Winterplace Announces New Mountain Upgrades and Guest Enhancements for the 2026-2027 Ski Season

Winterplace Ski Resort is excited to welcome guests back for the 2026-2027 ski season with a series of offseason improvements designed to enhance mountain operations, improve guest comfort and create an even better experience for guests throughout the winter.

Winterplace continues to strengthen its reputation as West Virginia's most accessible, guest-friendly ski resort, offering families exciting improvements both on and off the slopes this season. Highlights include snowmaking, lighting and lift upgrades, a new cashless payment system, expanded terrain park features, updated rental equipment, and renovated guest facilities.

Here's a look at what's new for the 2026/2027 season.

Snowmaking & Mountain Infrastructure Improvements

Snowmaking remains a top priority at Winterplace, and the resort continued its investment in equipment and infrastructure to deliver stronger snow production and coverage. Winterplace added 10 new HKD snowguns, replaced sections of snowmaking pipeline, completed electrical upgrades to support snowmaking operations and relocated several snowguns for more efficient coverage. The result is a more reliable system and consistent skiing and boarding conditions all season long.

Night skiers will notice brighter slopes as Winterplace continued its slope lighting replacement program, upgrading additional lighting throughout the mountain. Significant chairlift projects were also completed to support safe, dependable operations, including a new haul rope on Chairlift 4, rebuilt lift tower assemblies and comprehensive gearbox inspections. Additional work included a new lift operator shack at the summit of Chairlift 1, fresh paint on all lift operator shacks and new roofs on several lift buildings.

New Cashless Payment System Enhances Guest Experience

Winterplace will transition to a cashless payment system this season, making purchases faster and more streamlined throughout the resort. Guests can pay using credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payment options, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. Visitors who prefer to bring cash can convert it to a prepaid debit card at no charge using kiosks throughout the resort.

Heaven Holler Terrain Park Expansion

Freestyle skiers and boarders have plenty to look forward to this winter as Winterplace introduces 12 additional terrain park features to its Heaven Holler Terrain Park. New features include a rainbow box, up-flat-down box, rollercoaster box, up-down box, and multiple large-diameter tube features along with other freestyle elements. The additions and a refreshed color scheme will give riders more variety, creative lines and opportunities to progress their freestyle skills.

Flexible Ticketing Options, Extended Tubing Hours Provide Cost-Saving Options

This season, Winterplace introduces new options to make getting on the slopes easier and more flexible than ever. The 2026-2027 Season Passes are valid for unlimited skiing or riding without blackout dates and include four discounted buddy lift tickets and 10% discounts on Winterplace retail and on-mountain dining. An adult full season pass is available for $649 before Nov. 30. The popular Night Tracks 4-Pack flex bundle returns this season and includes (4) night lift tickets and equipment rentals valid any evening from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. (excluding Saturday). It is designed for busy guests who love night skiing but prefer a more flexible schedule. The Wild & Wonderful Membership also returns, providing a $25 discount per day on lift tickets for frequent skiers and riders.

Tubing fans will enjoy an extra hour of thrills this season as sessions have been extended from two to three hours. The popular "All-You-Can-Tube" special returns on Mondays and Thursdays, with $30 providing six hours of snowtubing from 3 - 8:45 p.m., Friday sessions run six hours from 3 p.m. - close, for $40. On Saturdays and Sundays, tubers can enjoy an All-Day Tubing Tickets valid from open to close for $60.

Rental Equipment & Guest Check-In Improvements

Guests will find fresh gear in the rental shop this winter, thanks to more than $100K in new skis, snowboards, boots, poles, and helmets. A new rental waiver and scanning process will also streamline check-in and help guests get on the mountain faster.

Resort Building & Guest Facility Improvements

Upgrades off the slopes make it easier than ever for families to relax and enjoy the Winterplace experience. At the Resort Center, guests will find new carpeting on the lower level, additional storage upstairs and new cubby storage in the cafeteria. Mickey's Deck received further renovations as part of an ongoing improvement project, the building's exterior has fresh paint and a new covered deck seating area offers a comfortable place to unwind and enjoy mountain views. The Ski Patrol First Aid Room was remodeled and the locker room now has additional lockers.

Behind the scenes, new kitchen equipment supports resort dining operations, and the mountain operations fleet expanded with a mini excavator, telehandler, new truck and snowmobiles.

Lessons, Club Programs & On-Mountain Activities

Winterplace continues to offer programs that make snow sports accessible to all ages and abilities. The Friday Night Gates Race League and Developmental Racing Team will return for young racers interested in friendly competition. Newcomers and returning skiers can build their skills and confidence through the four-week club programs and the SkiWee and Snow Explorers children's programs. Guests can also enjoy food trucks and live music on weekends, as well as a full line-up of special events throughout the season.

The extensive list of offseason projects reflects Winterplace's continued commitment to improving every aspect of the resort, from snowmaking and mountain infrastructure to guest amenities and operational efficiency.

"Our team works hard throughout the offseason to make improvements that will have a meaningful impact on our guests' experience," said Josh Faber, General Manager of Winterplace Ski Resort. "Some of these investments, like new rental equipment and terrain park features, are immediately noticeable, while others, like snowmaking infrastructure and chairlift maintenance, are equally important to the operation of the mountain. We're proud of the progress we've made and excited to welcome everyone back for another great winter season."

Winterplace traditionally opens for skiing in mid-December. To stay up to date on the latest conditions and available terrain, visit the Snow Report.

Winterplace is the most accessible and affordable ski resort in the Southeast. The resort is the perfect place for beginners to learn to ski and more advanced skiers and riders to improve their technique with 100% snowmaking and over 90 skiable acres. Winterplace earned two top-three rankings in the 2025 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards, recognized for Best Ski School and Best Place for Snow Tubing. It is home to the largest Snow Tubing Park in West Virginia with two Super Tubing Carpet Lifts and up to 14 lanes of tubing fun. The resort offers 27 total trails, 10 lifts and two Terrain Parks. Winterplace typically opens in mid-December and the season lasts into March. The resort is located off Interstate 77, exit 28, Flat Top, WV. It is halfway between Bluefield and Beckley, WV.