Industry News
Spring skiing in Pennsylvania is known for not lasting very long. It sometimes feels like the state goes from below-freezing temperatures to the mid-60s in less than a week. Spring skiing is definitely short in the Mid-Atlantic region, but it is something any skier or snowboarder from Pennsylvania is used to. Most PA ski resorts have already shut down winter operations for the season and are getting ready for summer activities. However, three resorts in the Keystone State will be open for the last weekend in March.
The 2024-25 season kicked off with Jack Frost Big Boulder making the biggest move of the year. It surprised a lot of skiers by being the first ski resort in Pennsylvania to open on December 5, 2024. As the season winds down, only three out of the 26 resorts remain in the race to be the last ski resort standing in PA. Blue Mountain Resort, Seven Springs, and Camelback Resort are three of the biggest ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Thanks to consistently cold weather and the resort’s snow-making capabilities, these resorts have had one of the best seasons in years.
Blue Mountain and Camelback sit in the Poconos of Eastern PA, while Seven Springs is nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of Western PA. Will all three ski resorts make it to April? Perhaps. Given the current climate conditions, it is a great achievement for any Mid-Atlantic ski resort to make it this far into spring. There are ski resorts located at higher elevations, which have colder climates and have already closed or are planning to close this weekend. No matter which resort stays open the longest, these mountains are a testament to the region’s snowmaking prowess, defying Mother Nature to keep skiing well into spring.
Seven Springs
Seven Springs Resort is one of the best ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Its terrain, amenities, and infrastructure set it apart from others in the region. It has the most lodging and ski-in and ski-out options in PA. Seven Springs’ main hotel can accommodate 5,000 guests and has almost 1,200 condominiums and townhomes. It also provides eight personal cottages and fifteen private chalets. There is also a wide variety of dining options on the mountain, with 14 different locations at the main lodge or hotel that are sure to satisfy most skiers’ palates. If you are looking for the best Après ski in the U.S., then Seven Springs has you covered. The Foggy Goggle is known for being one of the best bars to hit after a long day of skiing. It was voted one of the Best Aprés Ski Bars in North America according to the USA Today 10 Best. The Goggle has multiple bars throughout the facility and features a DJ on the weekends. It is the place to be after a long day of skiing at Seven Springs. The resort is a prime destination spot that can host many events. It has the infrastructure, facilities, and great atmosphere to make this possible.
Seven Springs held its annual pond skim event last weekend, which was supposed to be the final weekend of the 2024-25 season. However, Seven Springs just extended its season to Saturday, March 29, and will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. “The goal is to have Wagner, Fawn, Phillips, Upper Stowe, Avalanche, Boomerang, and the Foggy Bowl AKA ‘The Streets’ with a park set up for Saturday,” Brett Cook, General Manager of Seven Springs, told SnowBrains.
Camelback Resort
Camelback Resort is easy to spot just south of Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, about an hour and a half from New York City and two hours from Philadelphia. Camelback Mountain has trails for all levels of skiing and snowboarding, from beginners to experts. It has 16 ski lifts, 39 trails, and 100% snowmaking and night skiing. There is also a 170,000-square-foot indoor adventure building with tons of 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 to enjoy. Camelback Lodge offers 452 rooms and is connected to Aquatopia Indoor Water Park.
Blue Mountain Resort
Blue Mountain Resort is nestled in the picturesque Pocono Mountains, just one and a half hours away from Philadelphia and just under two hours away from New York City. It boasts the biggest vertical drop of any ski resort in Pennsylvania and features 40 ski trails, 16 lifts, 29 mountain biking trails, a ropes course, a rock climbing wall, and more. The resort offers camping and glamping sites, dining at Slopeside Pub & Grill, and spaces for indoor and outdoor weddings, groups, and corporate retreats.
Blue Mountain prides itself on being the first to open and close each season and blows snow at every opportunity when the temperatures are cold enough. This past season, Blue Mountain completed a multi-million-dollar snowmaking upgrade, adding 132 new stick guns and six fan guns, and revamped its automation software. Those upgrades have made Blue Mountain one of the premier snowmaking ski resorts in the East. This has allowed Blue Mountain to be one of the first ski resorts to open and close each season in PA.
Blue Mountain will hold its annual pond skim this Saturday, March 29, but it posted on its website that it would not be the last day of the season. According to Nick Delich, the Director of Mountain Operations at Blue Mountain, plenty of trails will be open this weekend for skiers and riders to hit. Blue will open most of the trails, with Razor’s Edge having moguls from top to bottom. The idea was to have the pond skim event this weekend to ensure better conditions and more open terrain for guests to enjoy. “The goal is to give everyone a great time, enjoy the pond skim, and give [skiers and riders] a good product,” Delich said.
A great reason to check out Blue Mountain before the season ends is the $35 lift tickets that it is offering guests. Blue Mountain is offering a “Test Ride Program,” allowing skiers and snowboarders with a season pass from any other mountain or multi-pass to experience Blue for just $35. With many ski resorts in eastern PA closed already, this gives skiers and snowboarders a chance to check out Blue at a great cost.
Blue Mountain was open for 114 days, from December 7 to March 30, last year. This season, it opened on December 5, with 11 runs and five lifts operating, which is impressive for any mountain’s opening day. Depending on the weather, Blue Mountain is planning to stay open until the first weekend in April this year. The weather forecast for next week in the Poconos will have temperatures in the upper 60s during the day with some rain, which will make it tough for any ski resort to stay open. However, Blue is going to take on those challenges and plans to be open on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Last season, the atmosphere at Blue Mountain’s closing weekend brought out all the die-hards looking for one last run down the mountain before the season ended. Blue Mountain’s closing weekend is a perfect blend of celebration and relaxation, where skiers and riders come together to enjoy one last run of the season. There’s a laid-back feel as people soak in the spring snow, share stories from the season, and savor every last turn before the lifts stop spinning.
The Summit Lodge offers a great place to hang out, grab some food and drinks, and watch the game on the patio. Woodfire Pizza and Pub at Blue Mountain serves some of the best pizza you’ll find at any ski resort in the country. Its New York-style pies feature a thin, crispy crust and are made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. There’s nothing better than finishing a great ski season, cruising up to an open patio, and enjoying a delicious pizza, a cold drink, and a big-screen game—the perfect way to welcome the start of summer.
For many resorts, spring signals the end of the ski season, bringing a bittersweet mix of sadness and the wish for just a little more time on the slopes. For most Mid-Atlantic resorts, staying open until April is seen as a success. The ski season in PA is coming to an end, with Blue Mountain being the only resort planning on operating into April. However, some resorts in the Northeast still have great snowpack and weather conditions. The Northeast still has a fighting chance to see some snow and extend its season. Ski resorts like Jay Peak, Killington, and Stowe will likely continue skiing into April and even May. So, if you’re not ready to hang up your skis just yet, head north and enjoy some of the best late-season conditions the Northeast has to offer.
