Charleston, WV – Two more West Virginia ski resorts will open for the 2020/2021 season as Timberline Mountain in Tucker County and Winterplace Ski Resort in Raleigh County begin offering skiing and snowboarding on Saturday, December 12. Timberline will suspend on-slope operations Monday for aggressive snowmaking purposes. Snowshoe Mountain in Pocahontas County opened December 4. Canaan Valley Resort is scheduled to open December 19 and Oglebay Resort in Ohio County is planning to open around Christmas, weather permitting.
White Grass Touring Center in Tucker County is currently offering cross-country skiing because of the natural snowfall that occurred this month.
With the holiday season bearing down on the state’s ski industry, the recent cold temperatures in the mountains, have allowed the resort operators to make snow covering an abundance of terrain for the skiers and snowboarders. The upcoming three-week holiday season (week before Christmas, Christmas week and week after Christmas) contributes up to 35 percent of the various resorts’ yearly revenue.
The West Virginia Ski Areas Association again this season is offering a program to attract young skiers into the winter sport. The program allows any child in the 4th or 5th grade to ski or snowboard for FREE. All of West Virginia’s ski areas, Canaan Valley, Oglebay, Snowshoe, Timberline and Winterplace are accepting the association’s Ski Free 4th and 5th Grade Passport Program.
The Passport may be used to obtain one three (3) Junior lift tickets at participating resorts during the 2020-2021 season. Benefits determined by each ski resort.
It is recommended for all skiers and snowboarders to check with the resort they plan on visiting, to make sure they are up to date on all COVID-19 safety requirements required of visitors.
The ski and snowboard season traditionally, weather permitting, continues from now 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 goskiwv.com or skisoutheast.com.