Blue Mountain Resort, located in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, nestled in the picturesque Pocono Mountains, is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. It boasts the biggest vertical drop of any ski resort in Pennsylvania and features 40 ski trails and 16 lifts. The resort is on Blue Mountain in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania.
Blue Mountain is a super fun ski resort in Ontario, Canada. It's located near the towns of The Blue Mountains and Collingwood. This resort is built on a part of the Niagara Escarpment, which is a long slope of land. Blue Mountain is a very popular spot for skiers from all over southern Ontario.
Let's delve into the history of early opening days at this beloved resort.
Record-Breaking Early Seasons
The beginning of the 2019-20 ski season was one that will be talked about for years to come at a lot of ski areas. How? By setting records on their earliest ski resort openings ever! For a few of them, we’re not talking days but weeks ahead of schedule, all thanks to new technology, an arctic blast of cold air, and of course a bit of Ma’ Natural.
While Blue Mountain typically aims to open by Black Friday each year, the resort had the opportunity in 2019 to have the earliest start to a ski season in its 42-year history. Officials at Blue Mountain said the goal each year is to open the slopes by Black Friday, but this wintry blast hitting the region is strong enough to turn on the snow guns, full blast, and open up this coming Saturday, November 16. Blue Mountain marketing director Ashley Seier says that will make it the earliest opening day in the resort's 42-year history.
Read also: Winter Season Updates
In 2019, Blue Mountain resort expanded its RFID access. Blue Mountain uses RFID ticket scanners at every lift.
Celebrity historian shares the history of skiing and snowboarding
The Role of Snow-Making Technology
As highlighted in our previous Who puts the “king” in snowmaking article, Blue Mountain is a BEAST when it comes to shooting snow. This past season, Blue Mountain has completed a multi-million-dollar snowmaking upgrade, adding 132 new stick guns, six fan guns, and revamped automation software. This upgrade increased early season coverage by 17.5%.
Blue Mountain was blowing snow on a lot of its trails throughout the day and night on Monday. The resort said it makes snow anytime the temperature is below 35°F.
Did you know Blue Mountain Resort is home to one of the most powerful snowmaking systems on the East Coast?
Snow-making technology has come a long way in the last few decades. So, when the thermostat dropped below freezing, these ski areas took full advantage of it.
Read also: Comfort and Durability
Expansions and Improvements
In 2002 and 2003, Blue Mountain added two advanced runs and a teaching hill with two beginner slopes, fed by a triple chairlift and a conveyor lift. In summer 2008, the resort implemented a $3.1 million upgrade for the 2008-2009 ski season.
New for the 2022/23 season, we’re installing a new Leitner Poma 6 Passenger High Speed Lift- Main Street Express! Starting in the Valley and ending at the top of the Main Street Trail, the lift will improve connectivity between lodges while replacing our two previous double chairs- Main Street and Burma. Main Street Express is able to move 3,000 passengers per hour from bottom to top in 4.5 minutes.
In February 2013, the resort announced the Orchard section of the mountain would be developed to include six additional runs and a six person high-speed chairlift.
Blue Mountain isn't just for winter sports! In the summer, you can go mountain biking downhill. Bikes and riders go up the hill on chairlifts.
In 1977, Blue Mountain added the "Blue Mountain Slide Ride" for summer fun. This was a long track where people rode down in mini-bobsleds. It helped the resort earn money in the summer too.
Read also: Blue Ski Jacket Buying Tips
A Look Back
The Blue Mountain Resort story begins in 1977 as “Little Gap Ski Area”. As our mountain grew, our identity grew into the Blue Mountain Resort you know and love today. As we enter our 45th ski season, we can’t wait to share our new look with you! Much careful consideration and thoughtful elements went into designing our newest look. We kept in mind our mountain’s rich history, while capturing where we are today and where we are going as we continue to develop into a four-season outdoor destination. The end result is our new softened yet authentic mark that conveys the our adventuresome and welcoming spirit.
Blue Mountain first opened in 1941 as a ski resort. Later, in 1977, it became a place you could visit all year round.