Liberty Mountain Resort fired up the snowguns Monday night and may open as early as Friday, Nov. 24.
Snowmaking at Liberty. Liberty Mountain Resort fired up the snowguns Monday night and may open as early as Friday, Nov. 24. Photo provided by Liberty Mountain Resort.
It’s opening day for several resorts in the Mid-Atlantic, including West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Maryland’s Wisp Resort, and southern Pennsylvania’s Seven Springs Resort. And what an opening day it is. After a long stretch of sub-freezing temperatures, perfect for snowmaking, Mother Nature has added some accumulation of her own, to the tune of 6-8 inches at mountain resorts stretching from Hidden Valley down to Snowshoe. This translates into the best opening day conditions in recent memory, and will allow many other resorts in the region to grab pre-December opening dates.

Several resorts close to D.C. are shooting for an opening date this Friday or shortly thereafter, including Liberty Mountain Resort, Ski Roundtop, and Whitetail. All three resorts are owned by Snow Time and have begun snowmaking operations. Eric Flynn, President of the Ski Liberty Operating Corp and Whitetail Resort, states that they are hoping to open at least one, and possibly all three resorts this Friday, November 24.

“No one wants to open more than we do, and we will push as hard as we can!” Flynn stated. Flynn noted that even if only one resort opens on Friday, pass and card holders at any of the three resorts will be able to receive privileges at the open resort.

Western Maryland’s Wisp Resort opens today at 8:30 a.m. 3-5 trails should be open, including Bellyflop, Muskrat, Grouse Way, Boulder, and Squirrel Cage. Average base depth is 18 to 30 inches with packed powder conditions. Possum, Wisp Trail, and Chipmunk openings should follow shortly, as snowmaking continues. Hours of operation are Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lift tickets will be $20 Wednesday and $35 (adult) / $25 (youth) Thursday through Sunday.

Snowshoe has already converted over 24 million gallons of water to snow, but that didn't stop Mother Nature from dropping 8 inches of fresh powder on the resort Tuseday, just in time for opening day.
Some help from Mother Nature. Snowshoe has already converted over 24 million gallons of water to snow, but that didn’t stop Mother Nature from dropping 8 inches of fresh powder on the resort Tuseday, just in time for opening day. Photo provided by Snowshoe Mountain Resort.
West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort also opens today, with a 24 to 36 inch base on 13 open trails and fresh snowfall covering the trees. Trails ready for opening day include Gandy Dancer, Spruce Glades, Skidder, Cross Cut, Yew Pine, Powder Monkey, Tail Tree, Whiffle Tree, and Gangway. Temperatures will be chilly at the 4,800-foot high resort, with highs around 12-14 degrees and lows in the single digits. The terrain park will be opening late Thursday or early Friday with limited features. Snowshoe has been so swamped with phone calls to its new toll-free reservations line that the resort is recommending that people make reservations on-line if they have difficulty getting through.

Seven Springs starts running the lifts today and expects to have 7-9 slopes and trails open. Lift ticket prices on opening day are $25 for adults and $20 for children age 11 and under. The resort is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. After November 26, the resort will be open for the day session mid-week.

In the Poconos, Jack Frost expects to open on Friday, Nov. 24. Shawnee Mountain is also shooting for a Nov. 24 opening date.

Opening details included in this article are subject to change; always contact a resort directly before making a trip, particularly in early season.