Timberline Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Ski Resort Employees Struggle For Housing Even After Large Investments

Timberline Mountain Ski Resort General Manager Thomas Price made a presentation Sunday before the legislative Joint Commision on Economic Development.

He said when the Perfect North Slopes company out of Indiana purchased the bankrupt Tucker County property three years ago, the infrastructure was nearly useless.

“We took three old chair lifts off the mountain and replaced them with brand new technology. One is a high speed, six person detachable chairlift, the first one in the state,” Price said. “We made a real statement that this was going to be a mountain that everybody could trust and that they should come and see. We spent almost $9 million on chairlifts, the rest was in lodge improvements, parking lot improvements, and a lot of snowmaking equipment.”

Price said, with state support, Timberline has made upwards of $20 million in capital improvements. He said the resort has an in-season workforce of 250 with a $6 million payroll output over the past three years.

He said there’s a challenge for his employees to find affordable housing anywhere near the mountain.

“It’s really tough when the cheapest house you can find is $500,00,” Price said. “We’re surrounded by so much forest service land, federal lands, that there really isn’t a whole lot of development that’s going to happen in the county.”

Price said completing the Corridor H project will encourage area growth and housing availability.

“I think it is really going to be one of the keys to making some of the towns like Elkins or even Buckhannon just a lot closer, right into our back door,” Price said. “I think that could really fix a lot of the housing issues that we currently have.”

Price said Perfect North Slopes is also interested in managing or consolidating with the neighboring Canaan Valley Resort.

“They have been struggling in the last few years to really put out a product that can compare with ours,” he said. “We think we could do a great job with that ski area and I think it could really complement what we have going on in the valley.”

Cold Snap Proves Hot For W.Va. Ski Industry

The holiday period for the state's five ski resorts runs for three weeks – the weeks before, during and after Christmas.

Right now, the Mountain State’s ski areas are in the thick of their most profitable season. Joe Stevens, executive director of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association, said the holiday period for the state’s five ski resorts runs for three weeks – the weeks before, during and after Christmas.

“For all five resorts open right now, Winterplace in Raleigh County, Snowshoe in Pocahontas County, Canaan Valley and Timberline in Tucker County and the Oglebay Resort in Ohio County, this is a critical time,” Stevens said. “About 35 percent of the yearly budget comes into the resorts and the surrounding areas during that three week period.”

Stevens said the bitter cold snap last week did not slow down the resort crowds. He said some slope operations at a couple of the resorts were suspended due to the high winds and the windchill factors. But he noted the frigid conditions were also a blessing in disguise.

“The cold temperatures allowed the snow makers at all the resorts in West Virginia to really make snow around the clock,” Stevens said. “That’s what West Virginia ski resorts are known for, snowmaking capabilities. Due to the cold snap, West Virginia is offering the most open terrain of any state in the southeast region.”

Stevens said snow and slope conditions are at their peak right now.

“Conditions right now are excellent for any skier, snowboarder or snow tuber. The bases are quite strong,” Stevens said. “All the resorts are opening up additional terrain each day. In fact, Timberline is 100 percent open now and all the resorts are at least 85 to 90 percent open.”

Stevens said for those who may not seek the thrills of skiing, snowboarding or tubing, there is a more grounded but still adventurous way to enjoy the winter mountain scenery.

“For folks that might want to try out snowshoeing, there’s a couple of areas,” Stevens said. “Blackwater Falls in Tucker County, Whitegrass Touring Center in Tucker County and Elk River Touring Center in Pocahontas County all offer snowshoeing. That would also be a fun way for the whole family to get out and see the beauty of West Virginia during this time of year.”

West Virginia ski season traditionally goes from the Thanksgiving holiday week until the end of March, sometimes into the first week of April. Stevens said upwards of 800,000 visitors come to West Virginia every year for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. He said those winter adventurers make an annual $250 million economic impact to the state’s coffers.

Timberline Uses Crowdfunding to Raise Money for Improvements

Timberline Four Seasons Resort is using crowdfunding to raise money for improvements.

The Tucker County resort launched an online crowdfunding on Tuesday at www.snowfunding.com. The goal is to raise $75,000 in 65 days.

Timberline CEO Fred Herz tells The Charleston Gazette that the resort sees crowdfunding as a way to engage customers in its activities and planned undertakings.

He says crowdfunding gives customers a sense of belonging and participation.

Money raised by the crowdfunding will help pay for upgrading the ski lodge, hotel rooms and a terrain park.

Other planned improvements include additional hotel rooms and 40 new snow guns.