Resort Spotlight: Holiday Valley
Holiday Valley Continues to Reinvest
More snow guns, renovated lodging, and activities for everyone!
Dropping temperatures and falling leaves mean one thing: ski season is almost here! Dash Hegeman, Director of Marketing at Holiday Valley, is eagerly counting down the days until November 29th, Holiday Valley’s Opening Day (weather permitting). For over 65 years, locals and visitors alike have made incredible memories on Holiday Valley’s 60 slopes and trails, making it a favorite destination among skiers in the East.
Importantly, Holiday Valley is a four-season resort, and Hegeman said it’s been a busy, fun summer. “We've had a fantastic summer filled with great golfing, Sky High Aerial Park adventures, hiking, mountain biking, fun-filled events, and so much more,” said Hegeman. With the change in season comes a palpable sense of excitement in the village of Ellicottville, and he is optimistic about Holiday Valley’s upcoming winter season.
NEW FOR THE 2024-2025 SEASON
Hegeman noted that Holiday Valley’s Mountain Crew has been hard at work to ensure there is plenty of snow to enjoy soon! He explained, “The Mountain Crew has worked very diligently this past summer to make our snowmaking system even more efficient and powerful than ever before. Twenty-three new snowmaking guns have been installed on Mardi Gras, which will make one of our flagship slopes an even better experience.”
Holiday Valley has two ski-in, ski-out hotels on the property: The Inn at Holiday Valley, with traditional hotel rooms and suites, and the Tamarack Club, with traditional hotel rooms, as well as single and multi-bedroom condominiums. Hegeman noted that this season, “Year two of a three-year project to renovate and update rooms in The Inn at Holiday Valley and the Tamarack Club is being completed so lodging guests will have that to look forward to.
LESSONS, EVENTS AND MORE
For those who are new to snowsports, Holiday Valley is a great place to get started! The resort offers private lessons and group lessons (adults and children) for newbies, beginners, and those looking to expand their skills. “As a former snowboard instructor, I often recommend to people, no matter what their skill level is, that they should take an early season lesson,” said Hegeman. “Our Snowsports team is filled with incredible instructors who have a lot of training and experience coaching people to maximize their on-snow skills. It's a good way to get your ski legs back under you and potentially learn something new that you can work on throughout the winter to make you even better out on the slopes.” To learn more about Holiday Valley’s Snowsports School, visit holidayvalley.com/lessons.
Hegeman added, “I'm looking forward to an incredible lineup of events that take place throughout the winter - from things like Demo Day on December 14th, to Canadian Friendship Week January 6-10th, to Telestock with The City Garage on February 28th, to The Boardroom Banked on March 2nd. There are so many different things for people to come check out; the events really add to the overall guest experience.”
NOT A SKIER? NOT A PROBLEM!
Hegeman noted that one of the many nice things about Holiday Valley is that there’s something for everyone. He explained, “For people who don't ski or snowboard, we have the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster, which is always a winter thrill. We have the Tubing Park, located just a handful of miles away from the resort, where family fun is abundant! There's dining at Edna's at the Tamarack Club, hanging out at one of our many bars in our three lodges, shopping at either of our Mountain Shop locations, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and of course, visiting all of the shops and restaurants in Ellicottville.”
MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY VALLEY PLANS
When it comes to preparing for the upcoming season, Hegeman said planning ahead is the best bet and will even help you save money, whether it’s booking lodging or getting a season pass. He advised, “Holiday Valley has some very affordable pass offers with our Ultimate Pass options that allow people to get a good amount of skiing/riding in throughout the season at a very reasonable rate. There are options that start at just $178 and max out at $328. Those rates do go up after November 1st though, so the time to get your Ultimate Pass is now.”
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
While different ski areas in western New York each offer something unique, Hegeman noted that all have the similar goal of helping people develop a true love of sliding on snow. What sets Holiday Valley apart? For Hegeman, who grew up on the slopes of Holiday Valley, it’s all about investment in infrastructure.
“Each year, millions of dollars are reinvested into the resort in order to make sure that guests are getting a great experience,” Hegeman said. “Five of our 13 lifts are high speed lifts, which help allow people to maximize their time out on the slopes. Last winter we opened the Mardi Gras 6, the first high speed 6-Pack lift in this region. The snowmaking system here is truly amazing and allowed us to get 115 days of skiing and riding in last season, despite the fact that it was a very low natural snow year for this area.”
For more information about Holiday Valley, visit www.holidayvalley.com and make sure to follow the resort on their social media channels (@holidayvalley).