A sustained stretch of cold weather across the Mid-Atlantic has allowed mountain operations teams to fire up snowmaking systems and launch the 2025-26 ski season with meaningful early-December openings. Resorts in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina have now begun spinning lifts or announced imminent plans to do so. Below is a resort-by-resort update based on recent statements from area resorts.
Because early-season conditions can be variable and plans can change, DCSki recommends verifying operating conditions directly with a resort before planning a visit.
Maryland
Wisp Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Wisp Resort will begin its 70th winter season on December 5 with skiing and snowboarding from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and snow tubing from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The mountain’s snowmaking team has been running around the clock, though trail counts will be finalized closer to opening as grooming continues.
Opening-day perks include complimentary breakfast treats for early riders while supplies last, plus 30% off lift tickets until further notice. Mission Affordable 4-Pack holders may ski free on December 5 without redeeming a ticket, and an in-person 4-Pack purchase special will be available at Guest Services.
North Carolina
Beech Mountain Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Beech Mountain opens December 5 with lift operations from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout opening weekend. Season pass pickup begins at 7:30 a.m., and Beech Mountain Sports opens at 8 a.m. with early-season retail offerings. The Beech Mountain Brewing Company Taproom and Grill also reopens with refreshed finishes and an updated interior layout.
Sugar Mountain Resort — Open for the Season
Sugar Mountain is already open for skiing and riding with five slopes served by two lifts, supported by ongoing snowmaking as temperatures allow. Night skiing begins tomorrow, enabled in part by 20 new LED slope lights installed on Lower Flying Mile. Ice skating is also open for the season, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and running every two hours.
Pennsylvania
Bear Creek Mountain Resort — Limited Opening for Passholders December 6
Bear Creek will open December 6 exclusively for season passholders and hotel guests, with public day-ticket access beginning Monday, December 8. Weekend events include snowmobile drag races on Friday and on-mountain activities on Saturday and Sunday. Snowmaking continues, and tubing operations will be announced once conditions allow.
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort — Opening Thursday, December 11
Blue Knob plans to open for the 2025–26 winter season on Thursday, December 11, operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 11–12 and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 13–14. After the initial long weekend, the resort will temporarily close December 15–17 and then reopen for the season on Thursday, December 18. Summit Ski & Sports and Mueller’s Pub in the Summit Lodge will be open during operating days, and the Summit Café will offer a limited menu.
Trail counts and terrain expansions will be announced as snowmaking and grooming continue, with updates posted on Blue Knob’s website and social media channels.
Blue Mountain Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Blue Mountain will open with 13 trails and 40 acres, the most early-season terrain in Pennsylvania. Five lifts will operate, and a terrain park will debut on Central Park. Snowmaking teams recently ran 275 snow guns during the first extended cold snap, helping the resort accelerate terrain expansion. Additional runs are expected to open over the weekend, and snow tubing is scheduled for December 11.
Camelback Resort — Open as of December 3
Camelback opened December 3 with Nile Mile and Sunbowl available, along with a terrain park setup on Sunbowl North. Snowmaking teams have been running around the clock, allowing the resort to build out additional early-season coverage. The upgraded Stevenson Lift and Sunbowl Lift are operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Snow tubing is expected to open next week.
Jack Frost — Opening Friday, December 5
Jack Frost will open December 5 with One Park, Snowflake, and Powder Puff. Opening-day festivities include a banner break, DJ, coffee, donuts, and giveaways while supplies last. Rentals, lessons, dining, and retail will all be available, with lift operations starting at 9 a.m.
Montage Mountain — Opening Wednesday, December 10
Montage Mountain plans to open for the 2025–26 winter season on Wednesday, December 10, following a stretch of sustained cold weather that has allowed snowmaking crews to begin building base depths across key terrain. Resort officials report that snowmaking temperatures are expected to continue through much of December, enabling the mountain to focus on establishing a solid early-season surface before opening. A selection of popular trails and early terrain park features is expected for opening day.
Once operations begin on December 10, Montage Mountain will be open seven days a week for the season. The resort also confirmed the return of its Ski-For-All Tickets, now expanded to include Thursdays and offering free rentals until 4 p.m. Updates on terrain and conditions will continue to be posted through the resort’s communication channels.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort — Opening Saturday, December 6
Consistently cold weather since Thanksgiving has allowed Seven Springs to maximize snowmaking efforts, enabling the resort to begin daily operations immediately when it opens for the 2025–26 season on Saturday, December 6. Seven Springs anticipates opening with a broad early-season mix of terrain, including Wagner, Fawn Lane, Phillip’s Run, Upper Lost Boy, Deer Pass, Sun Bowl, Alpine Pass, Santa’s Beard Park, and Arctic Blast. Planned lifts for opening weekend include Polar Bear Express, Cortina, Blitzen, Santa’s Beard Tow, and the Stowe Beginner Carpet. Operating hours will run 8 a.m.–9 p.m. on weekends and 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additional terrain is expected to come online next week as snowmaking continues.
The resort enters the season following substantial offseason improvements, including 1,600 feet of new snowmaking main, multiple lift-system upgrades, refreshed slope lighting, and new hotel accessibility features. Seven Springs has also introduced sensory-friendly resources for neurodiverse guests and unveiled updated menus at its on-mountain dining locations. Opening-day events include a first-chair banner break, giveaways, and plaza activities near the ticket windows.
Shawnee Mountain — Opening Friday, December 12
Shawnee Mountain will open December 12, marking the start of its 50th anniversary season. Opening-day lift tickets will be $19.75 in recognition of the year the resort first opened. A dedicated anniversary celebration is planned for January 10.
Virginia
Massanutten Resort — Opening Weekend December 6-7
Massanutten will open December 6-7 with a passholder First Tracks session Saturday morning, followed by public skiing from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday operations run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Rail Jam is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Resort officials note that early-season snowmaking has been productive heading into the weekend.
Wintergreen Resort — Opening Friday, December 5
Wintergreen will open December 5 after more than 80 hours of snowmaking. Opening-day terrain includes Upper and Lower Dobie and Upper and Lower Cross Trail, with Eagles Swoop expected to join over the weekend. Friday serves as a Preview Day for passholders and Mission Affordable 4-Pack owners, with special pricing offers available in person. Snow tubing will not operate this weekend.
West Virginia
Snowshoe Mountain — Opening Friday, December 5
Snowshoe will open December 5 with just over 40 acres of terrain in the central Basin area and a newly built Progression terrain park. Additional trails may open as snowmaking continues through the week. Kids 12 and under ski free until December 12, and travelers have until Thursday to finalize Flex 3 Pass purchases. Snowmaking teams report favorable conditions heading into opening weekend.
Timberline Mountain — Opening Thursday, December 4
Timberline opens December 4 with early-season terrain to be finalized as snowmaking and grooming continue. The resort has produced substantial snow on its most popular runs and plans to expand terrain following Opening Day. A special Bonus Days promotion will run December 4-11, offering reduced lift tickets, discounted rentals, and passholder benefits including free guest tickets for Perfect and Gold passholders.
Winterplace Ski Resort — Opening Saturday, December 6
Winterplace will begin the season on December 6 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering skiing, riding, and early-season features in the Heaven Holler Terrain Park. Snowmaking has been underway since early November, and additional terrain is expected to open by December 13.
Regional Outlook
Cold temperatures have delivered a strong start to December, allowing resorts across the Mid-Atlantic to open earlier and with more terrain than is typical in warm-leaning seasons. Snowmaking is expected to continue across the region as additional terrain, tubing parks, and lesson programs come online.
DCSki will continue monitoring early-season conditions and provide updates as more terrain opens throughout the region.
