DCSki Newsroom

Irv Naylor, one of the most influential figures in the history of Mid-Atlantic skiing, died October 20, 2026, at age 91. As founder of Snow Time, he spent more than five decades developing and expanding ski resorts, including Roundtop Mountain Resort, Liberty Mountain Resort, and Whitetail Resort. His continuous investments in snowmaking, infrastructure, and resort operations helped build a thriving regional ski industry despite the challenges of unpredictable Mid-Atlantic winters. DCSki looks back at the life and accomplishments of this pioneering entrepreneur.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, halfpipes were prominent features at Mid-Atlantic ski resorts, with Whitetail, Liberty, Roundtop, Snowshoe, and others investing in specialized facilities for snowboarders. Over time, the snowmaking demands, maintenance requirements, and growing popularity of other terrain park features contributed to their decline. DCSki looks back at the region’s halfpipe history, including Whitetail’s once-impressive 475-foot facility, and examines Seven Springs’ decision to bring back a smaller, more accessible halfpipe in February 2026.

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.

DCSki compares Liberty Mountain and Whitetail Resort, two familiar Mid-Atlantic ski areas now under the same ownership and covered by the Epic Pass. Whitetail offers greater vertical, longer runs, and faster laps, while Liberty counters with varied terrain, short steeps, approachable beginner slopes, and a distinct resort feel.

As snowboarding grew in popularity, ski writers and the industry searched for an inclusive term covering everyone on the mountain. DCSki’s Editor reflects back on the proposed alternatives, from “snowsliders” to “snow riders,” and explains why “skiers and snowboarders” remains the clearest choice.

Liberty Mountain Resort near Fairfield, Pennsylvania, will host its annual Fall Festival and Ski Swap on October 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include used equipment sales, $25 ski and snowboard tunes, food trucks, live music, children’s activities, local vendors, and displays of the machinery used to prepare the mountain for winter.

Vail Resorts reported weaker fiscal 2026 results and a 12 percent decline in advance pass sales for the upcoming 2026-2027 season after a historically difficult winter in the western United States. The company, which operates eight Mid-Atlantic ski areas, expects a rebound with more normal weather while continuing investments such as a new fixed-grip quad at Seven Springs.

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.

West Virginia’s Corridor H highway has steadily shortened and simplified the trip from Washington and Northern Virginia to Tucker County’s ski areas, including Timberline Mountain, Canaan Valley Resort, and White Grass. DCSki looks at how each completed section has changed the region’s place on the Mid-Atlantic ski map, while unfinished segments promise further improvements through 2034.