Winter weather giving Ohio, Indiana ski resorts the cold shoulder

Craig Webb, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
Ben Donaldson, 38, originally of Cincinnati, shreds down the black diamond Center Stage slope on his snowboard on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Ben Donaldson, 38, originally of Cincinnati, shreds down the black diamond Center Stage slope on his snowboard on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

It's been a rocky start to the snow ski season for Ohioans.

Many of Ohioans' favorite local resorts just opened for the season last weekend, and those that opened earlier have had fits making enough man-made snow to keep a limited number of slopes open.

Mother Nature has not cooperated, with warm temperatures and not much snow.

The storm that came through over the weekend dumped snow on parts of the East Coast but had little, if any, snowy impact on Ohio. Another storm brewing for this week is expected to heavy rain and high winds rather than snow.

But there is a slight glimmer of hope as cooler overnight temperatures – which are needed for snowmaking – are expected after the storm system passes.

What Ohio ski resorts are open?

Perfect North Slopes, a popular destination for Ohio skiers and snowboarders even though it's located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, opened Dec. 2. It closed for a few weeks and then reopened Dec. 15.

Snow Trails in Mansfield opened for the season but suspended operations right after Christmas.

The resort reopened Friday and plans to hold normal hours this week.

"Our snowmakers and snow groomers have been taking advantage of every opportunity to blanket the resort in the best possible snow conditions, despite limited windows of snowmaking hours," the resort said.

Visitors are advised to bring along goggles and face coverings as they may have to resort to making snow during operating hours.

Boston Mills in Peninsula − celebrating 60 years − opened just before Christmas and has been able to keep a couple runs open.

The Vail Resort's sister resort Brandywine just down the road has yet to open for the season.

Vail spokesperson Pamela Hoye said the company's other Northeast Ohio resort Alpine Valley in Munson Township has not yet opened for the season.

And Vail's Mad River Mountain in Zanesfield welcomed skiers for the first time this season on Saturday.

"We have an amazing team in place at all of our resorts, and are enthusiastically waiting to for the moments that Mother Nature tags in," Hoye said. "If the snowmaking conditions continue skiing in is in the very near future."

Skiers and snowboarders trek to their next slope near the main lodge on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Skiers and snowboarders trek to their next slope near the main lodge on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Ohio ski resorts by the numbers

Alpine Valley

  • Vertical drop: 252 feet.

  • Elevation: 1,500 feet.

  • Lifts: Three.

  • Trails: Nine.

Boston Mills

  • Vertical drop: 264 feet.

  • Elevation: 871 feet.

  • Lifts: Seven.

  • Trails: Seven.

Brandywine

  • Vertical drop: 240 feet.

  • Elevation: 871 feet.

  • Lifts: Eight.

  • Trails: 11.

Mad River Mountain

  • Vertical drop: 300 feet.

  • Elevation: 1,460 feet.

  • Lifts: Eight.

  • Trails: 17.

Perfect North Slopes

  • Vertical drop: 400 feet.

  • Elevation: 800 feet.

  • Lifts: Seven.

  • Trails: 23.

Snow Trails

  • Vertical drop: 301 feet.

  • Elevation: 1,475 feet.

  • Lifts: Nine.

  • Trails: 21.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Which ski resorts are open in Ohio?