Strong ski season despite Helene is a sign of mountain resiliency, resort executive says
The ski industry is a major contributor to the winter High Country economy. Image courtesy of Todd Bush Photography.
A cold, snowy winter contributed to a strong ski season in North Carolina, despite the effects of Helene.
In the High Country there’s still snow on ski slopes and a couple of good weeks left to enjoy the winter sports, says Kimberley Jochl, president of the North Carolina Ski Areas Association.
She says it’s been a good winter for the resorts, thanks in part to sustained cold weather and more than 75 inches of natural snow this season.
Jochl says the fact that the season opened on time, despite significant infrastructure damage caused by Helene, speaks volumes about Mountain resiliency.
“It is certainly a testament to the the strength and the discipline and the dedication and the just the grit that people in the North Carolina mountains have," she says. "It was fantastic to see. We all pulled together, not only for the ski resorts, but for the entire economy.”
A study of six North Carolina ski resorts found they contributed more than $244 million to the economy in the 2022-23 season.
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