Skiers in North Carolina got a brief early start to the new season in mid November when winter temps blasted through the region bringing fresh snow and the Sugar Mountain and Cataloochee resorts made snow and opened for several days of skiing on limited trails in good conditions. It was a brief reminder that cold temps are a wonderful asset and really can enhance snow making in the Southeast.
The region had 4.422M ski/snowboard visits last year, the most since 5.2M in 20-21 season. Resorts here had 93 operating days for the winter season, the most since 105 in 2018. The previous year had 84, according to the Kottke End of Season and Guest Experience Report for 24-25. There was snowfall too–49 inches, the most since 45.2 in the 20-21 season. Previous years were 37 and 25.
Nationally, ski resorts averaged 150 inches of snowfall, down 7 percent from 23-24, and below the ten-year average of 175. Visitation clearly was aided by continued growth and stability of season passes. Skiers bought passes and used them.
Nationally, resorts had 61.5M visitors, the second highest number ever despite below-average snowfall. The Pacific NW region had a record year but the Rocky Mountains (26.4M) reported fewer visits than the previous season. The total number was the fourth straight above 60M, Kottke reported.
Skier visits are only one measure of the resort industry’s health. Visits used to count as a critical indicator for the resort industry, but with the widespread use of season passes in the past decade, skier traffic patterns have changed and the skier visit metric has lost its shine, according to the Colorado Sun.
A decade ago, about 38% of skiers used season passes. In recent seasons, that percentage has passed 50% but slipped a step to 49%.
Still, the past few seasons have seen lift-riding skiers hitting the hill about five to six times a season, suggesting that record-breaking visitation is being driven by a growing population of skiers and snowboarders, not just the same group going more often.
As December began, Beech, Hatley, Sapphire Valley opened, joining Appalachian, Sugar and Cataloochee operating in North Carolina.
Joel Bulkley