Industry News
Liberty University’s year-round Snowflex ski facility in Lynchburg, Virginia, could be facing closure, prompting students and local skiers and snowboarders to launch a campaign to save it.
When Liberty University first opened the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center to the public in August 2009, it was the first synthetic skiing and snowboarding facility of its kind in the United States. The facility uses Snowflex, a synthetic material designed to simulate the effects of snow. It operates year-round and features a main slope, a beginner nursery slope, and a terrain park with rails, jumps, and an 11-foot quarter pipe. With Lynchburg receiving only between 12 and 14 inches of snow per year and the nearest resort sitting over an hour away, Liberty Snowflex gives students at the nearby Liberty University the opportunity to ride in an area that does not receive much snow.
Over the years, the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center has become a staple at Liberty University. Thousands of families and riders have ridden its slopes, and it has hosted various community events and summer camps. It even served as the home for Liberty’s successful Ski & Snowboard Team, which saw its athletes make podiums at college national championship events. But for most Liberty Students, it was simply a place to have fun nights with friends.
“For many Liberty University students, it has been the best outlet for them to share their passions with others through the community that Snowflex has created,” the petition writes.
Despite the profound effect and support the facility receives from the student body, the University — which owns and operates the mountain — is considering shutting it down. In response, a petition and Instagram account have been set up to rally students and others to save the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center.
“We believe Liberty should preserve the facility that provides something truly unique to its students and users,” the petition writes. “If Snowflex has had an impact on you in any way, please sign this petition and help us show the University how important this facility is to the student body & its many riders!”
-
1
Alta, UT, Report: “How Much Did It Actually Snow?” | Dispelling the Misinformation in Little Cottonwood Canyon
-
2
The 13 Largest Ski Resorts on Earth, Ranked by Size
-
3
23-Year-Old Local Speed Rider Dies on the North Face of Chamonix’s Aiguille du Midi [UPDATED]
-
4
Norwegian World Cup Champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Tears Achilles While Training in Chile
-
5
SnowBrains 2026-27 Ski Season Forecast, Region by Region: El Niño Favors the High Sierra Over the Northern Rockies
So far, the effort has gained solid traction. The Instagram account has over 500 followers, with videos earning over 60,000 views. It even caught the attention of popular snowboard content creator Casey Willax, who posted his own video on the topic.
“To take something away that is this amazing is literally not an option,” Willax said. “This is the coolest thing that we have, and we need to save it. Let’s save it, let’s keep it alive”
While Liberty University has not made an official statement on the situation, the students at the University, as well as Virginia skiers and snowboarders in general, are working hard to make sure Liberty Snowflex stays alive. With the petition and social media activity, Snowflex supporters hope to show just how much the facility means to them.
The petition to save the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center can be signed by anyone, whether a Liberty student or not.
Snowbrains: Please don’t get caught up with whatever Liberty “University” is saying publically, because Liberty is profit making business disguised as a private religious educational institution. Yes it’s private. No its not religious or educational. And everything they do is all about the all mighty dollar.
This thing is a mountain of plastic garbage that’s coming up on 20 years old. I would expect that the bill for maintaining this extravagant mountain of garbage is coming in the form of a huge surface replacement. The insurance bill is also significant too.
If Liberty isn’t making money on it, its going away.
I’d like to echo a question someone asked earlier – is there any speculation or knowledge of why is the school wants to close?
Please don’t close the snow flex! For my granddaughter’s entire childhood, she thought it was the North Pole.
The reason they want to shut it down is because Liberty University is simply running out of land. Even if it was running at max capacity every day, it’s not enough. Liberty isn’t a school, it’s a real estate hedge fund. And if they’re not using it to expand the school itself (giving them cover to engage no-bid construction firms, allowing them to move “nonprofit” LU money into their own hands), they’re going to turn them into million dollar mansions for Liberty execs just like they have on the next mountain over. Mark my words, this will happen.
PS: locals foresaw this happening when Snowflex was proposed. We were ridiculed when we brought up environmental impacts of bulldozing one of the oldest mountains in the world. In the meantime, get ready for lots of erosion issues they, the largest property owner that pays no property taxes, will expect the city to pay for. Would love for someone outside the region to start covering this – the local media is all bought and paid for by Liberty.
What are you talking about? They have over 7,000 acres of land. They are the largest university, land-wise, in the entire state of Virginia.They are clearly not running out of space. At least before you post something like this, have all your facts straight.
Great article, not!!! Why are they considering closing it?
Any reason given for the decision to close the facility?