West Virginia’s Silver Creek ski area will open this Thursday for the 1997-98 ski and snowboarding season, its earliest opening date on record. Silver Creek’s sister resort, Snowshoe, opened for the season last Friday with eight trails. Silver Creek will open this Thanksgiving with four trails, one lift and a handle tow for the tubing area.

Silver Creek traditionally opens in mid-December. Thanks to 26 inches of natural snowfall this season and ample snowmaking temperatures, Silver Creek was able to push the opening date ahead. Although Silver Creek doesn’t offer as much terrain as its nearby sibling, Silver Creek does have at least one advantage: 27 acres of Silver Creek have been lit this year for night skiing. Snowboarders will enjoy the region’s largest groomed half-pipe at Silver Creek, and food services have also been renovated this year at Silver Creek.

Meanwhile, Snowshoe’s season continues. Snowmaking has been in operation on Cupp Run, and Snowshoe hopes to open the upper portion of Cupp Run by Thanksgiving day.