Recent snow allows WNY ski slope to stay open
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ELLICOTTVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Warmer weather in recent weeks have given way to frigid temps and snow the past few days allowing for one local ski resort to happily stay open well into March.
Holiday Valley Ski Resort was open this weekend after mother nature along with their snow making efforts allowed the slopes to be powdered longer than usual.
“I saw the weather and saw that they were going to be getting some snow leading up to this Saturday, so I thought it was a great chance to get out,” said one snowboarder.
Holiday Valley Ski Resort Director of Marketing Dash Hegeman tells me the last few weeks leading up to Saturday have been tough.
Seeing other local ski resorts like Kissing Bridge and Peek’n Peak turning off their snow makers and closing for the season, however it’s something Holiday Valleys snowmaking and grooming teams only briefly considered.
“Mother nature didn’t give us a whole lot to work with this season and so when we had this opportunity to make snow, the decision was made quickly to fire the guns back up. This year more than ever they’ve really had to be flexible and just roll with the punches so hats off to them. They’re a fantastic crew and really the lifeline of this resort,” said Hegeman.
Hegeman continued saying this is the latest in the year that Holiday Valley has ever made snow at this scale, which is great for local business.
“Ellicottville in general is a ski town so being able to extend the ski season as much as possible, allows the bars, restaurants and shops downtown to be able to capitalize on that,” continued Hegeman.
Winter sport enthusiasts on the slopes Saturday were equally ecstatic about the snowy weather.
“To hear that some snow had fallen, and that they were making snow it was great. We’re Buffalonians, Western New Yorkers, so throw the snow at us let’s get down here and ski,” concluded Jay Anderson from Amherst.
Hegeman concluded by saying he hopes that the slopes will be open till at least April 7, as long as this weather keeps up.
Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.