The Beat

Ellicottville, NY – With an eye on the future, Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY is planning construction a 6-passenger chairlift starting in the summer of 2022, with completion of the lift in September 2023. The new lift will replace the Mardi Gras Express, a 4 passenger high speed lift built in 1996 that runs up through the heart of the resort. According to Holiday Valley’s President and General Manager, Dennis Eshbaugh, “The Holiday Valley lift system has been recognized by our guests as one of the best in the East. The Yodeler Quad Express lift built in 2021 raised the bar. The Mardi Gras 6-pack will give skiers and snowboarders an exciting new experience, with quicker access to the top of the mountain.”…

Orange County, N.Y. (January 13, 2022) – Don’t let the winter pass without taking the opportunity to glide down snowy slopes or across an icy pond or rink in Orange County, N.Y. From gentle beginner slopes to thrilling expert black-diamond runs, mountains in the county offer fun for skiers, snowboarders and tubers of all levels. Skaters can take to the ice at an indoor or outdoor rink or, when conditions permit, on a frozen pond.

Jamesville, N.Y. - The SKI NY Passport Program-Kids Ski Free* is back for the 2021-22 Season and is available now. Applications are being taken all season. This year the pass is valid 7 days a week except for holiday periods at certain ski areas as noted.

The program offers free skiing for your third and fourth graders with an adult purchase, it can be used up to two(2) times per participating ski area. A valid adult ticket purchase is one on the ski area website or at the ticket window and includes season passes as well. It does not include rentals or lessons.

Register for the Random Drawing for Lift Tickets at Participating New York Ski Mountains and Resorts Here 

Children Ages 5-11 Who Receive Their First Vaccine Dose or Anyone Who Has Received a COVID-19 Booster Eligible   

Choice to Ski in the Eastern or Western Part of the State   

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the new 'Ski for Free' Covid-19 vaccine sweepstakes is now open for children ages 5 to 11 and booster shot recipients. The six-week sweepstakes - the first drawing of which will be on January 4th, 2022 - is intended to bolster vaccination rates among children ages 5-11 as well as individuals eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster dose. Eligible New Yorkers will be able to enter a random drawing for free lift tickets to participating mountains and resorts, thanks to Ski Areas of New York and the Olympic Regional Development Authority. You can enter any time to win here. …

Ellicottville, NY (November 30, 2021) – Holiday Valley’s President, Dennis Eshbaugh announced today their 64^th winter season will begin on Friday, December 3^rd, weather permitting. Hours are from 9AM to 4:30 PM with 4 lifts open: Yodeler, Mardi Gras, Tannenbaum and Creekside and approximately 6 trails. Limited services and beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain will be available. Night skiing will start on December 10.

Looking to Maintain Increase in Skier Visits and Revenue from 2020/21

Jamesville, NY (November 29, 2021) – SKI/NY, a New York State-based organization that promotes skiing to first-time and life-long skiers and riders, saw an incredible increase in ski ticket sales in 2020/21 – and hopes to keep the momentum going this ski season.

During the winter of 2020/21, ski areas in New York State marshalled to provide safe socially distancing guidelines to keep customers safe and on the slopes. Overall, ski areas across the state saw an additional 300,000 skier and rider visits to its ski areas, a 27% increase over the previous season’s numbers. This increase represented a total of four million visits, putting New York State third in the nation for overall skier visits behind Colorado and California. From a tourism economics view, the ski industry and supporting hospitality services represent 14,000 jobs in New York State alone.

Ski Areas Making Millions in Investments to Enhance the Skier and Rider Experience

Jamesville, NY – Ski areas in New York are investing in their mountains to improve snowmaking and grooming performance as well as making the ski and riding experience better for all. You’ll see why New York State has the best snowmaking in the world!

SKI NY’s Passport Program for 3^rd and 4^th Graders has returned and is now accepted seven days a week at over 20 participating ski areas. With this program kids can get a free lift ticket with an adult purchase, and they can use the program up to two times at each participating ski area. A few ski areas will accept the program anytime too! A $41 processing fee does apply. Go to iskiny.com for more!…

Lift tickets are on sale now at westmountain.com

New programming including freestyle development program and mogul course on go-go; expanded terrain park on banister. safe operations & reduced indoor capacity

Queensbury, NY--- West Mountain is ready to kick off its 2020-21 season, opening this weekend, Saturday, December 19 for skiing and riding! West Mountain has been blowing a lot of snow to prepare for opening. The snow tubing park will open on December 26.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our guests this winter to enjoy the outdoors”, said Sara Montgomery, General Manager of West Mountain. “With so many families at home doing virtual learning this year, getting on the mountain and getting exercise will be a much-needed activity and escape!”…

Ellicottville, NY. (Dec. 7, 2020) -- Thanks to Mother Nature’s cold temperatures and snowmaking technology, Dennis Eshbaugh, the President and General Manager of Holiday Valley Resort announced today that the 2020-21 winter season will begin on Thursday morning, December 10th, 2020.

This most recent run of snowmaking has taken place since Saturday on over 12 of Holiday Valley’s 60 slopes, with up to 245 snowguns running simultaneously. As of 11:00 AM Monday morning, over 144 acre feet of snow has been made. (An acre foot of snow equals one acre covered by a foot of snow). In order to open the slopes, the newly made snow needs to “cure” for a period of time, then be spread over the slope by grooming machines to make a smooth skiing surface.

Ellicottville, NY -- Holiday Valley Resort has announced plans to construct a new chairlift in 2021. The new lift is a state of the art high speed detachable quad chairlift that will replace the fixed grip Yodeler Quad, built in 2001. The new lift will be supplied by Doppelmayr USA, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Including installation, the cost of the new Yodeler High Speed Quad is $4 million. 

As compared to the existing lift, the chairs travel uphill at a much faster rate, but they detach from the cable and go slower for loading and unloading, making it much easier for skiers to get on and off the lift. Holiday Valley currently has 3 other detachable chairlifts; Mardi Gras, Tannenbaum and Morning Star.