Winterplace Ski Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Winterplace Ski Resort |
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Snow tubing runs and snow machine at Winterplace Ski Resort
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| Location | Ghent, West Virginia |
| Nearest city | Beckley, West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°35′24″N 81°06′54″W / 37.59000°N 81.11500°W |
| Vertical | 603 ft (184 m) |
| Top elevation | 3,600 ft (1,100 m) |
| Base elevation | 2,997 ft (913 m) |
| Skiable area | 90 acres (0.36 km2) |
| Runs | 28 total 43% easiest 43% more difficult 14% most difficult |
| Longest run | 1.25 mi (2,010 m) |
| Lift system | 9 lifts: 2 quad chairs, 3 triple chairs, 2 double chairs, 2 surface lifts |
| Lift capacity | 13,000 skiers/hr |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 100 inches |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Night skiing | 93% |
| Website | http://www.winterplace.com |
Winterplace Ski Resort is a fun place to ski and snowboard in Ghent, West Virginia. It is located on Flat Top Mountain in Raleigh County, West Virginia. This resort is the southernmost ski area in West Virginia. It's easy to get to because it's close to Interstate 77. Winterplace also works with The Resort at Glade Springs, which is a golf and spa resort.
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A Look Back: Winterplace History
The first ski resort on Flat Top Mountain opened in 1958. It was called Bald Knob Ski Slopes. This was the second ski area ever in West Virginia! It was started by a future West Virginia governor, Hulett C. Smith, and a businessman named John McKay.
Bald Knob Ski Slopes had four tow ropes and one chairlift. Its longest trail was about 2,800 feet long. It was known as the southernmost ski resort in the Eastern United States. This first resort closed in 1961. Today, that area is called Old Winterplace.
The Winterplace Ski Resort we know today opened 15 years later. It was built on Huff Knob, which is a different mountain nearby. The two old and new resort spots are separated by the I-77 highway.
Exploring the Mountain
Winterplace is located between Beckley, West Virginia and Princeton, West Virginia. Because it's easy to reach from the I-77 highway, many visitors come from North and South Carolina. Skiers from Virginia and West Virginia also enjoy visiting. People often call it "the most accessible, affordable ski resort in the Southeast!"
Mountain Features
The highest point of the resort is 3,600 feet up the mountain. You can ski down 603 feet from top to bottom. There are 90 acres of land available for skiing and snowboarding. Winterplace has 28 different trails and one special area called a terrain park.
To get up the mountain, there are nine ski lifts. These include chairlifts and surface lifts. On average, Winterplace gets about 100 inches of natural snow each year. But they also have a huge lake that holds 50 million gallons of water! This water is used to make snow, so there's always plenty for skiing. They can make snow at a rate of 7,000 gallons of water every minute.
Fun on the Slopes
The resort's 16-lane snow tubing area is the biggest in West Virginia. It's a super fun way to slide down the mountain without skis!
The ski trails at Winterplace go down the northern side of Huff Knob. The area right in front of the main resort building is perfect for beginners. Three chairlifts take you partway up the mountain. From there, you can find easy and medium-difficulty trails. This area also has the terrain park and the snow tubing lanes.
Higher up the mountain, two more chairlifts go all the way to the top. These trails are for more experienced skiers. You can ski 1.25 miles from the very top of the mountain to the main base. To get back up, you'll need to take a few chairlift rides. Other trails are shorter, but still offer a great ride!
The Resort at Glade Springs
The Resort at Glade Springs is about eight miles north of Winterplace. It's a different kind of resort that offers a spa and three golf courses. Some of their golf courses, like the Cobb Course, are considered among the best in West Virginia.
Glade Springs is also where the golf teams from WVU Tech practice. Besides golf, you can go horseback riding and even try whitewater rafting on the New River.
