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Delegate seeks commission to study new ski resort ... - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports

2010-02-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

Delegate seeks commission to study new ski resort ... - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports
January 31, 2010
Delegate seeks commission to study new ski resort possibilities
By Rick Steelhammer
Staff writer
Advertiser

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, is looking for the best places in West Virginia to go downhill fast.

As the lead sponsor of HB4192, Doyle seeks to create a West Virginia Ski Resort Industry Commission charged with, among other things, identifying promising locations for new ski resort developments and developing policies to encourage ski industry growth.

"There are dozens of places in West Virginia with elevations of more than 4,000 feet that would provide at least 1,500 feet of vertical drop," said Doyle, a ski instructor in his non-legislative life. "Even if just a few of them are eventually developed as ski areas, I'm convinced we could double the number of skiers that are coming here now."

Vertical drop is the distance between the summit and base of a mountain, measured straight down. If a ski run's top elevation is 4,000 feet and the elevation at its base is 1,000 feet, its vertical drop is 3,000 feet. The higher the vertical drop is, the longer and steeper a resort's ski and snowboard trails can be.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort's Western Territory runs, Cupp Run and Shay's Revenge, have vertical drops of about 1,500 feet, the biggest in the state. Timberline's top-to-bottom runs have a vertical drop of about 1,000 feet.

"We have something in West Virginia that the rest of the Mid-Atlantic lacks -- big vertical terrain in a snow belt," Doyle said. "We have several counties in our Eastern mountains with the potential to offer a product equaling what's available in New England. But we need more than two runs with more than 1,500 feet of vertical to compete with ski areas there and to the west."

By offering an abundance of longer and more challenging runs, "we could get the people who travel west or north to ski to come here for their big mountain skiing," Doyle said. "A lot of people in the Washington, D.C., area go to Pennsylvania to ski because they presume they'll find colder weather by traveling north. They don't realize we have colder mountain climates in our higher elevations. And there is nowhere in Pennsylvania with more than 1,000 feet of vertical."

Doyle's bill calls for creating a nine-member ski industry commission consisting of three delegates, three senators, two citizens with ski industry expertise, and the secretary of commerce or a designee.

The commission would issue a report on its findings and recommendations during the October 2011 interim meetings.

West Virginia's ski resorts currently draw more than 800,000 skier visits annually, pumping an estimated $250 million into the economy.

Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelham...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, is looking for the best places in West Virginia to go downhill fast.

As the lead sponsor of HB4192, Doyle seeks to create a West Virginia Ski Resort Industry Commission charged with, among other things, identifying promising locations for new ski resort developments and developing policies to encourage ski industry growth.

"There are dozens of places in West Virginia with elevations of more than 4,000 feet that would provide at least 1,500 feet of vertical drop," said Doyle, a ski instructor in his non-legislative life. "Even if just a few of them are eventually developed as ski areas, I'm convinced we could double the number of skiers that are coming here now."

Vertical drop is the distance between the summit and base of a mountain, measured straight down. If a ski run's top elevation is 4,000 feet and the elevation at its base is 1,000 feet, its vertical drop is 3,000 feet. The higher the vertical drop is, the longer and steeper a resort's ski and snowboard trails can be.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort's Western Territory runs, Cupp Run and Shay's Revenge, have vertical drops of about 1,500 feet, the biggest in the state. Timberline's top-to-bottom runs have a vertical drop of about 1,000 feet.

"We have something in West Virginia that the rest of the Mid-Atlantic lacks -- big vertical terrain in a snow belt," Doyle said. "We have several counties in our Eastern mountains with the potential to offer a product equaling what's available in New England. But we need more than two runs with more than 1,500 feet of vertical to compete with ski areas there and to the west."

By offering an abundance of longer and more challenging runs, "we could get the people who travel west or north to ski to come here for their big mountain skiing," Doyle said. "A lot of people in the Washington, D.C., area go to Pennsylvania to ski because they presume they'll find colder weather by traveling north. They don't realize we have colder mountain climates in our higher elevations. And there is nowhere in Pennsylvania with more than 1,000 feet of vertical."

Doyle's bill calls for creating a nine-member ski industry commission consisting of three delegates, three senators, two citizens with ski industry expertise, and the secretary of commerce or a designee.

The commission would issue a report on its findings and recommendations during the October 2011 interim meetings.

West Virginia's ski resorts currently draw more than 800,000 skier visits annually, pumping an estimated $250 million into the economy.

Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelham...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.
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Fortress debt goes to aution

2010-01-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

At least I'm not working for Intrawest anymore.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34966859/ns/business-world_business/

Snowshoe property owners must oppose quarry expansion

2010-01-08T21:55:00.002-05:00

I pulled this from the From SPOC listserv email from---DALeatherman@cs.com --you can read more below or go to www.spocnews.com to make comments

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What quarry?
Though many homeowners are unaware of it, the Slatyfork Quarry owned by Waco Oil & Gas Co. (Ike Morris) lies on Route 219 one mile south of the resort entrance.

Nearly ten years ago Morris’ application for a permit to expand the quarry was opposed by a united effort in which Snowshoe Mountain Resort, 24 local businesses and countless individuals took part.

Why was expansion a concern?
1) Constant blasting would cause noise and air pollution and could disrupt water in wells, caves and local trout streams. 2) Trucks hauling limestone gravel from the quarry would create additional air and noise pollution, traffic and damage to roads.

The quarry issue was presumed dead until mid-December 2009, when a local businessman learned that expansion efforts have resurfaced, couched in an application for federal stimulus funding. Though the application states that the project has the approval of state and local agencies, this does not seem to be the case. Officials contacted so far have no knowledge of it.

What grant?
The application for a U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER Discretionary Grant for $31,587,900 is titled “West Virginia State Rail Authority Upgrade of WV Central Railroad/Upgrade of South Branch Valley Railroad/Various Counties West Virginia.” TIGER = Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery.

The purpose stated in the application: to transport a possible MILLION TONS of gravel yearly from the Slatyfork Quarry. Ten years ago we were up in arms about an increase from 30,000 to 300,000 tons. Here's what we looking at now: To transport a million tons a year, 104 trucks would make a daily round trip from the quarry to a proposed loading dock behind Beckwith Lumber on the Upper Elk River.

This dock, which is presented as an "upgrade," does not exist, and is in an area under consideration for a protective national Wild & Scenic designation. At present, fishermen park here to access the river. We must also consider the 10,000 railcars that would rumble along the tracks every year within hearing distance of many local homes.

What does this means to you as a property owner?
The application does not mention the presence of Snowshoe, the state’s premier ski resort. It does not address the impact this project would have on the resort or the quality of life for second-home owners, retirees and owners of rental property at the resort.

Can you imagine skiing the Western Territory when it overlooks a vast crater of bare earth and the mountain view is obscured by a haze of limestone dust? Can you imagine the effect on tourism and your real estate values?

The grant application also fails to address the project’s impact on Pocahontas County’s reputation as an eco-tourism destination with pristine air and water quality and natural attractions such as the Upper Elk River, one of the last places in the East where you can fish for naturally reproducing Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout.

Nearly one-quarter of the people living in the county work in tourism, and many more are in jobs bolstered by tourism. Many of these jobs would be sacrificed for the sake of a few additional jobs in mining and trucking.

The WV Central Railroad that would be “upgraded” to transport limestone has been unused since the early 1990s (when CSX filed a petition to abandon and sold it to the state) and has been heavily damaged by flooding and neglect. A better use of federal funds would be to turn it into a rail trail for hikers and bikers, in keeping with the county’s recreational focus.

The upgrade of the South Branch Valley Railroad, an entirely different project in other WV counties, was apparently included in the application so that it would meet the minimum requirements for TIGER Grant funding.

What action can you take?

Go to SPOCNews.com for a link to the TIGER application.

The time for action is NOW. Grants will be approved in late January or early February. Snowshoe Mountain Resort is still fact-finding and has not taken a position.

To protect yourself as a taxpayer and property owner, please don’t delay. E-mail the following people, asking them to help stop the funding of this project. Here’s a suggested message:

>>>
Please do everything in your power to stop the funding of the TIGER Grant application to upgrade the Slatyfork section of The West Virginia Central Railroad in Pocahontas County. The request for millions of dollars of federal money for the sole use of one customer, WACO, is based on a deficient application. It is a thinly veiled attempt to impose a million-ton per year quarry on our resort community—even though (as stated in the application) no customers exist for this limestone gravel.

The quarry, which lies a mile from the entrance to Snowshoe Mountain Resort, would create an eyesore visible from the resort and devalue the second-home properties that provide more than half of the tax base for Pocahontas County. It has the potential to do irreparable damage to the county’s air and water quality, and destroy the native trout population in the Upper Elk River. The proposed loading station would be built in an area of the river now under consideration for Wild & Scenic status.

The application seeks funding to “upgrade” a section of railroad that CSX petitioned to abandon 20 years ago and has been repeatedly damaged by flooding. In 2004 the West Virginia Rail Authority determined that it was not cost effective to restore the tracks for freight or tourist trains.

West Virginia surely has projects more worthy of stimulus money, projects that bolster local economies rather than destroy them, as this one has the potential to do.

>>>>
Contacts:

Tigerteam@dot.gov
Attn: Joel Szabat/Lana Hurdle
Subject: Request to deny TIGER grant

(Cindy Butler, Acting Executive Director)
Cindy.k.butler@wv.gov

State Rail Authority Secretary Paul Maddox
Dot.secretary@wv.gov

Senator Robert Byrd’s office
Caryn_Compton@byrd.senate.gov

Representative Nick Rahall’s office
Jim.zoia@mail.house.gov

Pocahontas County Commissioners

Martin Saffer -- martinsaffer@martinsaffer.com
David Fleming -- fleming42@gmail.com
Reta Griffith – retagriffith@frontiernet.net

WVDNR: stevebrown@wvdnr.gov
mikeshingleton@wvdnr.gov

WVDEP: Scott.G.Mandirola@wv.gov

USFS: mdowen@fs.fed.us

AMA/ATVA members get discount at Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort for GNCC Weekend

2009-01-15T10:44:00.001-05:00

http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=561

AMA/ATVA members get discount at Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort for GNCC Weekend Posted January 14, 2009 Email Print
Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort, in partnership with GNCC Racing, an AMA-sanctioned National Championship Series, is offering a 10 percent discount for AMA and ATVA members during GNCC Weekend, set for Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 at the resort in Snowshoe, W. Va.

All racers, friends and family with an AMA or ATVA membership card will receive 10 percent off room rates, lift and lodging packages by simply showing their card at check-in on Friday. Snowshoe will also offer special rates on activities at the Big Top Welcome Reception later that night. The discount is valid for all AMA and ATVA members, regardless of whether they are competitors in the GNCC series.

"I think it's a great opportunity to introduce the people who have been here in the summer to our winter operations and it's a great venue to do that," said Brad Larsen, director of marketing for Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort. "At the same time, GNCC is going to be making some of their announcements and there's no better place to hear what's new for GNCC this year than at Snowshoe where one of the marquee events is going to happen in June."

On Saturday night, Snowshoe will offer snowmobile tours of the mountain. Two tours will run, and the first nine GNCC members in line for each tour will ride for free.

The largest ski resort in West Virginia, Snowshoe Mountain Resort sits at 4,848 feet elevation with 60 slopes and trails, and 12 which are open for night skiing. With 180 inches of average annual snow fall and 100 percent snowmaking capabilities, Snowshoe offers winter activities for any age with snowmobiling, snow tubing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and terrain parks. And after a long day on the slopes, folks can warm up with a hearty meal at one of the village's many restaurants and coffee shops.

"Racer Productions is excited to have this opportunity for our racing families to get together for a non-racing function," said Tim Cotter, Snowshoe GNCC event director for Racer Productions. "We appreciate Snowshoe Mountain Resorts extending this invitation to AMA Members."

The 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series begins with the Parts Unlimited River Ranch GNCC in River Ranch, Fla., which runs Feb. 18 through March 3. The Moose Snowshoe GNCC takes place June 27-28. For more information, go to www.gnccracing.com.
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Snowshoe celebrating its 35th anniversary in true wintry fashion

2009-01-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

Snowshoe celebrating its 35th anniversary in true wintry fashion
Saturday, January 10, 2009
By Larry Walsh
The first overnight guests at Snowshoe Mountain were a hardy bunch.

If they didn't want to -- or couldn't for a variety of reasons -- drive more than 30 miles to find lodging, they just pulled up a piece of floor in the Shavers Centre and sacked out for the night.

That was in 1974 when I rented an unheated back bedroom in a one-story frame house in Slatyfork, W.Va., put a wrapped heated brick under the covers at the bottom of the bed and wore long underwear, ski socks and a ski hat to stay warm until I fell asleep. In the morning, I hurried my chilled body and frigid nose to the center of the house where heat radiated from a big potbelly stove and humidity bubbled from an oversized kettle of hot water that sat on top.

Cost: $8 a night, including breakfast and dinner prepared by the in-house owner, Dorothy Reynolds, one of the finest cooks and bakers anywhere. I gave her $15 -- she said it was too much -- and I should have paid more.

Snowshoe is celebrating its 35th anniversary this weekend with a one-of-its-kind experience for 35 guests -- free lodging in the Shavers Centre. The centre was the original day lodge and the only remaining building from the resort's opening in 1974.

Spokeswoman Laura Parquette said the 35 guests were selected on a first-come, first-served reservation process, and that many are active members of the regional ski site: www.skisoutheast.com.

So how will they bunk down?

"I have experience in outdoor winter camping, being that I'm a Scout Leader, and shall be taking a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad. This should suffice for the weekend and will be comfortable," wrote TAH of Acworth, Ga.

"I'm going to bring one or two sleeping bags, a pillow, perhaps a foam mat or egg shell and the air mattress will be in the truck if none of the above are enough," added DK of Raleigh, N.C.

"I am taking an air mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, laptop, MP3 player, Wi-Fi enabled smartphone, two DSLR cameras plus lenses, two pair of skis, and one snowboard. You know, just the essentials," quipped BC of Rainbow City, AL.

In addition to flooring down for the weekend, the group will have dinner tonight at the Backcountry Hut, a rustic cabin that offers a five-course menu and panoramic views.

The "campers" will enjoy some of the best snow conditions of the season. The resort, which has an extensive snowmaking system, has received 105 inches of natural snow, including more than a foot this week.

Snowshoe was founded by the late Tom Brigham, a dentist by profession but ski-area developer by preference who also founded Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain in North Carolina. It now has 14 lifts serving 60 slopes and trails on more than 220 acres. After a series of owners and a history of financial problems, Snowshoe now is owned by Intrawest, which bought it in 1995 and has invested millions to make the four-season resort the pre-eminent winter playground of the Southeast.

The village, perched at an elevation of 4,848 feet, has 1,800 lodging units -- from hotel-style rooms to chalets that sleep more than 20. It also has 20 restaurants and bars.

The six-mile access road to the village from Route 219, once a combination of dirt, gravel and ruts that unnerved guests more than the black diamond trails and sometimes kept them on the mountain overnight, was paved years ago. And flatlanders have learned that snow tires -- or four-wheel drive vehicles -- are a necessity in the winter.

For more information, go to www.snowshoemtn.com or call 1-304-572-1000.

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Snowshoe Mountain offers escape from Obama inauguration

2009-01-10T22:30:00.000-05:00

Now this one made me laugh!!!

Snowshoe Mountain offers escape from Obama inauguration

When Dean Martin belted out Volare, he sang " . . . way up in the clouds. Away from the maddening crowds." Well Snoeshoe Mountain in Snowshoe, W. Va., may not exactly be up in the clouds, but it will certainly give you a chance to evade the crowds exepcted to swarm D.C. around inauguration time.
According to the ski resort, "Snowshoe has seen more than 100” of snow already this season, and skiers and riders can access the region’s most open terrain for starting at just $129 per person for two night lodging and two days of lift tickets, January 19-21. Why deal with the traffic, the crowds and the craziness of D.C. when you can experience a real “change” from your every day routine at Snowshoe?"

"Snowshoe is already offering 52 trails, and with more snow and cold in the forecast, they may be able to increase terrain in time for the inauguration. Either way, you can be sure Snowshoe will be offering the MOST open terrain in the region. Even if you’re not a skier or snowboarder, or you have family members who aren’t, Snowshoe is a great escape. You can enjoy your family-friendly 5-lane tubing hill, tour the slopes on a guided snowmobile ride, soak in a mountaintop hot tub, play video and arcade games inside the Big Top entertainment facility, or just relax with a glass of wine and one of our Rimfire sunsets…that’s the kind of change everyone benefit from! At this can’t beat price, Snowshoe truly is the best escape in the region."

For more info: Call 877-441-4386 to book your trip, or visit www.snowshoemtn.com.

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Land deal will preserve forest near Snowshoe

2009-01-03T11:06:00.000-05:00

Land deal will preserve forest near Snowshoe
By Paul J. Nyden
Staff writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Nature Conservancy and Snowshoe Mountain Resort announced an agreement Monday to protect and restore 233 acres of high-quality red spruce forestland near the popular resort and ski area.

Nature Conservancy spokesman Randall Edwards said the agreement is the first conservation easement implemented in West Virginia to meet requirements of a Habitat Conservation Plan.

"Under conservation easements, a private landowner relinquishes some of his development rights on the property," said Thomas Minney, the Nature Conservancy's central Appalachian program director.

"In this case, the land will be undeveloped. It will be left as a forest. There will be some use of trails for light recreation, such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and educational programs," Minney said. "It will preserve a very nice example of a red spruce forest, near where the Cass Railroad goes up to the town of Spruce."

The Snowshoe property is adjacent to 60,000 acres of land owned by the U.S. Forest Service.

Red spruce forests have become top priorities for preservationists in recent years, in part because their inhabitants include threatened and endangered species.

The newly protected forestland, near the headwaters of Shavers Fork and the Cheat River, is home to the rare West Virginian northern flying squirrel and the federally endangered Cheat Mountain salamander.

Ed Galford, Snowshoe's vice president of mountain operations, said, "Snowshoe is very proud to be a part of one of West Virginia's first Habitat Conservation plans.

"By designating this portion of the resort for permanent conservation, we ensure our next generation of guests will continue to enjoy this amazing natural setting, as a site of both conservation and recreation like skiing and hiking."

The Nature Conservancy has already protected nearly 110,000 acres in West Virginia, including 60,000 acres of red spruce forests.

The Conservancy often works with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the West Virginia Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.
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Early Season Gives Ski Areas a Lift.

2008-12-07T10:14:00.001-05:00

By Joe Miller

You'd think that a weak economy would have the Southeast ski industry worried about whether skiers and snowboarders will have enough money to hit the slopes this season.

In fact, says Gene Brothers, an associate professor at N.C. State University who closely follows recreational tourism, the economy may be just what the industry needs after a couple of mediocre years.

"People in a tight economy tend to pick places that are close to home," says Brothers, who is in the university's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

"When it comes to skiing, people around here, with gas prices what they are, aren't going to be taking a trip out West this year. They'll be skiing close to home."

Based on the cold and snowy start to the 2008-09 Southeast ski season, that's not such a bad thing.

"It's been phenomenal," says Mike Doble, longtime Southeast ski analyst and owner of SkiSoutheast.com and SkiNC.com. "We're off to the best start ever."

Consider:

* Southeast ski areas believe they are off to a good start if they open for Thanksgiving weekend. This year, 10 of the region's 18 resorts met that goal. One, Cataloochee Ski Area at the base of the Great Smokies in Western North Carolina, opened Oct. 31.
* Through Dec. 1, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, the Southeast's largest ski area with 60 trails, had received 65 inches of natural snow -- more than a third of its average for the typical season.
* Appalachian Ski Mountain near Boone had opened as much terrain by Thanksgiving as it usually does by mid-December.
* Virginia's Wintergreen Resort, the closest ski area to the Triangle, originally planned to open this coming Friday. Even though the weather hadn't been quite as cold as in West Virginia and North Carolina and the area hadn't received as much natural snowfall, the resort bumped up its opening to Nov. 29.

Scary economy be danged. Skiers and snowboarders have turned out in record numbers.

"We were shocked by the number of people we had Thanksgiving weekend," says Laura Parquette, communications director for Snowshoe. "Numbers-wise, it was our best Thanksgiving ever."

Record early snowfalls and an unusually long spell of early cold trump economic woes, according to Kim Jochl, marketing and events director at Sugar Mountain near Banner Elk. Jochl is the president of the Southeast Ski Areas Association.

"Historically," Jochl says, "the ski industry has been fairly recession-proof. It's not the economy that is most challenging, but rather the weather. It's our greatest asset and our most challenging obstacle."

So what will you notice withing the region this season?

Subtle things, says SkiSoutheast.com's Doble. At Ski Beech, for instance, management reshuffling has already affected how snow on the mountain is managed.

It may seem odd that snow is managed at all. But considering that the vast majority of snow on the region's slopes is manufactured, snow management can make the difference between a smooth ride down the mountain and a battle with "death cookies" (chunks of ice) and bare spots.

In the off season, Beech invested in two new Piston Bully grooming machines and hired a pair of snow groomers who grew up near Beech but have been honing their skills in Colorado.

"We're already getting e-mails about how much better the snow there is this year," Doble says.

At Sugar Mountain, ongoing efforts to blow more snow onto the mountain have continued. According to Jochl, the resort upgraded 3,000 feet of snow-making pipe this summer.

Look for more snow this season on the expert Tom Terrific run and other terrain near the top of the Yellow Lift (renamed the Summit No. 1 Lift).

Wintergreen has updated its snow-making, adding more energy-efficient fan guns that should help open more terrain earlier.

Snowshoe, which two years ago added three trails and a lift in its South Mountain area, hasn't added terrain this year, but it has made one popular run more enjoyable. For years, a dogleg in the Upper Cupp Run threw a rhythm-jolting kink into the trail, which boasts a 1,500-foot vertical drop, the greatest in the Southeast.

Some trees were removed over the summer and that kink is gone. Also: A midway unloading station has been added to the lift serving Upper Cupp and the rest of Snowshoe's advanced Western Territory.

Snowshoe has also instituted a 72-hour cancellation policy for lodging. Previously, if you wanted to cancel a reservation you had to do it at least two weeks out.

And in a curious twist of marketing, you can buy a season pass at family-owned Appalachian this year and use it to pay half price for a lift ticket to Snowshoe. Granted, $450 for an adult season pass to Appalachian may seem steep. But ski enough weekends at $37 -- half of Snowshoe's $75 ticket for Saturdays and Sundays -- and the pass becomes more attractive.

NCSU's Brothers says you might want to jump on such deals while you can. "It's all a matter of supply and demand."

Continued cold and snow, coupled with low gas prices and an economy that discourages a trip out West, will only make the Southeast ski experience more attractive.

"As soon as they see that things are going great," he says, "the rates might go up. It can happen almost on a nightly basis.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Runaway Tiger at Snowshoe/ Pocahontas County

2008-12-04T08:32:00.001-05:00

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200812010424
Runaway tiger killed in Pocahontas County
By Staff reports

The owner of a tiger on the loose in Pocahontas County put the animal down Monday afternoon, said Hoy Murphy, spokesman for the state Division of Natural Resources.

David Cassell of Cass found the tiger and killed it, Murphy said. He was not sure where or how the animal was killed Monday. He was waiting for a conservation officer's report.

While Murphy said the snowmaking crew at Snowshoe Mountain Resort saw the big cat on Monday morning, resort spokeswoman Laura Parquette said the tiger had not been seen on Snowshoe's property.

"They're looking for it in Cass, on the other side of the mountain," Parquette said.

Cassell, who works at Mountain Lodge on Snowshoe Mountain, was trying to find the animal and tranquilize it, Murphy said earlier in the day. Security personnel at Snowshoe were also looking for the animal, he said.

"We have a conservation officer on his way there now. ...Normally this isn't the kind of wildlife we deal with," Murphy said Monday afternoon.

Cassell had a permit for the animal, he said.

In May 2006, an Asian brown bear owned by Cassell escaped into the wild after someone cut the lock to its enclosure. The 400-pound bruin has not been seen since.

Meanwhile Monday, skiers and snowboarders took advantage of a fresh coating of snow that dusted the 26 trails now open at Snowshoe Mountain.

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Founder of Snowshoe passes away

2008-12-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

2/02/2008
Print this story Print this story
Where It All Started
MetroNews
Snowshoe, Pocahontas County

Without him, there would likely be no Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

A Memorial Service for the man credited with leading the development of the Pocahontas County resort was held this past weekend in Decatur, Georgia.

Doctor Thomas 'Doc' Brigham died last month at the age of 83.

Brigham was a dentist who also liked the outdoors.

He brought skiing to Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain in North Carolina and, later, to West Virginia. In 1973, he lead a group of developers focused on building ski slopes in the Mountain State.

The Skidder, Ballhooter and Cupp Run lifts at Snowshoe Mountain were built in 1974 and Cupp Run, the Resort's signature slope, was cut that year as well.

Brigham was sometimes called "The Father of Southern Skiing."

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Snowshoe Snowguns Blasting Into Winter

2008-12-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

Dec 2, 2008 Roger Leo, Associate Editor

Snow at Snowshoe Mountain. Snow at Snowshoe Mountain.

Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia combines massive snowmaking with smart marketing and proximity to skiers and riders.

Snowshoe was one of the first resorts to turn on its snowmaking equipment this season, beginning efforts Oct. 27, one of the earliest start dates for snowmaking in the Southeast over the past several years.

An early season winter storm then blanketed the Pocahontas County resort in nearly a foot of natural snow and, while temps warmed over the following weeks, the region is headed back to seasonal cold.

Snowshoe operators suggest the area's 60 slopes and 244 acres of skiable terrain offer skiers and riders a big mountain experience without the hassles and high costs of airline travel.

The resort has announced three Smart Ski Escape Packages, with budget-conscious travelers in mind, offering winter enthusiasts great deals including a relaxed 72-hour cancellation policy and free lift tickets for juniors. Prices on three-day packages start at $69 per person per night.

Snowshoe annually receives 180 inches of natural snow and an average of 130 days of skiing and riding a season.

On top of natural snow, Snowshoe has 100 percent snowmaking coverage in Snowshoe Basin, Western Territory, and Silver Creek areas, thanks to more than 400 snow guns, including 15 tower-mounted, fully automated, Techno Alpine guns added this season.

More than 40 miles of pipeline provide water and air to every slope. Snowshoe Mountain recycles water from the resort's 40 acre, 101 million gallon Shavers Lake to produce snow.

http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/4696/snowshoe-snowguns-blasting-into-winter

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2008-11-26T10:10:00.001-05:00

West Virginia Soaring Eagle Lodge Condominiums to Sell at Real Estate Auction

Last update: 10:02 a.m. EST Nov. 24, 2008
SNOWSHOE, W.Va., Nov 24, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- J. P. King Auction Company, the nation's leading auction marketing firm specializing in high-value properties, is selling seven Soaring Eagle Lodge condominiums at absolute auction, to the highest bidder in Snowshoe, West Virginia on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 1 p.m.
"The area features more than 60 trails and is considered one of the East's largest skiing and snowboarding destinations," said Craig King, president & CEO of J. P. King. "After a fun filled day, Soaring Eagle Lodge residents and guests can enjoy the quaint shops and restaurants that are within walking distance of the condominiums."
The condominiums feature two bedroom, two bath and open floor plans with designer furnishings, decorative lighting, gas fireplaces, slate tile floor, state-of-the-art technology. The kitchens come with granite countertops, jeweled glass tile backsplash and stained pine cabinetry. Most of the units offer incredible views from the balconies and patios. Residents and guests will have access to heated underground parking that is accessible by elevator and each condominium has a private ski locker. Resort rental programs are available.
Soaring Eagle Lodge is located just four hours from Washington D.C., Baltimore and Pittsburgh, nestled in the Allegheny Mountains atop Snowshoe Mountain in beautiful Snowshoe, West Virginia. The Soaring Lodge Lift, which is adjacent to the lodge, has a brand new Doppelmayr quad high-speed chairlift, providing ski in, ski out access to the entire mountain.
Located within Soaring Eagle Lodge, is the restaurant, Ember, a trendy and popular hotspot for Snowshoe residents and guests. The restaurant features an award-winning chef, impeccable service and extensive wine menu, the cosmopolitan atmosphere and cuisine are unparalleled.
Individuals interested in more information about the upcoming sale may contact J.P. King at (800) 558-5464 or visit the company's web site at www.jpking.com.
J. P. King, based in Gadsden, AL, is the nation's leading real estate auction marketing firm specializing in high-value properties such as condominiums, developments, superluxury homes, ranches and land. J. P. King has marketed upscale properties in 49 states and 6 countries with recent sales in California, Florida, Las Vegas, South Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, Montana and Alabama.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/West-Virginia-Soaring-Eagle-Lodge/story.aspx?guid={3FEEB8BB-AF0E-4033-A295-8A63133A1BBC}

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Video of Opening day at Snowshoe Mountain.

2008-11-26T09:57:00.000-05:00

Video of Opening day at Snowshoe Mountain.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Condos on Snowshoe Mountain to be auctioned

2008-11-26T09:23:00.000-05:00

Monday November 24, 2008
by The Associated Press

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. -- Seven high-end condominiums at Snowshoe Mountain Resort are going to be auctioned.

J.P. King Auction Co. spokesman Jose Boza says Soaring Eagle Lodge is conducting the Dec. 6 sale to reduce inventory, not because of financial problems or foreclosure related to the nation's housing crisis.

Boza says King deals with high-end properties and gives developers an option of selling quickly rather than relying on the traditional real estate market, where sales can take a year or two.

King says the Soaring Eagle condos feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, designer furnishings, slate floors and other amenities.

Soaring Eagle's Web site lists two-bedroom condos ranging in price from $516,950 to $562,798.

Snowshoe's ski season opened last Friday.

Condos on Snowshoe Mountain to be auctioneded

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Snowshoe Mountain Resort Begins Milestone 35th Winter Season

2008-11-25T10:08:00.000-05:00

Snowshoe Mountain Resort Begins Milestone 35th Winter Season
SNOWHOE, West Virginia -- Snowshoe Mountain Resort began its 35th winter season Friday morning with a 9 a.m. rope drop ceremony. Snowshoe announced last Tuesday that ski season would begin early this winter after the resort was hit with a powerful winter storm that dropped 31" of natural snow. The mountain was scheduled to begin winter operations on Wednesday, November 26, but moved up Opening Day due to amazing early season conditions on the mountain. Just in time for the official start of the season, another 3" of fresh snow fell overnight Thursday, providing the perfect power covering to Snowshoe's groomed slopes.

"The amount of snow we've received and the job that our snowmaking team has done is truly incredible," said Snowshoe President and GM Bill Rock. "Our team has worked extremely hard to allow us to open early, and Mother Nature couldn't have timed this epic storm any better. We're thrilled to offer some of the best early season conditions ever at Snowshoe."

Skiers and snowboarders were greeted with cold temperatures Friday morning as strong wind gusts had wind chills well below zero as the crowd lined up to make the first downhill treks of the season in West Virginia. With plenty of cold air to work with, Snowshoe's seasoned snowmaking team added several feet of man-made snow to what Mother Nature provided this week, accumulating upwards of 5-feet of snow on many of Snowshoe's slopes. The mountain opened 6 trails and 21 acres of skiable terrain for the hundred or so guests who made the trip for Opening Day. With $29 early season lift tickets available until Tuesday and snow in the forecast through Friday night, the mountain expects crowds to grow as the weekend continues.

Cold air should remain in the region for the foreseeable future, allowing snowmaking to continue around the clock. With all that snow, the mountain hopes to have 15 or more slopes open for Thanksgiving visitors next week. A welcome surprise, this November snow has Snowshoe boasting some of the best early season conditions on record, and puts the Pocahontas County resort in great shape for the remainder of the season. Not even a week into the season, Snowshoe has already seen more snow fall this year than any NC or VA resort received all last season.

For more details on all of Snowshoe's early season operations and reservations, visit www.snowshoemtn.com or call 1-877-441-4FUN.

http://news.alpinezone.com/42499/

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Snowshoe shows the way in W.Va.

2008-11-25T10:05:00.001-05:00

Snowshoe shows the way in W.Va.
The state will remain an attraction as long as it safeguards its beauty

THE auctions of 27 homes and condominiums at Snowshoe may show a temporary softening of the market for second homes. But it also underscores the huge boom in vacation homes in Pocahontas County.

The appraised values of these units ranges from $63,000 to $800,000.

The median value of a home in Charleston is now $127,700.

That the Snowshoe Resort has developed 2,200 housing units for use year-round is proof that West Virginia can be developed, in part, as a center for outdoor recreation - a place where people can enjoy the hills from the comforts of their second homes.

Since Intrawest Corp. bought the resort in 1995, it has invested more than $235 million to develop and upgrade its lodging, dining, retail shops, golf and ski areas.

Snowshoe is now the top employer in Pocahontas County, with 400 people on the payroll year-round and 1,400 during the peak season.

Considering that the county's population was 9,131 people in the 2000 Census, the addition of 2,200 housing units is simply amazing.

It should be encouraging to other areas of the state where recreation can be developed.

Snowshoe and its developers have an incentive to protect the hills, because the beauty of those hills is a major selling point for their housing units.

Said Bill Rock, president of Snowshoe Mountain and its Snowshoe Mountain Homes brokerage: "By and large we're confident in the resort. The homeowners have great confidence.

"We've had a great snow and opened a week early. All of the things that make Snowshoe attractive will be attractive in the long term. There are shoppers in the market and we are making sales."

If second homes can be sold in a down market off the beaten path as Pocahontas County, development can be done in other beautiful areas of the state.

But only on West Virginia's terms. The state's beauty is the attraction, and that must be preserved.

http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/200811260201

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Joe Steven's Says......

2008-11-23T14:55:00.000-05:00

November 20, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

DAVE LAVENDER

The Herald-Dispatch

It may not be the forecast you had in mind, but like Jack Frost himself, Joe Stevens can't help but smile when he sees an early icy blast of daytime temperatures in the 40s, and nighttime dips into the 20s.

President of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association, Stevens said the state's downhill and cross country ski resorts all received more than a foot of snow from the Tuesday storm that dusted the Tri-State.

Add to that frigid overnight temps in the 20s, a good 15 degrees below normal for this time of year, and you've got the perfect storm of conditions for the Mountain State's ski resorts to open ahead of schedule.

In fact, Snowshoe Mountain was set to open next week but will now open Friday with six trails and two lifts after receiving more than 35 inches of snow since last Saturday.

"The biggest thing is that with the snowfall at the resorts brings with it cold temperatures and with the cold temperatures round-the-clock snowmaking," Stevens said. "That is critical for this time of year when you have to have this kind of sustained snowmaking. When they've got the base down, if the weather cooperates, it could hang around the whole season."

With some of the best snow-making capabilities in the Southeast, West Virginia's four major downhill resorts' snow guns can cover a football field with 20 feet of snow per hour creating a man-made blizzard, Stevens said.

Other opening days for this year's ski season include: Timberline Resort on Dec. 4, Canaan Valley and Winterplace on Dec. 12.

In Wheeling, Oglebay, West Virginia's newest and smallest ski resort, is set to open some time in mid-December.

Stevens said the other thing this early cold blast does is to get people thinking about heading to West Virginia.

"When it is snowing in Ashland and Ironton, Huntington and Charleston, then people are saying, 'wow, winter is here, let's get the snowboards and skis out and get ready for when we're going later this year'," Stevens said. "It gives people that itch to get out and have some fun and it's not even winter. The official start of winter is a month away."

A great start couldn't come at a better time with a slumping economy that has driven down ski numbers across the southeast.

However, West Virginia's ski resorts have bucked that trend, staying constant at 800,000 ski visits last season, equal to the numbers of the year before.

Stevens said the steep drop in gas prices and great conditions are like the lead-off batter getting a triple.

"You think of baseball and you want the first couple hitters to get a couple hits to get things rolling," Stevens said. "This is good news, especially coming off last year when we had some challenging weather, but we dealt with it. I'd have to dig way back in the records to find a start like this. Especially at a time when people are really watching where they'll spend their money. If West Virginia has good conditions and with gas prices dropping, studies show people will spend money to have a good time."

Stevens, who worked for years at Snowshoe Mountain, said the resort will open with some 40 acres of trails open and some great deals including discounted $29 lift tickets available from Friday through Tuesday, Nov. 25.

"This is the best early season scenario we could have imagined," said Snowshoe President and General Manager Bill Rock in a release. "We're thrilled to be open earlier than expected and Mother Nature couldn't have cooperated any better, providing the best early season conditions possible."

A pre-winter wonderland

Here's a closer look at the upcoming ski season in West Virginia:

OPENING DATES: Snowshoe Mountain opens on Friday, Nov. 21, after 35 feet of natural snow since late October, and near round-the-clock snowmaking.

Other opening days for this year's ski season include: Timberline Resort on Dec. 4, Canaan Valley and Winterplace on Dec. 12.

In Wheeling, Oglebay, West Virginia's newest and smallest ski resort, is set to open some time in mid-December.

EARLY DEAL: Snowshoe has $29 lift tickets Friday through Tuesday, Nov. 25.

CONTACT: For more details on all of Snowshoe's early season operations and reservations, visit www.snowshoemtn.com or call 1-877-441-4FUN.

MORE ON THE WAY: Read a full-blown ski preview in the Sunday, Nov. 30, Life section of the H-D that updates you with the newest additions at West Virginia's five downhill ski resorts, as well as some great early season deals.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Vacation Rental Information HERE

2008-11-23T14:51:00.000-05:00

http://www.sprucerealty.com/snowshoe_vacation_rentals/snowshoe_mountain_lodging_rentals/wv_west_virginia/index.aspx

For your real estate and vacation rental and lodging needs at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, click the appropriate link above. From homes, cabins or ski in/ski out condos at Snowshoe Resort, RE/MAX Old Spruce at Snowshoe and Snowshoe Properties Management has the property you're looking for. Whether you're looking for a few acres of land to large farms, we'll find your property for you. One REALTOR is all you need to call, RE/MAX is your first and last stop. Pocahontas County, West Virginia is one of the most spectacular areas in the state, find out more by exploring the links above.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Ski Report

2008-11-23T14:49:00.000-05:00

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/joemiller/ski-report-for-112308

Despite the best pre-Thanksgiving ski conditions in memory — conditions have been favorable for snowmaking nearly round-the-clock for over a week and some areas have received up to three feet of natural snowfall during that time — only five of the Southeast's 18 ski areas have opened. Why is that? For the more resort-type areas — Timberline and Canaan Valley in West Virginia, Wintergreen in Virginia — they have a larger workforce to pull together, a workforce that includes lodging and more expansive food service to accommodate skiers and riders who intend to stay overnight. Places such as Ski Beech, Sugar Mountain, Cataloochee and Appalachian, on the other hand, focus more on the day skier and can open with more of a skeleton crew, especially when they only need to man two or three lifts.

Snow, snow, everywhere at Winterplace, but not a trail to ski.

Still, it's hard not to look at photos of conditions at ski areas yet-to-open and think, "Dang, I'd love to be busting through that powder." (Yes, there's actually power aplenty at several areas.) When might that powder busting start occurring elsewhere? Here's some quick insight into two areas popular with Triangle skiers and riders.

Wintergreen, Virginia. The closest ski area to the Triangle is also one of the most rewarding. It's got the requisite minimum vertical drop for a Southeast ski area — 1,000 feet — has the most sophisticated snowmaking system and has a well-designed mountain segregating beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. Initially, Wintergreen was planning a Dec. 12 opening. Then it started hinting that it might open Dec. 6. Today on its web site, Wintergreen reports that it expects to open The Plunge tubing park Thanksgiving weekend and possibly some skiing. Temperatures early in the week will climb out of snowmaking range, but will return, overnight at least, by midweek. Keep an eye on this one.

Winterplace, West Virginia. Another popular spot for Triangle skiers and riders — despite the fact it's in West Virginia, it's a relatively speedy four-hour drive, all on divided highway — they're still saying they won't open for another three weeks. They do, however, offer this hopeful out on their web site: "Anticipated Opening Date For The 2008 - 2009 Ski Season is December 12th, 2008 but, continue to check back for up -o-date information. Think Cold & Do Your Happy Snow Dance!" (Another good reason to snowboard: The Happy Snow Dance is so much easier in snowboarding boots.)

Meanwhile, Sugar drops the ropes on another trail today, bringing to 9 the number of slopes it has open. Ski Beech had some lift issues on opening day yesterday, but reports it spent the night under the hood and has lifts 1, 3 and 4 running swell for today. Runs open are Lower Shawneehaw, Powder Bowl, Freestyle and Play Yard. Cataloochee has three lifts serving eight trails and Appalachian is nearly completely open, with all lifts and seven of eight trails open. In West Virginia, Snowshoe Mountain, the only other ski area open in the region, still has six trails open.

Still waiting for the region's first terrain park to open, but with conditions remaining favorable for snowmaking this week (and for some additional natural snowfall), that's likely not far down the road.

For an in-depth report on ski conditions throughout the Southeast, visit skisoutheast.com.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Snowshoe Gets Early Snowfall

2008-11-23T14:48:00.000-05:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/15/AR2008111502515.html

Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia got an early 35th birthday present when nearly 10 inches of snow fell late last month. Video that was broadcast on the resort's Web site showed a mid-winter scene, snow hanging on tree branches, signs and roads, and, yes, trails painted white.

The natural stuff, combined with the man-made snow the resort is pumping out with 15 new snowmaking guns whenever it's cold enough, should allow Snowshoe to open Nov. 26. Early passes are on sale now.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Snowshoe opens ski trails

2008-11-23T14:46:00.000-05:00

Snowshoe opens ski trails
By The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Normally, Thanksgiving comes before the ski resorts open in West Virginia, but not this year. Snowshoe Mountain welcomed the start of the season Friday after 31 inches of snow fell recently.

Several dozen guests were greeted with six available trails and 21 acres of terrain. Spokeswoman Laura Parquette said the resort has seen more snow already this year than some resorts saw all of last season.

Many of the Pocahontas County resort's slopes had 5 feet of snow and freezing weather has allowed snowmaking to continue around the clock. Snowshoe hoped to have at least 15 slopes open for Thanksgiving visitors.

"The amount of snow we've received and the job that our snowmaking team has done is truly incredible,'' said Bill Rock, Snowshoe's president and general manager. "Our team has worked extremely hard to allow us to open early, and Mother Nature couldn't have timed this epic storm any better. We're thrilled to offer some of the best early season conditions ever at Snowshoe.''

Other West Virginia resorts are planning early December openings, including Dec. 4 at Timberline Four Seasons resort and Dec. 12 at Canaan Valley Resort and Winterplace Resort.

In North Carolina, Appalachian Ski Mountain opened Friday and Cataloochee resort planned to follow suit Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning through Friday night in West Virginia's highest elevations with up to 7 more inches of snow possible.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Snowshoe Mountain Opens Early!

2008-11-23T14:35:00.001-05:00

Snowshoe Mountain Resort Opens Early for 2008-09 Season
Discounted $29 Lift Tickets Offered for Friday, Nov. 21 Start

Special to Huntingtonnews.net

Snowshoe, WV (HNN) — Snowshoe Mountain Resort announced today the resort will open early for the 2008-2009 season on Friday, November 21. Snowshoe has received more than two feet of natural snow since late Saturday, and has added several feet of man-made snow with around-the-clock snowmaking operations, allowing the resort to open five days earlier than previously scheduled. With the best early season conditions on record, Snowshoe will open with 6 trails and 2 lifts on Friday. The resort will celebrate this early opening with discounted $29 lift tickets available from Friday, Nov 21 through Tuesday, Nov. 25.

“This is the best early season scenario we could have imagined,” said Snowshoe President and GM Bill Rock. “We’re thrilled to be open earlier than expected and Mother Nature couldn’t have cooperated any better, providing the best early season conditions possible.”

Snowshoe saw the first flakes of the season in late October and the resort has quickly accumulated more than 35” of natural snow. This snow, combined with the best snowmaking system in the region, has allowed the resort to pile up several feet of snow across most of its slopes. Long-term forecasts show more natural snow in the forecast, as well as optimal snowmaking conditions through early next week. Visit http://www.snowshoemtn.com for up to date conditions, trail reports, pictures, video, and special offers.

For more details on all of Snowshoe’s early season operations and reservations, visit http://www.snowshoemtn.com or call 1-877-441-4FUN.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

New mid Station for 08-09 on Western Territory!!!

2008-09-29T17:16:00.001-04:00

From the Snowshoe Page

The 2008-2009 season at Snowshoe is going to be one filled with special celebrations and new beginnings. This winter marks our 35th Season, and throughout the winter we’ll be honoring the occasion with extraordinary events, promotions, and even some giveaways. The period of December 12-21, has been marked as 10 days of Rediscovery. This time is an opportunity for our guests to truly experience what makes Snowshoe the site of so many unforgettable memories. Adult lessons and snowmobile tours will both be offered at a 35% discount throughout the 10 days. Guests will be treated to special film viewings, and on December 19th, Red Bull will throw Snowshoe a very special birthday party in the Connection Nightclub, and you’re invited! We hope this is a special time for old and new guests to experience the soul of Snowshoe, and make memories that will last for another 35 years—and beyond!

The holiday season, already a magical time at Snowshoe, will also feature our 35 Year Photo Retrospective display. This stunning collection of photographs will allow viewers to travel through Snowshoe’s history. A true trip down memory lane, guests will experience Snowshoe from its discovery through the growth and change that has brought it to where it is today; the mid-Atlantic and Southeast’s biggest and best winter escape destination. Throughout the display you’ll also hear from some of the key figures and biggest characters in Snowshoe’s history.

As Snowshoe strives to maintain its reputation as the biggest and best, we continue to make important improvements each season. This season we’ll add a new mid-station to the Western Express Lift. This will allow us to open 26 acres of skiable terrain on Upper Cupp Run and Upper Shay’s Revenge earlier in the season. We know our guests love these signature slopes, and we’re pleased to be able to let you experience the thrill of 1,500’ vertical feet more often this season. We’ve also installed new snowmaking equipment on these slopes, and removed the dog leg on the upper portion of Cupp Run, both of which will improve the skier/rider experience.

We look forward to a great season…Think Snow!

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

GNCC Race at Snowshoe 9/12-14

2008-09-10T08:25:00.001-04:00

September 12-14
GNCC Race

Resting high in the Allegheny Mountains, Snowshoe Mountain is the place to be in September as we host part of the largest off-road racing series in the nation. Racing starts on Saturday, September 13 and it will be one hot ticket, so make sure you get to the mountain early.

Kids: Camp 4, Ridgewood, Powderridge, Mountain Crest, Powder Monkey, Stemwinder, Wabasso, Leatherbark, Loggers Run and Top of the World.

Amateur & Pro: Silver Creek, Camp 4, Ridgewood, Powderridge, Mountain Crest, Powder Monkey, Stemwinder, Wabasso, Leatherbark, Loggers Run and Top of the World.

TENT CAMPING
There are no camp sites and there will be no tent camping permitted at this race event.

RV SPOTS
Due to the parking limitations at Snowshoe Mountain, the only RVs permitted on the mountain for this weekend will be the RVs for the racers.

A list of camping facilities can be found at the link below

http://pocahontascountywv.com/camping.aspx

SPECTATORS
If you plan on attending this event you will need to call 877-441-4FUN and book a room. There will be no tent camping or RV parking on the mountain.

We have plenty of lodging units and everything is in walking distance, so make sure to reserve your room today. It's the last race before the summer break, so make a vacation out of it!

SPECTATOR FEES
There will be a $15 GATE PASS for every spectator

REGISTRATION
To register for this race, please connect to www.gnccracing.com or call 304-284-0084

This race is produced by Racer Productions and hosted by Snowshoe Mountain

The AMA/ATVA-sanctioned Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. The 13-round race series stretches through the eastern US, starting with the season-opener in Florida in March and concluding with the season-finale in Indiana in October. The GNCC series is produced exclusively by Racer Productions, a Morgantown, West Virginia-based racing production company with over 30 years of experience in the industry.

Snowshoe Entertainment

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

9pm - Village Movie - Muppet Treasure Island - PG

Friday, September 12, 2008

11am - Water bracelets
2pm - All American cookout (edible craft)
3pm - Hemp braiding or bead bracelets
5pm - Homemade ice cream in a bag (edible craft)
6pm - Candy B-I-N-G-O-
7pm - Welcome the Mountain marshmallow roast

9pm - Village Movie - National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets - PG13

Saturday September 13, 2008

Adventure Activities
9:30-10:30am - Intro to Geocaching
10-10:30am - Intro to Downhill Mountain Biking
11-11:30am - Intro to Sporting Clays

Village Activities
11am - Prince and Princess crowns (craft)
1pm - Candy Airplanes (edible craft)
3pm - Dessert sushi (learn to use chop sticks) (edible craft)
6pm - Tie Dye T-shirts ($ 3.00)
7pm - Welcome the Mountain marshmallow roast

9pm - Village Movie - Transformers - PG

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Pocahontas County, WV - FACTS

2008-09-05T17:45:00.002-04:00

http://www.pocahontas.org/

The size of Pocahontas County is 941 square miles.

Pocahontas County has the highest average elevation of any county east of the Mississippi.

Pocahontas County has the largest concentration of public lands in West Virginia. Over 62% - totaling 349,000 acres - is either state or federal property.

Five State Parks and two State Forests provide more state owned land than any county in the state.

The county has more federal land than any county in the state - 312,000 acres.

More than 800 miles of hiking and biking trails are located in the county.

More than 1/3 of the Monongahela National Forest lies within the county. These 310,000 acres provide more than 500 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Pocahontas County has approximately 9,000 residents - one of the smallest county populations in the state.

More than one million tourists visit the county each year.

Five county Visitor Centers greet more than 100,000 people annually.

Pocahontas County has the most scenic byways of any county in the state.

The Highland Scenic Highway is the highest average elevated highway east of the Mississippi.

Pocahontas County is the Birthplace of Rivers as 8 rivers have their headwaters here. All water flows out of the county.

In total earnings and employment, the impact of travel and tourism is greater to Pocahontas County than any other county in the state.*

One out of every four jobs - the largest percentage in the state - is generated by travel and tourism.*

*WV Div. of Tourism Research

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

First Tracts

2008-09-01T17:55:00.000-04:00

See all of our listings for Real Estate in the Snowshoe Mountain and Pocahontas County region.

See all my other listings here:

First Tracts Real Estate is Snowshoe Resort and With offices in both Marlinton and Snowshoe, Pocahontas County’s hottest full service brokerage offers expertise in Snowshoe Resort Rental Management and the Buying and Selling of condominiums, town homes, detached homes, home sites, land and project consulting/management throughout the county. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, rent or just receive some Real Estate advice, First Tracts will always be happy to help.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

SEE ALL LISTINGS: CLICK HERE

2008-08-28T14:56:00.002-04:00

SEE ALL LISTINGS: CLICK HERE

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Oktoberfest at Snowshoe Sept 5-7

2008-08-25T09:26:00.004-04:00

As of Aug 25, the house is still available for this great weekend...book it now.

Link Oktoberfest

On September 6, Snowshoe Mountain will tap the kegs and celebrate the world's largest fair � Oktoberfest! Put on your best lederhosen, fill your bottomless stein with the finest from local breweries, dine on German favorites and dance the night away to Bavarian classics� Ompa!

Schedule

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

9pm - Village Movie - Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties - PG

Friday, September 5, 2008

6-10pm - Subaru Tailgate Party - Enjoy German brews, music on the Village Stage and kick the tires on a new Subaru.

9pm - Village Movie - Enchanted - PG

Saturday September 6, 2008

Adventure Activities
9:30-10:30am - Intro to Geocaching
10-10:30am - Intro to Downhill Mountain Biking
11-11:30am - Intro to Sporting Clays
1pm-2:30 - Backcountry Brew Hike

3pm-5pm - Village Beer Garden

6:30-10pm - Oktoberfest Main Event

9pm - Village Movie - Fred Claus -

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Snowshoe Mountain hosts Symphony Weekend

2008-08-24T16:04:00.001-04:00

Snowshoe Mountain hosts Symphony Weekend
Aug 20, 2008 @ 12:56 PM
By 2008/The Herald-Dispatch
Herald-Dispatch.com

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. — Always a magical weekend on the mountain, this year’s Symphony Weekend, August 22-24, marks the 18th year the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has made the trip to Snowshoe Mountain Resort. This season, the renowned Symphony will be joined by the West Virginia Butterfly festival, for a weekend of nature, music, food and craft.

Celebrating the monarch butterfly, this year’s festival will kick-off with a stunning butterfly release. After the opening ceremonies, guests are invited to tour the butterfly pavilion, filled with family-friendly exhibits and entertainment, as well as unique crafts and gifts. Following a Saturday filled with activities, the Festival will conclude with the crowning of the 2008 Monarch King & Queen and a second butterfly release.

Symphony Weekend begins with the Welcome Prelude Reception on Friday night in the beautiful Hearth Room at Soaring Eagle Lodge. Soaring Eagle provides amazing vistas of the surrounding area from an elegant setting, which for this event will be filled with the sounds of soothing classical music. Saturday’s picnic at The Boathouse at Shavers Lake is a chance to enjoy music surrounded by nature’s beauty. The WV Symphony will host their first performance in the stunning Expo on Saturday evening, followed by the delicious Masterpiece Cocktail Reception and Dinner. Sunday morning you can once again enjoy classical music at our Masterpiece and Encore Brunches, followed by the Symphony’s final performance Sunday afternoon.

This year's Symphony Festival is titled English Accents, and is all about the connection between music and language. Maestro Grant Cooper and the orchestra will explore the question: Since composers from all over the globe share variations of English as their common language, does their music reflect any commonalities and differences? Joining Maestro Cooper and the WVSO for this exciting musical journey will be violin soloist Linda Wang, as well as guest commentators Byron Adams (Professor of Music at the University of California – Riverside in Los Angeles, California) and Holly Watkins (Assistant Professor at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York). Drs. Adams and Watkins will join Maestro Cooper for Pre-Concert Conversations, lively discussions about the music that are open to all concert-goers, one hour before each performance.

For more information or to purchase tickets and/or lodging packages please call 1-877-441-4FUN. For WVSO information please visit http://www.wvsymphony.org/news.php or for a full schedule of the weekend’s events, as well as all of Snowshoe’s summer events, please visit http://www.snowshoemtn.com/.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Country Living puts Snowshoe house in decorating spotlight.

2008-08-24T15:41:00.006-04:00

Friday August 22, 2008
Country Living puts Snowshoe house in decorating spotlight
Home will be sold sometime after public tours end
by Monica Orosz
Daily Mail staff

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. -- In 25 years with Country Living magazine, Robin Long Mayer has visited a lot of states.

Country Living’s House of the Year is located at Snowshoe Mountain Resort’s Sawmill Village and is open to the public for tours on weekends. (Photo courtesy of Country Living)
She recently made her first visit to West Virginia - and can't believe it took this long.

"As someone who grew up in Pennsylvania, I can't believe I've never been to West Virginia," she said. "The countryside was beautiful."

Mayer, the magazine's decorating director, was part of the team that worked on Country Living's House of the Year project, an annual event in which the magazine teams up with a local builder to design and construct a showcase home somewhere in the country.

The magazine's name tells its obvious mission, so homes are typically built in scenic or rural areas of the country.

This year, West Virginia's Snowshoe Mountain got the nod, with a site selected at the gated community of Sawmill Village within Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

"We've been all over the country. I can't even count the number of houses I've done," Mayer said. "The first couple I did were in the Seattle area. We've been to New Hampshire, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Carolina, all over the place. But this is our first in West Virginia."

Starting today, the home is open for public weekend tours, which take place through Oct. 26.

Mayer's job was to gussy up the four-story, Arts and Crafts style house for a photo spread that will appear in the magazine's February 2009 edition. In addition, the DIY Network filmed the process for a show that will be aired in January.

"Normally, when we're shooting in August, we're shooting in some hot places," Mayer said. "There, the temperatures were in the 70s and it was delightful - it was a gift for us."

The entire magazine staff gets involved in the process, Mayer said.

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Country Living’s House of the Year is located at Snowshoe Mountain Resort’s Sawmill Village and is open to the public for tours on weekends. (Photo courtesy of Country Living)
"Our home building editor gets involved from the get-go," she said. "She works with the editor in chief to figure out what style of home it will be and the location."

Sawmill Village's covenants dictated the basic style of the home, which was built by A&G Luxury Homes of West Virginia, but the magazine's staff works out fine details, including color scheme and interior details.

"We start the building and then the editor and I start talking about what inspires us this year, color and looks," Mayer said. Her inspiration for the interior was capturing a cozy and wintry feel. Craftsman David T. Smith created furniture and cabinetry that looks old.

"His attention to detail is amazing," she said.

Mayer decorated select rooms for the photo spread.

"It's kind of sad, because some of the things had to be taken away after that," she said. "So members of the public won't see it all."

The home is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 26. Tickets are $5, with proceeds going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For information, call Sawmill Village at 877-372-9645 or visit www.sawmillvillage.com.

The home eventually will go on the market for sale.

Contact writer Monica Orosz at mon...@dailymail.com or 304-348-4830.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Sanctuary on www.dcski.com

2008-08-24T15:37:00.002-04:00

Sanctuary on www.dcski.com

The Sanctuary at Snowshoe Mountain
Located in Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia

Brand New for the summer of 2007, this beautiful 5 bedroom, 4 bath home at 11 N Westridge Road, sleeps up to 20. This home can easily accommodate 3-4 families and kids. 4 private rooms and 2 separate kids rooms gives you the ultimate in flexibility for your vacation/family reunion or even a business meeting.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Take the video tour!!--- www.mountainsnowshoe.com

2008-08-23T18:16:00.003-04:00

Take the video tour!!--- www.mountainsnowshoe.com

CALL: Nate Fisher for more details at 614-657-7998 or email Nate

New August 07- State of the art design and function with great views. Custom kitchen w/granite tops and stainless appliances. Sleeps up to 20! Over $40,000 in gross rental in the past 12 months!!

Ext Features: Exterior features: Deck, Hill/mountain view, Private sewer srvc, Public water supply, Valley view, Hill/mountain view, Approximate lot is 150' x 300'
Appliances: Oversize Commercial Grade stainless
Comments: 6 total bedroom(s) incl/ den, 4 total bath(s) 2 total three-quarter bath(s), Approximately 4000 sq. ft.,Two story, Fireplace(s),Heating features: Propane, Interior features: Carpet, Clothes washer, Dishwasher, Disposal, Fireplace(s), Microwave, Range and oven, Refrigerator, Tile flrs, Wood flrs, great rental potential, 8 person spa + spa in master bath. Does not include furnishings.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

The Basics about the home

2008-08-20T17:04:00.000-04:00

This Snowshoe Mountain Resort home is for sale or for rent. THE SANCTUARY, 11 N. Westridge Road, Snowshoe, WV 26209 consists of 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 car garage, and overlooks the 5th hole of the Raven Golf Course, Shay's Revenge and is 1 mile from the Village. Completed in July of 2007, it is a must see luxury home. There are just too many amenities to list on the front page, please take a minute to look around and find out how this fabulous home could be yours. Over $40,000 in rental revenue!

www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Snowshoe Mountain hosting its 9th Food, Wine and Jazz Fest

2008-08-05T09:30:00.001-04:00

Link

Snowshoe Mountain hosting its 9th Food, Wine and Jazz Fest

Aug 05, 2008 @ 03:08 PM
By 2008/The Herald-Dispatch
Herald-Dispatch.com

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. — Snowshoe Mountain is preparing for another elegant and delicious weekend. The annual Food, Wine and Jazz Festival, which will take place Aug 8-10, has quickly become a classic regional event and one of Snowshoe’s most popular summertime gatherings. Now in its 9th year, the Taste of the Mountains attracts some of the top wine providers from around the world, as well as providing delicious food offerings and wonderful live jazz entertainment all weekend.

Now in its second year, the Friday evening Dessert and Champagne reception is a delectable addition to this event. This season the gathering finds a new home in beautiful Soaring Eagle Lodge. One of the resort’s most luxurious accommodations, Soaring Eagle provides breathtaking vistas from an elegant setting. After an ideal start to the weekend, guests can study-up on the perfect glass of wine during Saturday afternoon’s tasting seminars. Held for both red and white wine, the seminars are a great way for first-time tasters to get the most out of the weekend, or for experienced tasters to brush up on profiles and pairings.

Saturday night’s main tasting event is a spectacular arrangement of more than 100 wine providers and delicious edible options. Held in the spacious Expo, this event is 100 percent weather-proof, ensuring the elegant live jazz entertainment won’t be disturbed by Mother Nature. After the event’s signature Grand Tasting, the fun continues at Snowshoe’s newest establishment, Moonshine. Live jazz will continue until 10pm, while guests enjoy the distinctive West Virginian ending to the night. Sunday morning’s classic brunch offering concludes this tasty weekend.

In addition to the weekend’s delicious food, wine and jazz offerings, this weekend will also serve as the grand opening event for Sawmill Village, the mountain’s newest community. This gated, ski-in/ski-out neighborhood of luxurious single family homes has more than 30 home sites available, all providing breathtaking views from their mountaintop location. Sawmill Village is also home to the 2009 Country Living Home of the Year, which will debut later this summer. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Snowshoe Mountain Homes at 1-888-489-1943.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, August 8
Taste of the Village - 5pm-9pm - Enjoy dinner at any of the Village restaurants and taste wines paired with delicious dishes unique to each eatery.

Dessert & Champagne Reception – 8pm-10pm – Now in its second year, this get-together is a delight for anyone's sweet tooth. This soiree will highlight mouthwatering desserts presented by local restaurateurs, while the Bob Thompson Unit performs their signature jazzy hits. Plus, champagne will be served to attendees throughout this casually elegant affair

Saturday, August 9
White Wine 101 Seminar – 12pm - 1pm - Begin your weekend by educating your palate on the finer points of white wine. Wine experts will be present to lead you through this casual tasting.

Red Wine 101 Seminar – 1:30pm - 2:30pm - Attendees of this wine seminar will enjoy both delicate and bold wine samples. Regional wine purveyors will help you uncover the profiles of a perfect glass of red.

Grand Tasting Event – 2pm-6:30pm – Connoisseurs relish this happening for its massive scale of offerings. Guests can mingle with wine distributors showcasing over 100 different wines from around the world. Delectable edibles will balance the wine offerings, and the entire venue will be set to a jazzy atmosphere with live entertainment all evening.

Moonshine Soiree- 6:30pm-10pm - Don't let the party end after the Grand Tasting! Hop over to our newest watering hole, Moonshine, for spirits and the sounds of jazz singer Barbara Martin.

Sunday, August 10
Sunday Brunch – 10am - 1pm – Sleep-in after your night of food, wine and jazz and awake to brunch at the Junction.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!

Create WV Conference Oct 20-22

2008-08-03T09:38:00.000-04:00

We still have this weekend open at the house, book it now!

Link: Create WV Conference offered at a discount
Aug 20, 2008 @ 12:00 AM
The Herald-Dispatch

Vision Shared Inc. invites community leaders from across West Virginia to attend the Create WV Conference at a discounted rate until Sunday, Aug. 31.

The conference will be held Oct. 20-22 at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. It seeks to empower communities to expand and improve their economies through cultivation of the creative and high-tech industry sectors.

"Create WV is a unique opportunity to bring people together from all walks of life to learn how to reshape West Virginia's future," Juliet Terry, president of Vision Shared, said in a press release.

The event will feature a mix of hands-on workshops and presentations covering topics such as talent, technology, education, diversity and quality of place. It is expected to draw more than 300 attendees to learn more about new jobs and opportunities in today's wired, global and innovation-driven environment.

Those who register to attend the Create WV Conference on or before Aug. 31 will receive a 34 percent discount. The normal price for the two-day event is $349 per attendee. The special "early bird" price is $229.

For more information about the Create WV initiative or to register for the Create WV conference, visit www.createwv.com.

Vision Shared is a community and economic development nonprofit organization that bridges social, economic and political gaps to work on issues affecting West Virginians. Visit www.visionshared.com for information.

http://www.mountainsnowshoe.com is the place for your Snowshoe Mountain Resort Real Estate info on rental and for sale homes and condos!