CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Ski season across West Virginia is in full swing after Canaan Valley Resort, Timberline Resort and Winterplace Ski Resort opened their slopes Friday and Saturday for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing.
Snowshoe Mountain opened up for patrons on Nov. 24.
West Virginia Ski Areas Association communications director Joe Stevens said three-week period around Christmas is a busy time of year for resorts.
“Think about 35 percent or a little bit more for some of the resorts,” Stevens said of how much revenue is brought in during this time.
“We see guest coming from all over the eastern seaboard to ski, snowboard and snow tube in West Virginia,” he added
Stevens said the recent cold temperatures have helped out resorts, which rely on snow machines rather than natural snow.
“The Nordic centers use natural snowfall and they can make hay when the sun shines, but the resorts in West Virginia have invested millions of dollars in their snow-making system,” he said. “That pays off in years like this where we’re not getting a lot of natural snow here in the early part.”
The skiing season traditional goes through early April. According to the association, the season has an economic impact of $250 million.