Holiday Valley (ski resort) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Holiday Valley Resort
Location	Ellicottville, New York, USA
Nearest city	Buffalo
Coordinates	42°15′45″N 78°40′5″W / 42.26250°N 78.66806°W / 42.26250; -78.66806
Vertical	750 feet (230 m)
Top elevation	2,250 feet (690 m)
Base elevation	1,500 feet (460 m)
Skiable area	290 acres (120 ha)
Runs	58 total
Longest run	1 mile (1.6 km)
Lift system	11 chairs, 2 surface lifts
Terrain parks	5
Snowfall	15 feet (4.6 m)
Snowmaking	95%
Night skiing	37
Website	Holiday Valley

Holiday Valley Resort, often just called Holiday Valley, is a popular place for families to visit. It's a ski resort located in Ellicottville, New York. It first opened in 1957. Back then, it only had four ski runs and one T-bar lift.

Today, Holiday Valley has grown a lot. It now has 60 slopes and 13 lifts. It's become a major attraction in Cattaraugus County, New York. In 1995, the Inn at Holiday Valley opened. This made the resort a complete vacation spot where you can stay right on the slopes.

Where is Holiday Valley Located?

The resort is in the southern part of Ellicottville, New York. It sits between the village of Ellicottville and the town of Great Valley, New York. You can find it right on U.S. Route 219.

Holiday Valley is part of a special "ski country" area. This area runs through Western New York. It's one of two ski resorts in Ellicottville. The other one is Holimont. Unlike Holimont, which is mostly for members, Holiday Valley is open to everyone.

Holiday Valley also has a fun tubing park. It's a few miles northeast of the main ski resort. The resort is about 52 miles (84 km) south of the Canadian border near Buffalo. Many visitors from Canada come to Holiday Valley.

How Holiday Valley Started

In 1956, a group of founders led by Robert "Bob" Stubbs had an idea. They sold shares of stock for $100 each in a parking lot in Ellicottville. Their goal was to open a new ski area.

Bob Stubbs and his team were early supporters of snowmaking technology. This was a new idea at the time. The first four ski runs were cut in 1957. They were named Yodeler, Champagne, Holiday Run, and Edelweiss. The resort officially opened on January 7, 1958. This was a bit later than planned because of mild weather.

Since then, Holiday Valley has added many more runs. It now has 52 runs, including two terrain parks. It also has 12 lifts and a snow tubing hill.

The Ski Mountain: Fun on the Slopes

The ski mountain is the main attraction at Holiday Valley. It has 56 slopes and 13 ski lifts. Even though it's not the biggest mountain, it has grown steadily since 1958.

Two hotels, the Inn at Holiday Valley and the Tamarack Club, are located here. Both offer hotel rooms and condominiums. Holiday Valley sits at the base of McCarty Hill. The top of the hill is about 2,323 feet (708 meters) high. The base is below 1,600 feet (488 meters). This gives the resort a "vertical drop" of over 750 feet (229 meters).

The weather in the area can change a lot during winter. Because of this, Holiday Valley relies heavily on snowmaking. As of 2011, the resort uses a fully automated snowmaking system. This smart system controls everything. It adjusts the amount and temperature of water. It also decides which snow machines run and when they turn on or off. It can even change things based on the outside temperature. The snowmaking team can even turn on the machines using their cell phones!

Ski Trails for All Skill Levels

Holiday Valley has many different ski trails. They are grouped by how difficult they are. This helps skiers and snowboarders find the right challenge for them.

Ski Lifts to Get You Up the Mountain

Holiday Valley has different types of lifts to take you up the mountain.

Awards and Recognition

Holiday Valley has received good reviews from the ski community. For example, Ski Magazine has often ranked it as one of the top ski resorts in the Eastern United States.

In Ski Magazine's 2020 Resort Rankings, Holiday Valley was tenth best in the East. It was also ranked second in New York State. The magazine called it a "...small, great Eastern ski operation." At one point in the 2000s, Holiday Valley even ranked third in the East. It was ranked higher than Whiteface Mountain's ski offerings.

Fun Beyond Winter: Other Attractions

Holiday Valley offers many activities even when there's no snow!

• Double Black Diamond Golf Course

This is an 18-hole golf course. It winds around the base of the ski mountain. The first nine holes were added in 1962. This was to attract golfers during spring, summer, and fall. The second nine holes opened in 1987, making it a full course. The golf course usually opens in late April. It closes for winter at the end of October. The exact dates depend on the weather.

• Sky High Adventure Park

This park opened in 2011. It's the newest attraction for the non-skiing seasons. It has a high ropes course. This is where you climb and balance on obstacles high in the air. It also has a mountain coaster ride. This ride takes one or two people down the mountain on a 2,490-foot (759 m) track.

• Summer Festival

The town of Ellicottville hosts an annual Summer Festival of the Arts. Holiday Valley Resort helps sponsor this event. The festival has concerts and art displays. It takes place on the first weekend of July.

• Fall Festival

Holiday Valley Resort and the Tamarack Club host a "Fall Festival" every year. It happens on the first weekend of October. This event celebrates the changing leaves and the start of winter. It includes a 5k foot race and a mountain bike race. You can also enjoy chair lift rides, shopping, food, and other fun activities.

• Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster

This coaster is open all year round. Riders sit on sleds that are attached to a single track. It's a fun way to experience the mountain in any season.

Images for kids

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  Sunset seen through forest at summit of Tannenbaum Run