More Southeastern Ski Areas Decide to Close Due to Covid-19 Prevention

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Earlier on Saturday we expressed a bit of surprise that ski areas were considering staying open in light of all of the cancellations of most sports-related activities – as well as those activities that attract crowds to attend.

As of 8pm on Saturday evening we began getting texts from additional ski areas who have now made the decision to close for the season in order to do their part to prevent further spread of the Covid-19 flu virus.

Talia Freeman of Beech Mountain Resort emailed and texted:

After the public guidance of N.C. Governor Roy Cooper and in the interest of the health and well-being of our community, Beech Mountain Resort will be closing for the winter season at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2020. There are currently no reported cases of COVID-19 reported at the resort, but we believe that the safety of all of Beech Mountain Resort staff and patrons are of the utmost importance.

All lift ticket, rental, and ski school reservations will be refunded immediately.

Thank you to our loyal patrons for another incredible winter season. Please continue to check our website for updates on summer offerings. We look forward to welcoming back our Beech Mountain family later this year.

Snowshoe Mountain ended things immediately as Rusty Gregory, Chief Executive Officer of Alterra Mountain Company who owns Snowshoe Mountain and (14) additional ski areas in North America sent this email:

March 14, 2020, Denver, CO: After careful thought and deliberation of our duty in the face of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, and in what I believe is in the best interest of our guests, employees and local communities, Alterra Mountain Company will suspend operations at our 15 North American ski resorts, starting the morning of Sunday, March 15, until further notice. All lift operations, food and beverage, retail and rental services will be closed until further notice.

Alterra Mountain Company destinations are Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado; Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California; Stratton and Sugarbush Resort in Vermont; Snowshoe in West Virginia; Tremblant in Quebec, Blue Mountain in Ontario; Crystal Mountain in Washington; Deer Valley Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah; and CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures in British Columbia. (CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures will continue to operate through Saturday, March 21 with no new guests arriving beginning Tuesday March 17)

Each resort will work directly with guests in canceling their visit and will provide refunds to those who have hotel and other bookings during this closure period. We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate guests’ patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this short notice will undoubtedly create. We look forward to welcoming you back to the mountains as circumstances improve.

Bear in mind that Snowshoe Mountain Resort operates year-round so this will effect their on-mountain operations for a few weeks at best.

That makes it FIVE ski areas now closed for the season as of right now as Snowshoe went from (54) trails today to (0) now.

Those now CLOSED for the season are:

Sapphire Valley Resort
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Omni Homestead Resort
Wisp Resort
Wolf Ridge Resort

As of right now, we KNOW or believe that the following resorts will operate Sunday and then close for the season:

Beech Mountain Resort
Bryce Resort
Canaan Valley Resort
Massanutten Resort
Ober Gatlinburg
Wintergreen Resort
Winterplace Resort

If no announcement is further forthcoming, that would leave the following ski areas open for skiing and snowboarding after Sunday.

Appalachian Ski Mountain
Cataloochee Ski Area
Sugar Mountain Resort

Guys don’t be surprised or shocked if the latter three don’t also announce closure for the season, effective after Sunday sessions.

Email me as you like at [email protected]

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