Snowshoe Mountain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Snowshoe Mountain | |
|---|---|
 |
|
 |
|
| Location: | West Virginia, United States |
| Nearest city: | Marlinton, Elkins, Lewisburg |
| Coordinates: | |
| Top elevation: | 4,848 feet |
| Skiable area: | 234 acres |
| Runs: | 57 |
| Longest run: | 1.5 miles |
| Lift system: | 14 chairlifts |
| Snowfall: | 180 inches per year |
| Web site: | snowshoemtn.com |
Snowshoe Mountain is the name of a mountain and of a ski resort located near Snowshoe, West Virginia, in the Allegheny Mountains. The mountain reaches an elevation of 4,848 feet (1,478 m), the second highest point in the state. Snowshoe is unusual among ski resorts in that its village is located at the mountain's summit, rather than at its base. Snowshoe has gained prominence, also, as a four-season destination, with extensive mountain biking trails, a popular golf course, and other summer outdoor activities. The resort is comprised of the Snowshoe and Silver Creek ski areas. About 480,000 skiers visit the resort each year, primarily visitors from West Virginia and the larger cities of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Contents |
[edit] Mountain
The Snowshoe area of the resort is located on Cheat Mountain. Cheat's highpoint is Thorny Flat, which reaches the resort's highest elevation of 4,848 feet. The resort makes up 234 acres (0.9 km²) in total, which includes the Snowshoe Mountain and Silver Creek areas; the mountains have a total of 57 slopes and trails and 2 trails (Cupp Run and Shay's Revenge) which feature a 1,500 feet (460 m) vertical drop. The mountain summit receives an average of 15 feet (4.6 m) of snowfall each winter.
[edit] History
Snowshoe Mountain opened to skiing on December 13, 1974. The area had been logged from about 1905 to 1960, after which it was virtually barren and abandoned. Thomas "Doc" Brigham discovered the mountain and believed it would be a good location to build a new ski resort. Brigham, a dentist from North Carolina, had previously opened the Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain ski areas.
The ski trails and lifts were given names that recalled the history of logging such as Grab Hammer, J-Hook, Ball Hooter, and Skidder. Two trails, Shay's Revenge and Heisler Way, were named for brands of gear-driven steam locomotives that ferried men and logs around the mountains during the logging era.
Although Brigham had high hopes for Snowshoe, the mountain went through a difficult first decade plagued by financial problems. Over the next several years, though, the resort's reputation and popularity would grow, and in 1992 it purchased the Silver Creek ski area which is just a half mile away.
The resort was purchased in 1995 by Intrawest, a Canadian ski-resort operator which specializes in creating or expanding commercial opportunities at its mountain resorts through village-style commercial and condominium real estate development. In 1999, Intrawest opened the Rimfire Lodge, its first development in what it called (at the time) The Wildcat Village. The village expanded rapidly, with additional condominium-hotel developments opening over the coming years, including Highland House, two phases of Allegheny Springs, The Seneca, and Expedition Station. Intrawest has also assisted developing areas "outside" the village, with the Soaring Eagle Lodge and Sawmill Village, both developed independently, slated to open soon.
