sauna)

The next several days offer some great temperatures for the West Virginia Ski Areas to make snow. Check out the forecasts for each area below:

SNOWSHOE FORECAST: as of 11/20/2018
Looks like some potential, around-the-clock snowmaking opportunities through Friday!

Davis, WV Forecast: (Home to Canaan Valley Resort and Timberline Resort:
Some snow is in the forecast was well as good, around-the-clock snowmaking chances through Thanksgiving night into Friday morning.

Winterplace Resort Forecast:
Things look great for snowmaking tonight (along with some natural snow) and then snowmaking at least at night Wednesday night and again on Thanksgiving night.

Stay tuned for more updates on opening days across the state.