D.C. area skiers and boarders face a long car ride to West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort, although the ride is usually rewarded with excellent conditions. Now, Snowshoe and Amtrak have teamed up to offer an alternative path to the slopes. A new “Ski Train” program will shuttle visitors from Washington, D.C.’s Union State to White Sulphur Springs, WV. From there, guests will travel by limousine for the final 70 miles to the slopes.
Ski trains were popular in the 40’s into the 60’s, but lost favor as more and more switched from the rails to personally owned automobiles. Ski trains have been making a comeback in the West; each weekend, a train from Denver drops skiers off at the base of Colorado’s Winter Park Resort. Now, local skiers can catch an Amtrak Superliner for the trip from D.C. to West Virginia. The trains include bi-level observation cars with wrap around windows, a dining car, a club car, and a smoking car.
The train goes as far as White Sulphur Springs. From there, guests will switch to a limousine for the remaining 1.5 hour drive. Guests will be dropped off at Snowshoe Mountain.
Snowshoe and Amtrak will be offering four inclusive packages, differing in arrival and departure dates. For more information, contact Snowshoe at (877) 441-4FUN.
M. Scott Smith is the founder and Editor of DCSki. Scott loves outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking. He is an avid photographer and writer.