Ski areas across the Mid-Atlantic have spent the offseason upgrading snowmaking systems, expanding terrain, modernizing lift and guest-service infrastructure, and improving on-mountain facilities. These investments reflect a continued focus on reliability during variable weather, enhanced operating efficiency, and stronger early- and late-season performance. Below is a state-by-state summary of improvements announced for the 2025–26 winter.
Maryland
Wisp Resort — McHenry, MD
Wisp Resort is continuing a large multi-year snowmaking modernization effort, adding 28 new snow guns this year for a total of 78 new guns since 2019. Significant work is underway on Grouse Way, Possum, and Sunset Boulevard, including installation of new pipe, pits, electrical and communication lines, plus trenching for automated snowmaking controls. Grouse Way also received terrain adjustments, including tree-island removal to create a more direct connection with Squirrel Cage and The Face.
The expanded system is expected to improve early-season reliability, strengthen base depths in marginal conditions, and enhance snow quality across multiple routes. These projects accompany continuing updates to lodging and guest facilities as the resort works toward improved winter operations. Mission Affordable passes and 4-Packs remain part of the resort’s winter product lineup.
Pennsylvania
Bear Creek Mountain Resort — Longswamp Township, PA
Bear Creek has expanded its snowmaking system with 10 fully automated snow guns designed to adjust output based on weather conditions. More than 4,500 feet of new snowmaking pipe have also been installed to support improved coverage and consistency. Resort officials expect these upgrades to enhance trail reliability and help maintain surface quality during fluctuating temperatures.
Several new food and beverage options debut this winter, including a Snack Shack near Kodiak and Black Bear, a new coffee and hot-chocolate stand in the former Polar Bar, and the return of the Waffle Cabin. Season passes remain available as the resort finalizes preparations for winter operations.
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort — Claysburg, PA
Blue Knob has made substantial snowmaking upgrades, replacing approximately 3,500 feet of water pipe and 700 feet of air pipe across multiple trails. The resort also installed 30 TechnoAlpin stick guns, 22 additional stick guns, and a new TechnoAlpin fan cannon, with improvements spanning the Snow Drop beginner area, Mambo Alley, Expressway, Deer Run, Jack Rabbit, Shortway, and Run Out. Chairlift motor rooms also received new roofing and siding.
Guest-facing improvements include additions to the rental inventory and the introduction of a seasonal rental program for children 12 and under that includes a choice of a midweek or full-season pass. The upgrades support both operational reliability and accessibility for families.
Blue Mountain Resort — Palmerton, PA
Blue Mountain has focused its off-season work on strengthening snowmaking and night-skiing infrastructure. New TechnoAlpin fan guns and expanded underground piping on several trails improve water flow and production efficiency. The resort has also replaced 380 trail lights with new LEDs, enhancing visibility on high-traffic runs such as Challenge, Razor’s Edge, and Dreamweaver.
Additional improvements include The Spud Truck, a new mobile dining option at the base. Blue Mountain continues to offer a full slate of lesson programs and participates in both the Ikon Pass and Peak-to-Peak Poconos Pass.
Camelback Resort — Tannersville, PA
Camelback completed several snowmaking and lift-system enhancements this offseason. The high-speed Stevenson Lift received mechanical and electrical upgrades, while snowmaking capacity increased through new high-pressure feed lines, summit supply improvements, and installation of 32 HKD Klik auto hydrants and 32 HKD Impulse stick guns.
Dining options have also been refreshed with the addition of Alta Vida at the base, updates to Trails End Pub & Grille, and an expanded Thirsty Camel Patio featuring outdoor fire pits. Camelback continues to offer a wide range of lesson programs and participates in the Ikon and Peak-to-Peak Poconos Pass programs.
Laurel Mountain — Boswell, PA
Laurel Mountain completed several snowmaking improvements ahead of the season, focusing on sustainability-oriented upgrades designed to improve output efficiency and reliability in marginal temperatures. The resort also added a new grooming machine to enhance surface quality on its classic terrain, which includes Upper and Lower Wildcat, one of the steepest sustained pitches in the Mid-Atlantic.
Selective glade clearing was performed to improve trail flow and visibility, refreshing several wooded areas without altering the character of the mountain’s terrain. Laurel Mountain continues to operate under the Vail Resorts umbrella with a focus on preserving its traditional layout while improving the systems that support snowmaking, grooming, and daily operations.
Hidden Valley Resort — Somerset County, PA
Hidden Valley strengthened its snowmaking operation this season with the addition of four new TechnoAlpin TR8 fan guns, improving its ability to produce consistent, high-quality snow during optimal weather windows. The resort also completed a renovation of its rental shop and installed new day-use lockers, part of a broader effort to improve flow and reduce congestion during busy periods. Accessibility enhancements were made around the base area as well, supporting smoother guest movement throughout key arrival zones.
These upgrades accompany ongoing operational refinements across the mountain. Hidden Valley remains focused on dependable early-season production, family-friendly terrain, and continued integration into Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass network, which provides various access tiers for regional and destination visitors.
Jack Frost & Big Boulder (JFBB) — Blakeslee, PA
JFBB completed several infrastructure improvements heading into winter. Jack Frost replaced snowmaking pipe at the base of the mountain to improve production reliability and installed a new haul rope on D-Lift. Big Boulder upgraded slope lighting with new energy-efficient LED fixtures aimed at enhancing night-skiing visibility.
Both mountains are leaning into an expanded event lineup. Big Boulder will host Winterfest, featuring night skiing, fireworks, and live entertainment, and the Beach Party Pond Skim, a spring event centered around two skim ponds and an emphasis on costumes and community fun. Dates for these events will be announced later in the season.
Liberty Mountain Resort — Carroll Valley, PA
Liberty Mountain has expanded its event lineup as it enters its 60th anniversary season, with special programming planned throughout the winter. New and returning activities include the Ryan Grom Jam rail event for kids, Epic Pass Holder First Tracks with early lift access and refreshments, an anniversary-themed Pond Skim, and Unlimited Pride, a two-day inclusivity celebration scheduled for February 28–March 1, 2026. Exact dates for several events will be announced later in the season.
Roundtop Mountain Resort — Lewisberry, PA
Roundtop upgraded its snowmaking reliability with improvements to the water-pumping system, increasing flow capacity during colder windows. Grooming operations were enhanced with the addition of both a Prinoth Bison X and a Prinoth Bison, giving the resort a more powerful and flexible grooming fleet for handling varied terrain and conditions.
Event programming returns with Ullr Fest on December 6, 2025, weekly College Nights featuring discounted lift access, and the Winter Carnival and Rail Jam on February 7, 2026. A Spring Fling Pond Skim will round out the season, with the date to be announced.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort — Somerset County, PA
Seven Springs continues to refine its snowmaking and lift infrastructure heading into the season. The resort installed 1,600 feet of 20-inch snowmaking main along Lost Boy Trail and replaced piping used for water recovery to the Tahoe Pumphouse, improving both efficiency and sustainability. Lift upgrades include new grips on the North Face Lift, a new haul rope for the Gunnar Lift, a new bull wheel for the Polar Bear Express, and a new gearbox for the Southwind Lift. Select slopes — including Avalanche, Giant Steps, and Arctic Blast — received updated lighting. The resort is also undertaking accessibility improvements at the hotel, adding ADA parking and heated sidewalks.
Seven Springs has expanded its guest-services focus with new support for neurodiverse visitors, including complimentary Sensory Bags, communication aids, and a dedicated sensory-friendly space. Nearly 300 employees have completed autism-readiness training. Culinary offerings have also been refreshed: The Rolling Chopstick will serve sushi and ramen; Slopeside has launched a renewed menu with several new dishes; and Helen’s is introducing a chef-driven winter menu along with the return of weekend brunch later in December.
Whitetail Resort — Mercersburg, PA
Whitetail has strengthened its mountain operations with the addition of a PistenBully 400 winch cat, aimed at improving grooming consistency on its steeper terrain. Snowmaking capacity has been expanded with two TechnoAlpin M12 fan guns at 101 Park, three TR8s and two M12s for the tubing area, and seven HKD air/water stick guns distributed across the mountain.
The resort is also emphasizing winter events, including Whitetail Winterfest (January 31–February 1, 2026), monthly Epic Pass Holder First Tracks, and the Women’s Day Series offering clinics and group experiences later in the season. Whitetail will also host its traditional spring Pond Skim, with dates to be announced.
Virginia
Bryce Resort — Basye, VA
Bryce Resort is completing a sizable backside terrain expansion that adds four new trails—a green, two blues, and a black—for a 33–35% increase in skiable terrain, bringing the mountain to 12 trails. The new terrain is fully supported by snowmaking and served by a new SkyTrac fixed-grip quad lift. The project was approved by resort members last spring, and trail cutting, infrastructure installation, and lift construction are now largely complete.
Complementary upgrades include a new race-timing shack, a new carpet lift for the tubing area, and a summit ski patrol shack serving both sides of the mountain. Resort officials note the expansion is intended to improve access for beginners while accommodating growing demand from more advanced skiers.
Massanutten Resort — Massanutten, VA
Massanutten has added a Latitude 90 all-weather snow machine at the Family Adventure Park, enabling snow production during a broader range of temperatures and supporting more consistent tubing operations. The upgrade is expected to strengthen early-season reliability and improve surface quality during marginal weather periods.
Massanutten also refreshed its rental shop ahead of winter. The update is intended to improve guest flow and reduce congestion during peak arrival times.
Wintergreen Resort — Wintergreen, VA
Wintergreen continues modernizing its large SNOWPOWER system with substantial snowmaking upgrades. The resort installed ten new concrete foundations to support a fleet of TechnoAlpin TT10 fan guns, each anchored with new TechnoAlpin W3 hydrants and updated power, communication, and water connections. The TT10 units are designed for efficient water usage and improved performance during marginal temperatures.
Additional work this season includes new piping installations, repositioning existing fan guns to improve coverage, and relocating air-water guns to more strategic locations. These enhancements support Wintergreen’s ongoing effort to strengthen snowmaking reliability across the mountain.
West Virginia
Canaan Valley Resort — Davis, WV
Canaan Valley Resort completed a $6 million infrastructure investment funded through the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The most significant upgrade is a new snowmaking pumphouse designed to increase system capacity and improve efficiency, supporting quicker trail openings and more reliable conditions throughout the season. The resort also added a new snow groomer to bolster its surface-maintenance fleet.
The upgrades follow several seasons of modernization projects at nearby Timberline Mountain, and resort officials note that the improvements are intended to strengthen Canaan Valley’s long-term competitiveness while enhancing guest access to consistent terrain.
Snowshoe Mountain Resort — Slatyfork, WV
Snowshoe is nearing completion of a new base-area lodge to replace the long-serving Shavers Center, which stood on the mountain for nearly 50 years. The new facility will feature expanded seating, an outdoor deck with fire pits, and consolidated space for ski school operations, pre-ski programs, and adventure-tour staging. It is designed to improve guest flow and operating efficiency at one of the mountain’s busiest hubs.
The building will also serve year-round functions, with availability for winter group rentals and expanded capacity for weddings, meetings, and events beginning in May 2026. Snowshoe continues to operate as the state’s largest four-season mountain resort.
Timberline Mountain — Davis, WV
Timberline Mountain enters the season with a range of upgrades, including expanded parking near the lodge, additional restrooms, and a new ski school building. Terrain park offerings have increased with the addition of a rope tow and new rail features, and selective glading has expanded tree-skiing options across the mountain.
Snowmaking enhancements are concentrated on Salamander, Timberline’s signature top-to-bottom green trail. Resort officials note that the run will receive significantly increased snowmaking capacity, supporting early-season access and improving reliability on the mountain’s only easy-rated summit route.
Winterplace Ski Resort - Ghent, WV
Winterplace has completed a $2 million capital improvement program focused on snowmaking, lighting, and operational infrastructure. The project includes more than one mile of new snowmaking pipe, 20 energy-efficient snow guns, and 250 upgraded slope lights, with illumination in the Terrain Park doubled to support expanded night operations. The resort also added a mini excavator, telehandler, truck, and snowmobile to improve the efficiency of mountain operations. A new Ski Patrol Headquarters at the summit is designed to enhance guest safety and improve response times. Part of the energy-efficiency work was supported by a USDA improvement grant.
Guest-facing improvements include regraded lift ramps for easier loading, a significantly expanded tubing operation with more tubes and a covered loading area, and updated kitchen equipment intended to improve food quality and service speed. Winterplace also invested more than $100,000 in new rental equipment, part of nearly half a million dollars devoted to fleet upgrades over the past five years. Retail offerings have been expanded, and several guest buildings—including the Resort Center and Mountain House—received fresh paint and a new covered deck seating area. The upgrades continue Winterplace’s emphasis on accessibility and family-friendly operations heading into the 2025–26 season.
