SNOWSHOE, West Virginia — Snowshoe Mountain Resort will be dropping the ropes and opening the mountain this Thanksgiving Day, November 23. In its 33rd year in the snow business, the region’s largest resort expects to host hundreds of skiers and riders looking for first tracks in the area this Thursday.

A massive snowmaking effort has been underway around the clock since Friday November 17, making it possible for the region’s leading resort to open for skiing and riding in time for the holiday. Snowshoe Mountain expects to open 6 slopes on Thursday including Skidder, Heisler Way, Powder Monkey, Lower Whistlepunk, Cross Cut and Spruce Glades. The three lifts anticipated to be open are Skidder, Powder Monkey and Grabhammer. The Spruce Glades Terrain Park will also be open for skiers and riders to get in those early season tricks. Weather permitting, the Silver Creek area will open for the season on December 15, along with night skiing and the Ruckus Ridge Tubing Hill.

“Our folks are confident and it is time,” said Snowshoe’s Director of Mountain Operations, Tex Ritter. “It is cold outside and we’re ready to roll.”

The 2004 – 2005 Winter Season saw nearly 170 inches of natural snowfall for a season that lasted 129 days, the most in the region. With 1,500′ of vertical terrain and an average of 180″ of natural snowfall each year, it’s easy to see why eastern skiers and snowboarders make the trek to the West Virginia resort for their seasonal snow fix.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort is made up of two distinct mountains which skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of using one lift ticket. In all, Snowshoe Mountain Resort offers 57 trails and 13 lifts, including a new, high-speed quad, Soaring Eagle Express, which replaced the old fixed-grip Widowmaker Lift. Again this year, the lifts will open at 9 a.m. and stay open until 4:30 p.m. Once open, night skiing will be available every evening until 9 p.m. at the Silver Creek Area. Free shuttle services connect both areas.

Whether it’s the longest slopes, the three high-speed quads or the most technical terrain parks south of New York and east of the Mississippi River, Snowshoe Mountain has what every skier and rider in the region is looking for, that big mountain experience, close to home. For more information on Snowshoe Mountain Resort or to make plans to visit this winter, visit www.snowshoemtn.com or call toll-free at 1-877-441-4FUN.