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SNOWSHOE, W.Va. - Snowshoe Mountain is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a couple of terrific gifts - a generous early snowfall and plummeting gas prices that have encouraged travel.
Despite unseasonably warm temperatures last weekend, the resort had already benefited from more than 90 inches of natural snowfall this year, said Laura Parquette, communications manager for Snowshoe.
"We didn't get to this point last year until February," she said. "We opened on Nov. 21, five days earlier than we planned. We had three feet of snow and we said, 'We can't let this go to waste.' "
Temperatures are expected to be back to normal this week, with snow showers predicted for Wednesday and Friday - just in time for New Year's crowds.
Skiers may be living through some tough economic times, like everyone else. But will that prevent them from indulging in their winter passion? Snowshoe hopes not.
"If skiers want to ski, they'll find snow to do it," Parquette said. "Obviously the economy is something we are watching, but we haven't seen a downturn in our bookings."
Snowshoe plays host each winter to about 650,000 visitors, and that number has been holding steady over the past few years.
And Parquette suggests times of economic downturn could actually work in the resort's favor.
"People are used to taking vacations. It's part of American life," she said. "They may be cutting back on the extravagance and types of vacations, but they are still going to travel. And they may be staying closer to home.
"At Snowshoe they can have the big mountain experience without having to get on a plane and fly to New England," she said.
Gas prices have plummeted just in time for the winter ski season. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $1.72, according to AAA's weekly fuel gauge report. That's down 21 cents from a month ago and more than half from summer.
"And the lower gas prices go, the happier we are," Parquette said. "Now they can just fill up their tank once, and certainly that's a good thing for us.
Snowshoe further tempts the hesitant with new cancellation policies - within 48 or 72 hours instead of the former two weeks in some packages. And a retooling of some ski packages includes ski-free offers for parents and tykes, too.
"We are trying to make it easier for people to take those ski vacations," Parquette said.
Snowshoe has 2,200 lodging options, ranging from hotel rooms to a nine-bedroom home. And those units are often filled to capacity.
The resort celebrates 35 years in business this year. Some galas have already taken place surrounding the Dec. 19 anniversary, and on the weekend of Jan. 9-11, Snowshoe will let skiers camp out for free in Shavers Center, the only original building left on the mountain. That event is booked to capacity.
They can also be treated to a four-course dinner at the backcountry hut, what Parquette calls a "little known gem." Two miles into the mountains, guests are transported there by a restored Army ambulance.
A New Year's party there is always a popular event, and the venue hosts a Valentine's Day party each season, as well.
In the village - a mountaintop collection of shops, lodging and restaurants - a photo exhibit of the resort's past 35 years is free and open to visitors from 5 to 8 p.m. each night in the Allegheny Springs building.
Things don't slow down any at Snowshoe around the holidays. It's actually the busiest time for the resort. "Christmas is one of the biggest check-in days of the year," Parquette said. "It's a really cool time to be on the mountain."
The forecast for Snowshoe is for colder temperatures and snow for the next two days. There are 51 trails and 13 lifts open. Contact writer Cheryl Caswell at
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