SMI Super PoleCat snowguns are finding their way to more and more eastern resorts. North Carolina’s Beech Mountain Resort has expanded its arsenal of the powerful snowguns for the upcoming season.

“The automated PoleCat system is able to produce copious amounts of snow,” explains Ryan Costin, General Manager of the resort.

Beech Mountain added two of the PoleCat guns last season.

“The guns added last year were the highlights of our snowmaking,” he said. In addition to the computerized and automated PoleCats, Beech Mountain’s snowmaking inventory includes other recent additions in the past three years such as 40 JCI tower guns and dozens of Ratnik guns. These enhancements are “paying off in the finished product,” Costin said.

Six new Super PoleCat guns will help deliver snow to the trails White Lightning, Lower Shawneehaw, Powder Bowl and Freestyle.

Guests to Beech Mountain this winter will notice other enhancements throughout the resort.

“We’ve really focused on bringing our offerings to a higher level,” Costin explained. “A lot of time was spent this summer painting biuldings and on general facility upkeep to give the resort a fresher look. The Beech Tree lounge was painted for the first time in 25 years. We are focusing on the details. We not only work here, most of us live here so we have a vested interest,” he added.

New lockers were installed in the locker rooms, and a third lane was built on the snow tubing run. The rental fleet has been expanded with new ski and snowboard equipment. Three new businesses have also leased space at the base village, providing equipment rentals, coffee, and souvenir photos.

During the 2009-2010 winter season, Beech Mountain re-opened the Oz trail on the mountain’s back side. Oz will remain open this season.

“I never realized how popular it was until we re-opened it,” said Costin.