From Staff Reports
The Tribune-Democrat/Cumberland Times-News
March 23, 2009 11:56 pm
—
Downhill is looking up.
With ski season coming to a close, resorts in the region say that lift ticket sales rose over the winter.
“It was really a strange year. Our lift ticket sales were probably up 35 percent,” said Doug Houck, in his first year as general manager at Blue Knob All Seasons Resort.
“People were skiing but not as much (staying) overnight, probably a direct reflection on the economy,” he said. He said overnight stays were down substantially.
At Wisp Resort in McHenry, however, sales overall seem to be up, according to Lori Epp, director of marketing. She said that there has been an increase of 4 percent in revenue this year compared to last and an increase of 7.5 percent in skier visits.
Weather permitting, the slopes should be open for three more weeks, she added, so final tallies are not yet in.
The hotel seems to be noticing an increase in room nights, though the resort still relies heavily on the vacation rental market.
“Early on in the season, I think many skiers were not thinking of going on a trip out West to one of the resorts there,” Epp said. “They are skiing locally or taking a shorter vacation instead of a week-long ski vacation.”
Epp believes that Wisp’s other amenities and activities, such as snow tubing and the mountain coaster, have helped to ensure the increase in visits this year.
Seven Springs likewise found the slopes busier.
“At the end of January, we’re up 10 percent from the previous year,” said Anna Weltz of the resort’s marketing department, terming the increase great news.
“I think a lot of people in our area decided to forgo the big trip east, to Vermont, for instance, or out West,” she said from the resort in Champion, Pa.
“You could come out here for two or three weekends for what you’d pay for a weekend out West.”
Weltz said she understands that supplemental business — lodging, restaurants, bowling and the like — was on par with last year.
Seven Springs has not decided on the season’s closing date for skiing. Last year, skiing at Seven Springs ended April 10.
Houck knows he cannot take on Seven Springs — the big kid on the block — in providing an overall experience.
“Seven Springs does a tremendous job of marketing apres-ski (after ski) ... restaurants, bowling,” he said. “To try to become what everyone else is would cost tens of millions.”
Houck’s strategy, which apparently paid off this year, is in taking care of the slopes through appropriate snowmaking and grooming. Quality over quantity.
“In the past, people would say, ‘Great terrain, but it’s icy,’” he said. This year, word of mouth was positive.
“I talked to my friend in Cleveland and he said the conditions were phenomenal, so that’s why we’re here,” Houck said, giving an example.
He boasted a bit about the terrain at Blue Knob, saying it has received an award from Snow magazine for having the best skiing hills in the mid-Atlantic and Southern region.
Bob Duppstadt of Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort also was upbeat.
“We had a very good year. Our visits and business levels are up over last year.”
He attributes the good season at Hidden Valley to improvements that were made during the summer, including better snowmaking equipment, a new chairlift and a revamped food area.
Duppstadt also singled out the resort’s reasonable pricing as a draw.
“Money’s tight, and a lot of people are facing a lot of challenges these days,” he said.
Hidden Valley was closed last week, but reopened for the weekend. Duppstadt said the slopes now have a base of 10 to 36 inches.
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