Even with all of the snowmaking that Snowshoe Mountain has done, they are now postponing their opening day – delayed from Nov 22nd – to the 24th or 25th. It appeared that Snowshow was going to be the first resort to open in the entire region this year as favorable weather patterns had allowed for that opportunity.
However, with Snowshoe making that announcement AND with Appalachian now looking at a Wednesday opening (weather permitting), we may see Sugar Mountain step in and take an “opening day bow” yet again to start the season. There isn’t much snow on the slopes AT ALL at Sugar, just yet, but with cold temps hitting sometime on Sunday and carrying through perhaps around-the-clock for Monday and then Monday night, we could see a quick opening by Sugar on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday…making THEM the first to open yet again. (Keep an eye on Cataloochee Ski Area as well.)
Want to see HOW FAST our Southeastern Ski areas can go from bare to open? Check out this video capture that our Kenny Griffin did from Wisp Resort:
Appalachian Ski Mountain will be among the first southeastern ski areas to open this winter. They announced, “Given the current weather conditions and outlook, Appalachian Ski Mtn. will now hope to open for the 2017-18 season on Wednesday, November 22 (weather permitting). A strong cold front is scheduled to arrive this coming weekend, Nov 18 & 19. ASM Snowmakers will be standing by and are planning to commence snowmaking as soon as temperatures permit.”
Remember, to celebrate the start of a great season, App Ski Mtn offers a FREE ski ticket to the first 100 guests to the Ticket Cashier Window on Opening Day!
Snowshoe had been posting that they would be opening Wednesday, November 22nd, a day before Thanksgiving. Even though they’ve made tons of snow, they are going for a quality opening that NOW looks to make it a Friday or Saturday opening, November 24th or 25th. Snowshoe WILL BE opening for stores and restaurants on Wednesday the 22nd, but will now look to the Thanksgiving Weekend to officially open the slopes.
“Right now, we’re still going to shoot for Friday next week. We feel pretty good about getting open by next weekend, but some of the snow making windows we have coming up are pretty marginal,” said Shawn Cassell, public relations specialist at Snowshoe.
Canaan Valley’s General Manager, Steve Drumheller shared, “We will be ready to go next week to start making snow, in earnest, weather permitting.”
Drumheller said they’ve purchased more snow guns for more snow production this year.
“We’ve increased our snow making. We’ve beefed up our compressor power so we can make more snow,” he said.
Canaan Valley’s tube and ice skating parks will open next holiday weekend. The outdoor ice skating rink will open Thanksgiving Day and operate through the holiday weekend. The tube park will be open Friday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 26.
The trails at Canaan Valley will not open until Dec. 15.
Winterplace Ski Resort in Raleigh County is scheduled to open its winter season on Dec. 9. Timberline Resort in Tucker County will open Dec. 15.
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