Showshoe in West Virginia is owned by Alterra, on Ikon Base/Full, and also has a Snowshoe-only season passes. It's within a half day's drive from Washington DC, Pittsburgh, PA, Richmond, VA, Raleigh, NC, and cities in Tennessee or Ohio. People drive 8+ hours from Atlanta, GA or even Florida for annual family ski vacations. The last hour or so of driving is on 2-lane WV roads, which can be tricky when there is snow on the road. 2WD is risky during a snowstorm. The main area is an upside-down resort with a pretty large resort "village" built by Intrawest and multiple condo buildings at the top of the ridge, with lifts going down both sides. There is also a small area with short trails called Silver Creek that is a free 10-min shuttle bus ride away, which has lights for night skiing, and a pretty large condo building. Silver Creek was developed separately and was bought by Snowshoe at some point. There is no true "ski town" nearby and very little off-resort lodging less than an hour from Snowshoe.
The statements on the Snowshoe website about winter operations and limited lift ticket sales are pretty typical of what medium-size resorts east of the Mississippi river are posting on their website. In general, the states in the eastern half of the USA have had state-wide mask mandates for months and intend to continue requiring mask usage in public where keeping a safe distance is not possible. There are no travel restrictions in the southeast and mid-Atlantic (PA, DE, NJ).
https://www.snowshoemtn.com/discover-snowshoe/safety-and-responsibility/covid-19
WELCOME TO THE MOUNTAIN
As we look forward to welcoming you back to the mountain, please know that we will be implementing new policies and procedures in line with state, federal and industry guidelines.
The key facets of our COVID-19 plan involve daily employee health screening requirements, maintaining physical distancing, and increased sanitation and disinfecting efforts. You will notice some changes upon your visit, including but not limited to our employees wearing masks, physical barriers at point of sale locations, an increased quantity of personal sanitization stations, and alterations to our operational procedures and programming. For more on specific areas of the resort, please explore the drop-down menu below.
We kindly ask for your help by maintaining physical distancing, following directives from our staff and staying home if you feel ill or are at risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus. In accordance with an executive order signed by Governor Jim Justice on July 6th, all individuals age nine or above are required to wear adequate face coverings in public spaces (inside buildings, common areas, chairlift lines, etc.).
Be Safe. Be Kind. Have Fun.
WILL I BE ABLE TO WALK UP AND BUY A LIFT TICKET?
With firm capacity limits in place, walk-up access is not guaranteed. We strongly encourage our guests to purchase their tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
DO I NEED A RESERVATION TO SKI/RIDE AT SNOWSHOE?
At this time, Ikon Pass, Ikon Base Pass, Snowshoe Unlimited Pass, and Early Season Pass holders will not need reservations to ski and ride during the 2020/21 winter season at Snowshoe. Guests who advance purchase a package (including lift tickets/passes and lodging, etc.) are guaranteed mountain access for the dates of their booking.
WHAT ARE HOLIDAY AND PEAK PERIODS?
Christmas: December 26, 2020 - January 2, 2021
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 15 - 17, 2021
Presidents Day: February 12-14, 2021
Peak Periods: Friday - Sunday, December 18, 2020 - March 13, 2021
CAN I BUY A TICKET ON THE DAY I WANT TO SKI?
To ensure access to the mountain we strongly suggest purchasing a pass (either Ikon or Snowshoe specific). At this time, we anticipate limited availability of walk-up tickets during the winter season. Some single day lift tickets may be available for day of purchases based on last minute availability.
CAN I BUY A SINGLE DAY LIFT TICKET IN ADVANCE?
We will be offering online, advanced single and multi-day lift tickets in advance. These will be available in the coming weeks. Guests are encouraged to purchase in advance to guarantee mountain access.