By Abigail Kreinheder
Holiday Valley is one of the most visited ski resorts in Western New York, attracting skiers and snowboarders from across the region and beyond. Recently, Stuart Winchester from The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast sat down with one of the great minds behind Holiday Valley’s evolution.
The Storm Skiing Journal was started by Winchester as a way to return to the basics of skiing; the resorts. Winchester highlights the latest news in the industry and scopes out conversations with ski industry leaders to get an inside look at operations. “Everyone’s searching for skiing’s soul. I’m trying to find its brains.” Says Winchester.
Winchester’s episode #117 with Holiday Valley President and General Manager Dennis Eshbaugh talked about an array of topics that just might make one want to know more. Eshbaugh shared his story, insights, and thoughts about the future of Holiday Valley.
Eshbaugh has been with Holiday Valley since 1974 starting out as a ski instructor and eventually was promoted to the Ski School Director in 1979. In 1989 he became General Manager and then eventually took on the role of President in 1995. Needless to say, he really knows what Holiday Valley is all about.
Under his leadership, Holiday Valley transformed into what we know and love about it today. He has overseen many new projects including lift upgrades, trail developments, and lodging improvements. There are 290 acres of skiable terrain with 13 chairlifts, 60 trails, 95% snowmaking coverage, five lodges, two hotels, the Double Black Diamond Golf Course, Sky High Adventure Park, a mountain coaster, and more.
Holiday Valley seeks to provide the best for its customers and continues to do so. This summer the Mardi Gras High Speed Quad will be taken down and replaced with a High Speed Six Pack lift.
Each year, Eshbaugh has invested in improving the quality and experience of skiing at Holiday Valley, which has proved to be effective as it is one of the busiest resorts in the state.
Holiday Valley has followed a similar plan year after year to yield progress and continue growing. In the past, the Western New York ski industry relied on lake effect snow and had minimal snowmaking technology, but as the industry took flight, Holiday Valley jumped on board by following a structure of “lift upgrade, snowmaking upgrade, building upgrade, repeat,” said Eshbaugh.
Winchester said, “Holiday Valley thrived because it kept moving. It is widely considered one of the best run ski areas in America and it has stayed strong and popular.”
SKI Magazine reader survey continuously places Holiday Valley in the top 10 in the east. In ’21 the were rated #2 and most recently #6. “We’re always glad to be in the illustrious top 10 especially being the only ski area under 1000 vertical feet that makes that list”, said Eshbaugh.
The podcast entertains the dramatic weather we have all seen this winter season that has posed challenges for the snow dependent industry. “I am really impressed with our ability to respond to the weather cycle and provide good skiing,” said Eshbaugh.
The podcast touches on the past struggles and achievements of Holiday Valley during these times of inconsistent weather, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent labor shortages, and competition from other resorts. Despite the challenges, Eshbaugh underscores Holiday Valley’s capability to be flexible and adapt.
At the end of the day, Holiday Valley still operates with the same goals in mind, to provide the best experience for their customers and always looking to improve. With that in mind, Holiday Valley’s history is up front and center in everything that they do today. The goals have not changed, but the methods have in order to stay relevant in today’s skiing universe.
After the pandemic, “It seems that we’ve retained the people that reentered skiing and started skiing for the first time and we’re holding onto them.” Said Eshbaugh.
The skier and rider loyalty can be accredited to the established culture of Holiday Valley. Holiday Valley is focused on the product and quality to provide the best experience possible. While the resort offers top-tier skiing, the family orientated and community feel makes the mountain a unique winter destination that makes people want to return to, year after year.
The vibrant ski culture Holiday Valley has cultivated took years to build. Holiday Valley has developed tremendously since its opening in the winter of 1957-58 but is still grounded in many of the same values and goals.
“Stay true to who you are and be proud of what you’ve accomplished”, said Eshbaugh.
Holiday Valley continues to bring guests in from all over the east coast and stays relevant by providing high quality skiing, customer service, and by doing its part to help foster a true skiing community in Ellicottville New York. The resort has remained true to its goals and is proud to be such a favorable destination.
The future of Holiday Valley was arguably the most interesting topic brought up on the podcast episode. Winchester asked Eshbaugh about his visions for the future of skiing at Holiday Valley and beyond. He spoke on matters of climate change, technological advancements, demographics, and innovations. He ensured that Holiday Valley will continue to improve for generations to come and is very optimistic about the future of the resort.
Winchester concludes his interview by asking about the future landscape of Holiday Valley. “Is the footprint of Holiday Valley ski area built out?” Said Winchester.
Holiday Valley wants to continue providing new trails for their visitors, but there are no concrete plans for that yet. This year the focus seemed to be more directed at the RFID implementation and responses to the new changes.
Holiday Valley seems open to the new skiing trends such as the RFID, but what else is to follow? This preludes the question of whether or not Holiday Valley will remain independent or if it is inevitable that they will merge into the skiing conglomerate. At this time Holiday Valley plans on keeping its course as an independent ski resort.
The interview between Winchester and Eshbaugh for The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast was recorded on Feb. 13, 2023. It can be found online at The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast website or on Apple Podcasts.