I was at Winterplace on Saturday Feb 9. The slopes were packed with church youth groups since there was a concert that night. The resort did a good thing by having all their slopes open and running all the lifts (parallel lifts). However, they could have done better by organizing the lifts so they were all full. The resort desperately needs to put some money into upgrading there lifts. The current lifts just cannot lift enough people up the mountain creating extremely long lines at the bottom. As far as the conditions go for Sat. the slopes were a combination of frozen granular and slush, it was just too hot. The lodge also needed to be cleaned because it smelled like mold and had trash everywhere. This is defiantly a resort that specializes in large groups and they do a good job of that. They just need to put money into their lodge and lifts.

The last reviewer surely works there and knows what they are talking about. If you want the most for your ski trip and you're a high end skier, arrive on a Sunday afternoon. Ski the night and stay Monday all day. Rent a room for two nights at the hotel on the other side of the interstate. You don't deal with the youth groups, beginners & renegades. If you expect more than just a ski fix at a reasonable rate, find some other place. I drive 7 hours north because the roads to get there and the roads are usually in good shape (Interstate).

Just skied at Winterplace on Friday 1/18. Conditions were perfect and there was plenty of snow. BUT...they only had 20 of 28 slopes open?? ALL the closed slopes had plenty of coverage yet the resort didn't open them. This just didn't make sense. They also had several key lifts closed which caused longer lift lines. Need more lights on the slopes at night.

Took a day trip to Winterplace (2 hr. drive for me). I was expecting something better. First of all, many of the trails were closed even though it had snowed 6+ inches just days before and their snowmaking had formed huge mountains of snow all along these closed trails. Seems to me that with a little grooming the entire mountain could (and should) have been open. Secondly, they need to turn off the snowmakers when it is no longer cold enough to make snow! It was 39 degrees on friday with full sunshine. It was raining underneath the snowmakers. No one enjoys skiing in the rain (especially on a clear day). Third, the lift lines were horrible, granted not all of the lifts were open. The main problem was no one was there to direct the line. Skiers just muddled their way toward the lift in one massive group, with most of the chairs going up the mountain only partially full. Lastly, the beginners there are out of control. Often in the lift lines someone would be standing on my skis or run over top of my personal skis. Thank god I don't have nice equipment (altough I still try to take good care of what I have). If you do have your own stuff, I would steer clear of Winterplace. I realize scratches are trivial, but the beginners are also dangerous. At a point were several trails merge/diverge there is a large crowd of people. One particuarly out of control skier was coming down a blue and tried to do a jump near the bottom. Needless to say, he didn't land so gracefully. And then procedded to skid through the crowd. They were falling/flying every which way just like bowling pins. A video of this would probably win on "america's funniest home videos" but it's not funny when you consider the permanent damage that could happen by breaking a bone or dislocating a knee. Sadly, this skier was allowed to continue. Anywhere else his lift ticket would have been clipped, end of story. So if you want to brave the few open trails, long lines, and rain remember watch out for other skiers!!

I'll start my review by telling you that I have worked at Winterplace for three years as a ski instructor so I know the good and the bad and in no way is my opinion biased.

Like those before me have stated Winterplace's slopes are generally short and
not challenging. Yes drop off is a very mild black, however if you visit Winterplace later in the season (February) and try out Turkey Chute you might get a bit of a challenge. Even if you came in late January Plunge was probably open which rates as a black by any resorts standards as well. I won't deny that the mountain is geared towards beginners but about 70% of business comes from Youth and Scout groups.

The facilities are almost flat out horrible. There are two lodges, the mountain house which contains a huge cafeteria, along with the rental shop and administrative offices. The food is mediocre at best, I don't eat it anymore and the place itself from time to time smells a little. If you rent a pair of ski's from the rental shop and lose or break them, don't sweat it. No matter what you rental agreement says you well get away with it. A snowboard or mini-snowboard i would be careful with. Don't expect high quality skis, however you do have the option of demoing anything from a pair of Metrons to Super crosses and more. The other Lodge can be accesed from the slops and is the home of snow tubing. It also has a cafeteria which forms the same food but with smaller lines on a busy day.

The only place to lodge at Winterplace our the privately owned Winter Haven condos and there are a few slope-side houses. Both are normally reasonably priced and Winterhaven even contains a quaint bar with the best food at Winterplace. Chances are you'll be staying in Beckley though.

Over all if you come to Winterplace as a beginner you well probably learn how to ski unless your just not cut out for it. A upper level skier might leave a bit more wanting but still there are a few challenging slopes if you come at the right time.

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