Industry News
Colder temperatures have finally dropped low enough for many ski resorts throughout Pennsylvania to fire up their snow guns. Crews at 15 Pennsylvania Ski Resorts cranked up their snowmaking systems, officially kicking off snowmaking operations for the start of the 2024-25 winter season. The forecast for this week is for temperatures to be consistently low enough for ski resorts to make snow. That means snowmakers at PA resorts will be out on the mountain in full force this week, taking advantage of this weather. It has enabled some ski resorts in the state to announce they will open this Friday, December 6.
Seven Springs is located in the Allegheny Mountains of Western PA, a region known as the Laurel Highlands. It is about an hour east of Pittsburgh, about 3 1/2 hours away from Washington, D.C., and easily accessible from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Seven Springs is part of the Highlands Package, which includes Hidden Valley Ski Resort and Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, with Seven Springs being the flagship mountain. Not only does Seven Springs offer an expansive on-site hotel, indoor pool, arcade, bowling, and snow tubing, but the resort will expand its family-friendly amenities to include new full and half-day children’s group lessons, along with previously offered private children’s lessons program. Seven Springs will also introduce 300 new parking spaces for the 2024/25 ski season, a full roster of events like holiday celebrations, Toyota Takeover Weekend, and après entertainment at the Foggy Goggle and Main Lodge.
Blue Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania, nestled in the picturesque Pocono Mountains just 76 miles from Philadelphia and 103 miles from New York City, is gearing up for an exhilarating. The Peak-to-Peak Poconos Pass allows unlimited skiing and riding access and exclusive pass-holder perks to Blue Mountain Resort and Camelback Resort for the 2024-25 Season. KSL Resorts owns both Blue Mountain and Camelback Resort. Blue Mountain, home to the state’s highest vertical at 1,082 feet, has completed a multi-million-dollar snowmaking upgrade with the addition of 132 new stick guns, six fan guns, and revamped automation software. With 40 trails, Blue has something for every skier and rider, from beginner to expert. Conquer 15 green, four blue, 12 black diamond, and three double black diamond trails on 171 acres of the region’s most varied terrain. 15 chairlifts service the trails, and Blue Mountain is the only ski resort in PA with three high-speed chairlifts and offers 100% night skiing.
Montage Mountain is in the Pocono Mountains, just off Interstate 81, outside Scranton, PA. It opened in 1984 with seven trails and expanded in 1987, adding its North Face Complex, an expert-only ski/board area. It now has 27 trails and claims to have the second steepest vertical slope in the east with its signature trail, “White Lightning.” Montage Mountain Resort offers 140 acres of terrain for all skill levels, from beginner slopes to challenging steeps. The resort also features a 10-lane tubing park with LED lighting for nighttime fun and an innovative Terrain Park.
Shawnee Mountain is located in the most eastern section of the Poconos, about 1 1/2 hours from NYC and about 2 1/2 hours from Philadelphia. New this season, Shawnee Mountain is introducing a special offer for 3rd and 4th graders from any school and any state. Starting October 1, with a paid adult lift ticket purchase, children in these grades can receive three complimentary ski or snowboard visits that are valid midweek or after 3 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Camelback Resort is anticipating opening on Saturday, December 14, this season. It is the perfect getaway for snow enthusiasts, boarders, and skiers of all levels. The resort is 90 minutes from New York City and two hours from Philadelphia. It offers 39 trails spanning 166 acres and plenty of exhilarating, family-friendly fun, such as snow tubing and terrain parks. Camelback’s snow tubing park recently won the title of the best snow tubing place in the country, according to USA Today’s Top 10 Best. There is also a vast 170,000-square-foot indoor adventure building with many activities, such as a 125,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, indoor climbing wall, indoor ropes course, and over 100 arcades and rides for the whole family.
Vail Resorts owns eight ski resorts in Pennsylvania, including Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, and Whitetail Resort. Vail officially started snowmaking at all eight Pennsylvania ski resorts this past weekend. Although Seven Springs is the only mountain to officially announce its opening day out of the eight owned Vail Resorts, it should not be long until the other seven announce their opening for the season.
