North Carolina’s six ski/snowboard resorts are expected to reopen for the 2024-25 season shortly depending on weather conditions.
Most received minimal storm damage, like fallen trees, washed out roads, damaged buildings, from flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in September. Five operated last year, the sixth, Hatley Pointe in Mars Hill (formerly Wolf Ridge) was being remodeled. The nearby communities suffered the biggest losses from Helene.
One concern now is highway access to resorts via I-40 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Both have sections closed in WNC by flooding, landslides with repairs, rebuilding planned or under way.
Nationally, there were 60.483M ski and snowboard visits last year, the fifth most ever, but down nearly 5M from the previous season. Visits in the SE region, which includes resorts from Alabama to Pennsylvania, slipped to 4.142M from 4.286M, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Weather conditions and climate change were blamed for the drop. Nationally all regions showed declines in the number of skiers.
CSN will have a SE Skiing Mini Guide in the next issue (Dec. 11). Contact joelcsn1@ gmail.com to advertise. Deadline is 7 days in advance. Winter Sports follows in January.