GOT SNOW? 

Cataloochee is Counting Down the Days!

Maggie Valley, NC – It’s hard to believe that ski season in North Carolina is only a few weeks away and Cataloochee Ski Area, the home of “Serious Family Fun!” will once again be going for bragging rights as they continue their efforts to be the first ski resort in North Carolina to open for the 2007/2008 season.  The southeast resort provided the first skiing and riding of the 2006/2007 season for winter snowsports enthusiasts on November 4^th of last year, Cataloochee’s earliest opening ever in its 47-year history, 15 days ahead of the 2005/2006 season opening.  

The oldest winter area in North Carolina is continuing to make significant improvements to its snowmaking capabilities allowing the resort’s operational staff to be aggressive in helping skiers and snowboarders with their first tracks of the season.  “We will continue on our path to having a fully automated snowmaking system top to bottom as quickly as we can.  The automation we currently have in place stood us in steed the past two years,  enabling us to make snow more effectively in the early season, allowing us to open earlier and earlier each year that the weather cooperates”, says Chris Bates, Cataloochee’s General Manager.  “To that end, we have doubled the size of our largest snowmaking pond to better capitalize on longer periods of cold weather.”  Also in the works for the 07/08 season are the construction of two new trails, creating a longer upper level beginner to intermediate run accessed from the top of the mountain, as well as a newly redesigned ticketing area and three additional parking areas located closer to the lodge.  A new recreational race program for all ages is also being added to the line up of special events at the area.

Cataloochee plans to open as early in November as temperatures permit and snowmaking will begin anytime after November 1.  Seasonal passes are currently on sale at the area.

For an up-to-date snow report and more information about the 2007/2008 season go to www.cataloochee.com.  For downloadable media and additional resort information, go to www.cataloochee.com/media.