The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • F. Brian Ferguson

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November 21, 2008

The PLACE to be

Winterplace preparing for 26th season

By Fred Pace

Despite Mother Nature dropping several inches of snow on Winterplace Ski Resort in Ghent, the popular tourist attraction continues making its own snow.

“We’re still making lots and lots of snow,” Terry Pfeiffer, the resort’s president, said.

Pfeiffer says plans are to open Winterplace for its 26th season on Dec. 12, but the date may be moved up if cold and snowy weather continues.

“We’ve opened as early as Dec. 6 and as late as Dec. 26,” he said. “The potential to open sooner than Dec. 12 is there, so we’re urging people to call us or visit our Web site to see if we move up our opening date.”

Right now, he said, the resort is in the dual processes of hiring staff and making snow.

“Snow is our insurance for success,” he said.

The resort improves its snow-making ability each year, according to Pfeiffer.

“We’ve added 15 fully automated snow-making machines to go along with our others snow guns and traditional air water guns,” he said.

Making snow is a combination of high-pressure water and high-pressure air, according to Pfeiffer.

“We have 15 fully automated snow guns, 120 fan snow guns, 75 energy efficient snow guns and 40 traditional air water snow guns,” he noted. “Our snow-making system is working to potential.”

Winterplace boasts 28 skiing trails and 16 snow-tubing lanes.

“We have the largest snow-tubing park in the state,” Pfeiffer said. “I’ve spoken with people as old as 90 years old who have gone tubing. It’s great for skiers and non-skiers.”

The snow-tubing park also has two carpet lifts that are like moving walkways to take riders back up the hill.

“They take you back to the top, unlike when you were a kid and had to walk back up the hill at your favorite sledding or tubing place,” he said.

Pfeiffer added that a Winterplace Gift Card makes the perfect gift for the skier, boarder or snowtuber.

“The phones are ringing and people are booking reservations,” he said.

For more information or to make reservations, call Winterplace at 304-787-3221 or visit www.winterplace.com.

Also, the Ski Shop in Ghent is offering discounts for people hitting the slopes this winter.

“People looking to head to Winterplace can rent skis boots and poles for the whole season,” a shop official said.

There is also the option to buy the skis in the spring at a discount, the official said.

Season rentals can be picked up on Dec. 1, according to the official, and packages are tailored for the individual, families and even church groups.

Reservations must be made before Dec. 15.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com

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