Even Mother Nature chipped in to hail Saturday’s opening of Laurel Mountain Ski Resort in Ligonier Township by dropping more than 6 inches of snow this week atop the Laurel Ridge in Westmoreland County.
“We’re definitely ready to go. We have a few crews there (Friday) morning working on some finishing touches on the slopes,” said Katie Buchan, spokeswoman for Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain ski resorts. “The cold weather has certainly helped us with our snowmaking this year.”
The resort’s website reported the snow base in some areas of the slopes is already 38 inches, which is good news for skiers and snowboarders.
It will be the fourth consecutive season the resort has been operated by Seven Springs, located in Somerset County. Seven Springs also owns nearby Hidden Valley, also in Somerset.
The other two resorts opened Nov. 23.
Laurel Mountain hours this week are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday. After the Christmas holiday, regular operating hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. will resume.
Although the slopes don’t open until 9 a.m. Saturday, Buchan noted that the resort’s Wildcat Lounge is holding a “Skiing Eve” Party beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.
“We’re having special events all day Saturday, with a DJ and prizes being awarded,” she said.
Even local business owners are looking forward to the opening, such as Kathy Moore of The Country Cupboard, a country store along Route 30 in nearby Laughlintown. She said stores along the base of the mountain enjoy the spike in business traffic.
“We always look forward to the opening of Laurel Mountain Ski Resort. We carry the original wool Moriarty ski caps made in Vermont that a lot of skiers come in for,” Moore said.
Buchan reminded skiers and snowboarders to check the Laurel Mountain Snow Report each morning for information about the day’s snow conditions and available terrain.
More information can be found at www.laurelmountainski.com.
