With more snow on the way this week, skiing and tubing slopes got their first help from man on Nov. 13 as resort employees began the layering process of building the snow base at Canaan Valley Resort in Davis, West Virginia.
The anticipated opening date for downhill skiing at Canaan is Nov. 29. “We’re getting a jump on winter so folks can take advantage of great skiing,” said Cary Sponaugle, director of sales and marketing at this Tucker County destination.
US Hotel and Resort manages the state park operations and plans new amenities and outdoor recreation options in addition to introducing visitors to the new 160-room lodge, food services, new beginners slope and “magic carpet” at the Tubing Park and ski slopes.
Canaan Valley features 43 slopes and trails with a summit elevation of 4,280 feet and a vertical drop of 850 feet. There are five lifts, a free-style Terrain Park, 8-lane Tube Park, and a covered outdoor ice skating rink. The resort has snow making capabilities on 75 percent of the trails and can produce up to 500 tons of snow a day.
“Early snow making, combined with naturally colder temperatures in the area, allow the mountain crew to create and maintain a good snow depth for great winter recreation at Canaan Valley Resort State Park,” said Mike Chaney, Mountain Manager. “It’s the snow that makes Canaan Valley Resort a top winter destination. When the rest of the East is hindered with icy slope conditions, Canaan Valley consistently offers some of the best powder in the Mid-Atlantic region due to high valley altitude, natural mountain range protection and lake-effect snow storms.”
The resort will be featuring new menus and après-ski opportunities at the various lounges this winter. Shuttle service from Canaan Valley Lodge to the slopes has improved and new events with NASTAR and the newly dedicated Terrain Park add to the winter extreme experience.
The state park website www.canaanresort.com includes a webcam, operational hours, accommodations, events and dining information. Information is available at 304-866-4121.
NASTAR (NAtional STAndard Race) is the largest public grassroots ski race program in the world. Participants compete within their age and gender groups to win platinum, gold, silver and bronze pins. The Canaan Valley course is located on Upper Valley Vista and continues onto Ramble. Each run is a chance to win as racers test their speed against Olympic Gold Medalist and local pace setter Ted Ligety. Races are held every Saturday and Sunday and registration is taken at the starting gate on Upper Valley Vista. The resort will post race information at www.CanaanResort.com.
NASTAR was developed by SKI Magazine in 1968 to provide recreational racers with an opportunity to compete and to compare their scores to friends and family members regardless of when and where they race. The NASTAR handicap system is a standardized scoring program that provides participants with a tangible number that represents their ability. The NASTAR program has a successful partnership with the U.S. Ski Team as its premier youth racing feeder program.
The Terrain Park at Canaan Valley Resort State Park has a new, permanent home on Lower Prosperity and is easily accessible from the Schuss Triple chairlift and Upper Prosperity. Expanded features include rails, boxes, a wall and plenty of sculpted jumps throughout the mountain.
The Terrain Park staff will maintain the features throughout the day and under the lights on Fridays and Saturdays during Night Skiing. The 2014-15 4-session EPIC Rail Jam Series starts Jan. 24, 2015, continuing Feb. 14 and 28 with finals held on Wild Thing Weekend, March 14. Additional information resides on the resort website at www.canaanresort.com or call 304-866-4121.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park, located in Tucker County, is a four-season mountain destination and the highest mountain valley east of the Rocky Mountains, with a base elevation of 3,100 feet. Nestled among 6,000+ acres on a plateau overlooking the valley, the resort offers sweeping views of the surrounding peaks. The newly renovated Main Lodge boasts 160 new guestrooms and has recently been awarded a three-star rating by AAA.
In addition to the lodge rooms, the resort offers 23 cabins and cottages, 34 campground sites, and over 25,000 square feet of conference space consisting of 10 meeting rooms, an exhibit hall, and an outdoor pavilion. Visit the resort website at canaanresort.com or for further information, call 800-622-4121.
