West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has proposed $1 million in additional snowmaking improvements at Canaan Valley Resort State Park, potentially providing another boost to the ski area’s snow production capabilities.

The funding was included in a September 30, 2026 announcement outlining approximately $19.7 million in improvements across West Virginia’s state parks and forests. The Canaan Valley allocation is among $10 million in projects proposed through the West Virginia State Parks Endowment Fund Board.

According to the Governor’s Office, the $1 million would support snowmaking equipment enhancements designed to increase snow production throughout the skiable area. The announcement did not specify what equipment would be purchased or installed, or when the improvements might be completed.

The proposed investment follows a $6 million improvement program at Canaan Valley for the 2025-2026 winter season, which included construction of a new snowmaking pumphouse and the addition of a new snow groomer. The pumphouse was designed to increase the resort’s snowmaking capacity and efficiency, allowing crews to produce more snow during favorable weather conditions.

Those improvements appear to have made a substantial difference. According to Wonderful West Virginia, a publication of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Canaan Valley used an estimated 35 million gallons of water for snowmaking during the 2025-2026 season, approximately twice the amount used during the previous winter.

West Virginia's Canaan Valley Resort has seen recent snowmaking improvements.
West Virginia's Canaan Valley Resort has seen recent snowmaking improvements. Photo by Jim Kenney.

Additional snowmaking equipment could help the resort take greater advantage of its expanded pumping capacity, potentially allowing more trails to open earlier in the season and improving recovery following periods of warmer weather.

Canaan Valley Resort, located near Davis, West Virginia, offers 850 feet of vertical drop and snowmaking coverage on 26 trails, with additional terrain that depends on natural snowfall. The resort competes with nearby Timberline Mountain, which has invested extensively in modern snowmaking infrastructure since coming under new ownership in 2019.

The latest proposal would continue a series of state-funded improvements at Canaan Valley. However, the $1 million allocation has not yet been publicly confirmed as approved by the Endowment Fund Board, and no schedule for the proposed work has been announced. The board’s next publicly scheduled meeting is October 20, 2026.

The full September 30 announcement is available on the West Virginia Governor’s website.