By Kate Bartlett
Autumn is in full swing, which means ski season is just around the corner. Holiday Valley and HoliMont have been preparing for the upcoming season with many improvements in addition to the usual maintenance in the off season. As usual, both are ready to make it the best season yet as they reflect on the last year.
Dash Hegeman, Director of Marketing, reports that last season was “a fun one.” Holiday Valley was able to hit their opening day goal, which was the day after Thanksgiving. “We hosted a lot of fun events throughout the winter including the Your Turn Women’s Ski Clinic with Lisa Ballard, Telestock sponsored by The City Garage, The Boardroom Banked Slalom and Pond Skimming. We also hosted off-snow festivities like our New Year’s Eve celebration, lots of après ski music, drink tasting events at the T-Bar and a very snowy outdoor Rail Rider Jamboree Music Festival. Mother Nature didn’t always provide us with ample amounts of snow but when the temps got cold enough, the amazing Holiday Valley Snowmaking Team stepped up and blanketed the resort with a snow surface that lasted into April so all-in-all it was a really fun winter here at Holiday Valley.
This season, the new Mardi Gras 6 will be the most noticeable addition to Holiday Valley. It is the areas first 6-Pack high speed chairlift and will allow the resort to move people from the base area to the top of Mardi Gras faster, where the crowd can disperse throughout the rest of the resort. “The Mountain Team began this work in the summer of 2022 by doing all of the concrete work for the lift towers that summer,” Hegeman said. “That initial prep work allowed the team to get a nice jump start on deconstructing the Mardi Gras Highspeed Quad and building the new lift this summer and will allow us to be running the new lift during this weekend’s Fall Festival, which we are very excited about.”
The resort also purchased a new PistenBully 600 groomer to add to their grooming fleet, which will help the overall slope maintenance and the daily skier/rider experience. As always, Holiday Valley has continued to reinvest in its snowmaking infrastructure. “Last winter was a prime example of why we do that year after year,” Hegeman stated. The Inn at Holiday Valley has embarked on a room renovation project where for the next 3 years, roughly 33 rooms a year will undergo an overhaul that will make the guest experience much more enjoyable. The Tamarack Club also renovated the guest entryway. “It looks fantastic and provides guests of the Tamarack Club a very nice space to lounge and relax by a fireplace.”
This season, skiers can look forward to a lot of good times at Holiday Valley. “The new Mardi Gras 6 lift is very exciting and is something that people should be thrilled to ride. There will be a lot of great events that will take place on and off the slopes. If Mother Nature doesn’t consistently deliver lake effect snow to this region then our guests should rest assured, knowing that our Snowmaking Team is phenomenal and goes above and beyond to make as much snow as possible as quickly as possible.”
infrastructure. HoliMont takes immense pride in their exceptional snow
conditions and grooming as well as their tight-knit community comprised of
families and lifelong friends.
Skiing and snowboarding in this area is what winter vacations are made of. “The Village of Ellicottville, in conjunction with the resort, gives visitors an authentic ski town experience that you’ll be hard pressed to replicate in other areas,” says Dash. “This sets us apart from some of the other larger ski resorts in the country. Combine that with the capital project investments that we undergo on an annual basis and you’ll quickly begin to understand why people keep coming back to Ellicottville, year-after-year for their winter vacations. And while we may not have the most elevation to work with, our terrain diversity really does offer something for everyone to go out and enjoy themselves on. Additionally, there’s always the possibility of the famous Western New York lake effect snowstorm. When that happens, there is no better place to be than trying to get first tracks on your favorite slope.”
Jennah Bradley, Marketing Director for HoliMont reflects on last season as another incredible year to remember. “We were thrilled to operate for a total of 114 days, December 17-April 9. Throughout the ski season, we proudly hosted the inaugural Ski 4 a Cure event, organized by HoliMont and the Ski Club of Lockport, to support Roswell Park Cancer Institute. This event was a tremendous success, and we are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting it again this year. Additionally, we are excited to continue our well-known, annual event, “Contractor’s Day,” which never fails to provide an unforgettable experience for all participants.”
Last season, HoliMont made significant strides in enhancing their snowmaking infrastructure. “This project that may have gone unnoticed, but played a crucial role in enabling us to produce more snow at an accelerated rate,” says Jennah. “This enhancement has undoubtedly contributed to the exceptional snow conditions we consistently offer, which is always a major advantage for our valued members and guests”
One of the most noticed improvements for this season is HoliMont’s brand-new Member/Guest services area. This new efficient space is designed to provide members and guests with a welcoming and cozy atmosphere, and houses the customer service desk and ticket sales.
HoliMont takes pride in conducting routine lift maintenance to ensure the optimal performance of all lifts. Additionally, they provide comprehensive training for staff, including lift maintenance, safety, snowsports, and even new computer software training. The resort also prioritizes routine hill maintenance to ensure they are fully prepared for the upcoming season.
HoliMont takes immense pride in their exceptional snow conditions and grooming. “We strive to create a destination where everyone can revel in the joy of skiing on the slopes, our social events, and everything in between. We are a tight-knit community comprised of families and lifelong friends. Whether you are a new member or just dropping by, you will always be embraced with open arms. It’s comforting to know that everyone here shares the same deep love and passion for the exhilarating sports of skiing and snowboarding. It is an atmosphere like no other.”
HoliMont’s anticipated opening date is Saturday, December 16th. Holiday Valley plans to open the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24.