DCSki Newsroom

DCSki looks back at three developments that have reshaped Mid-Atlantic skiing over the past 25 years: the rise of multi-resort passes and corporate ownership, major advances in snowmaking, and substantial investments in lifts, facilities, and year-round resort operations. Together, these changes have influenced where skiers go, how resorts manage unpredictable winters, and how mountains build businesses beyond the ski season.

High-speed detachable chairlifts have transformed the skiing experience, cutting uphill travel times and allowing skiers to spend more time on the slopes. Beginning with early installations at Beech Mountain and Whitetail, this chronological history traces nearly four decades of lift investments across the Mid-Atlantic and surrounding region. Along the way, it explores the arrival of six-passenger chairs, advances in lift technology, and the costs and maintenance considerations that explain why some resorts continue to favor traditional fixed-grip lifts.

Doppelmayr has opened a 160,000-square-foot headquarters in Salt Lake City, doubling its U.S. manufacturing footprint and adding domestic production of conical steel lift towers. The facility brings manufacturing, engineering, service, sales, and technician training together, with potential benefits for Mid-Atlantic resorts planning lift replacements or maintaining aging equipment.

Night skiing has long been a defining part of the Mid-Atlantic ski experience, allowing school groups, working adults, and budget-minded skiers to hit the slopes after dark. DCSki looks at why available night-skiing hours have gradually decreased in recent years, and why skiing under the lights remains an important regional tradition.

DCSki looks back at nearly three decades of adaptive skiing coverage in the Mid-Atlantic, from early stories about mono-skis, bi-skis, and outriggers to the growth of organized programs, volunteer networks, and dedicated facilities. Along the way, the feature follows the athletes, instructors, and advocates who expanded access to the slopes, including longtime DCSki Columnist Connie Lawn, who eventually experienced adaptive skiing herself.

Camelback Resort is adding three trails for the 2026-2027 winter season, marking its first terrain expansion in 30 years, while also introducing new mountainside food and beverage options. Nearby Blue Mountain Resort is installing 315 LED trail lights and upgrading portions of its snowmaking infrastructure.

Skiing has become expensive, but bargains have not disappeared. DCSki looks across the Mid-Atlantic for the season passes, night tickets, family programs, lodging packages, and other offers that can still put skiers on the snow without draining the winter budget.

Buying a ski pass used to mean choosing a home mountain. And that was pretty much it. Today, Mid-Atlantic skiers must sort through national products, regional passes, reciprocal agreements, limited-day packages, blackout dates, and prices that change several times before winter. It can be overwhelming! DCSki tries to break through the confusion by examining the leading options for 2026-2027 and the skiers each one serves best.

After an extended stretch of cold temperatures earlier this month, ski resorts across the Mid-Atlantic were able to make snow aggressively, building strong early-season base depths and opening expanding terrain. DCSki provides a comprehensive snapshot of current conditions across the region as resorts head into the end of December. Photo: Opening Day at Big Boulder, shot by Ella Muir.

Sustained cold temperatures have allowed Mid-Atlantic ski areas to ramp up snowmaking and begin opening for the 2025–26 winter season, with several resorts launching operations in the first week of December. Additional terrain and activities are expected to come online soon as snowmaking continues across the region. Above, an aerial view provided to DCSki by a skiing pilot shows snowmaking underway at Maryland’s Wisp Resort on December 1.