What’s new for 2015: Beech Mountain Resort

What’s New for 2015: Beech Mountain Resort

By M. Scott Smith, DCSki Editor

November 15, 2015 —Snow tubing has become a popular alternative (or supplement) to skiing and snowboarding at ski resorts, and this winter, Beech Mountain will open up a brand new tubing park. A lighted, state-of-the-art tubing park has been built adjacent to the resort’s existing ice skating rink. The park will offer chutes up to 700 feet in length, and will be serviced by its own magic carpet conveyor lift and three high-tech SMI Super PoleCat snow guns. Multiple tubing sessions will be offered throughout the day, priced at $25 for a weekday tubing session and $30 for a weekend/holiday tubing session.

“The catalyst for the park was a desire to add more amenities for our guests,” explained Beech Mountain General Manager Ryan Costin. “People of all ages and skill levels enjoy tubing. It’s a good family activity as well,” he added.

Beech Mountain has supplemented its snowmaking system this winter with the addition of eleven high-tech guns placed in strategic locations, such as along White Lightning, the steepest slope at the North Carolina resort. Beech now has 61 SMI Super PoleCats, along with dozens of smaller guns.

“We continue to dramatically improve our snowmaking capability,” said Costin. “We can make a good amount of snow quickly.”

The Beech Tree Bar & Grille has been renovated, and electrical and mechanical upgrades were made to two chairlifts. An entirely new rental fleet of Burton snowboards has also been added to Beech Mountain’s inventory.