Counting Down to Opening Day
Counting Down to Opening Day
Think Snow While We Wait for Our Favorite Local Ski Resorts to Open for the 2023 Season
The wait is almost over as we count down the days until Opening Day at our favorite ski resorts, Holiday Valley and HoliMont. With temperatures dropping by the day, we wait to see some snow packed slopes, with our skis and snowboards ready by the door.
Holiday Valley and HoliMont both offer a wide range of snowsport amenities and whether you’re familiar with one or both, we can all agree that we’re here for the winter fun.
Hoping that Mother Nature is on their side, Holiday Valley had plans to open November 24th, and HoliMont anticipates opening on December 16th. Let’s dive into each resort and check out what we can expect this upcoming winter season.
HOLIDAY VALLEY
Speaking with Holiday Valley’s Director of Marketing, Dash Hegeman, we talked about their ambitious Opening Day and the hopes on making that happen. “The plan every year is to open the day after Thanksgiving if the weather allows. Based on the current forecast, that might be difficult this year, but right now we are staying optimistic because our incredible Snowmaking Team is ready to spring into action as soon as the temps are cold enough to start making snow. And we all know that they can do a lot of work in a very short amount of time once they fire up the snow guns.” This is great news for anyone looking to get an early start to the season with friends and family in town for the holiday.
Holiday Valley expects the opening week to be filled with lots of excitement as guests are welcomed back to cut into their favorite slope on some fresh snow. You’re sure to notice some new features this year after a summer investment of $9 million went into the resort. During the off-season they were on top of everything; most apparent is the brand-new Mardi Gras 6 lift. This incredible addition is one of the main networks of 13 lifts and is a big wow factor for the upcoming season. There’s also been some new features added to the Terrain Park; with a fresh set-upt, it’s a must for anyone looking to add to their trick set.
With 60 slopes to choose from and plenty of events mixed along the way, you can’t go wrong spending a day at Holiday Valley. Hegeman shares in the excitement. “We live in a great area with an abundance of awesome things to do and Holiday Valley happens to have a lot of winter options for people of all ages and demographics. We’ve got an event lineup that melds fun on and off the slopes. From our Saturday afternoon après music series in the Tee Bar to Demo Day to the annual Penguin Paddle to closing out the season with Pond Skimming, there are so many different ways to make memories here at Holiday Valley.”
If you can’t get enough of all that Holiday Valley has to offer, go for the two-day weekend pass and cover as much ground as you can! They offer night skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, kids and adult lessons, the Sky Flyer mountain roller coaster, and a hidden fort equipped with a slide for kids (and the kid at heart). These are only some of the many activities you can find here, with many more to be explored, including the snow tubing park (located just a few miles east of the village of Ellicottville). With onsite accommodation at The Inn or The Tamarack Club, Holiday Valley is a winter wonderland that has to be experienced for yourself!
Opening day is anticipated for November 24th at Holiday Valley, but keep tabs on their website (holidayvalley.com) and social media pages, FB & Instagram (@holidayvalley) for additional updates and announcements.
HOLIMONT
As North America’s largest private ski resort, HoliMont welcomes the public to enjoy their stellar snow conditions on weekdays. They anticipate their opening day to be December 16th and have spent the off-season making behind-the-scenes updates to improve their already impressive club.
Jennah Bradley, Marketing Director of HoliMont, gave us an idea of what to expect for the start of the winter season. “The opening week at HoliMont is always a thrilling time for our club. Members who we haven’t seen since last season are flocking in to collect their picture passes, preparing for snowsports programs, and reconnecting with each other, catching up on everything that has happened since we were all together at the club last spring. It’s like a long-awaited family reunion filled with an infectious sense of excitement!”
It looks to be an exciting year for HoliMont; their teams spent the summer adding new underground water pipes to the hills, which is expected to enhance and increase their snowmaking capabilities to the next level! They also re-designed the Member and Guest Services along with the ticket office, to better handle customer experiences and allow for more space and ease when starting a day on the slopes.
HoliMont offers 700 vertical feet of snow, 56 trails, and 7 chairlifts to get you to all of your favorite slopes. The private ski club offers an array of amenities to meet each and every snow sporter’s dream. They do offer memberships for those looking to indulge in exclusive weekends of open inclines, but HoliMont also welcomes anyone to come check out the resort for themselves during the week, Monday through Friday. Guests are encouraged to experience skiing, snowboarding, racing, or even a class to take advantage of what we hope to be a great winter season.
HoliMont plans for a snow packed season filled with winter fun, so check out their website at HoliMont.com to stay up-to-date with events and announcements.
Mark your calendars for the opening days at Holiday Valley and HoliMont so you can enjoy Ellicottville’s top winter attractions and watch our ski town come to life. We hope for a fun and safe winter season to all