Appalachian Ski Mountain Opening 2022 and History

November 18 is a very exciting day for skiing and winter fans as it is the opening day of Appalachian Ski Mountain in Boone, NC!  So, what makes Appalachian Ski Mountain so special? And what is its history?

Appalachian Ski Mountain got its start in 1968 when Grady Moretz and four other partners bought the area at a public auction

Originally, the resort only had a 12,000-foot base lodge and 3 slopes. These slopes only had two rope tows for ascending the mountain. As it became more and more popular, in 1984 it underwent a major renovation which added chairlifts and a 6,000-foot addition to the ski lodge.

By 2010 Appalachian Ski Mountain has twelve slopes, three chairlifts, two conveyer lifts and one handle pull lift. The ski lodge itself now covers 46,000 feet and is very comfortable as well. 

Blowing Rock Winterfest 2022 January 27-30

As winter continues here in the Boone area, so do the fun winter activities! At the end of January, from 27-30. Thursday-Sunday. And it is packed full of ways to enjoy it no matter your age!

Some of the scheduled outdoor events include an ice carving demonstration on January 29th where experts show how they carve ice sculptures.

In the afternoon of all 4 days is a WinterHawk Tomahawk throwing competition tournament. It is a free event with both an adult and juniors’ division.

Throughout the entire town there also will be plenty of beautiful ice sculptures made by expert sculptors!

There are also some more indoor activities when you are looking to get out of the cold. On Saturday night between 6:30-8, there will be a concert by four different performers at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium.

Admission to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is free during the event as well. A great place to warm up and learn about the history of the area.

You can find all of this and more at the annual Winterfest!

Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Night, December 30

After a good day of skiing there are very few things more relaxing than sitting down to enjoy good food and drinks. Beech Mountain provides all of this at the Mountain Brewing Co. Tamproom and Grill at the ski resort, which is open to all ages.

And on December 30 they have a special surprise: The Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Night!

The dueling piano musicians entertain guests by taking song requests from the past 50 years in the style of a traditional piano bar. It’s fun for all ages. 

Ice Skating at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort

While the Boone area is famous for its ski resorts, the resorts have a lot more to offer than just skiing. For instance, at the Sugar Mountain Ski Resort they have an ice skating rink!

Sugar Mountain has a very large 10,000 square foot outdoor skating rink in fact. It is located between the parking lot D and the Tubing Park.

There are plenty of amenities as well located near the skating rink. The Dave Nixon Pro Shop offers skate rentals so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own ice skates. Inside the Sugar Mountain Resort restaurant you can find a nice warm area to relax and have nice cocoa and a meal.

Snowshoe Guided Tours at Sugar Mountain

While in most parts of the South, autumn solely means a slightly cooler weather change, in the Boone area, it also means we are nearing the season for winter activities on the nearby ski mountains!

On many of the ski resorts, they offer more than just skiing, for instance on Sugar Mountain, they offer snowshoe guided tours. Starting on December 1, tours are offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3pm. And on Saturday at 9am and 3pm. There is both an adults and children’s tour for those between the ages of 8-11. The tours are 1 hour.