Ski areas to be closed for Thanksgiving
Toolbox
By Cristina Kumka Staff Writer - Published: November 26, 2009
KILLINGTON — For the first time in at least 20 years, it won't be a white Thanksgiving at Killington.
No natural snow and temperatures too warm to make snow has kept Killington Resort closed today, one of many Vermont resorts statewide forced to keep snowmaking at a minimum.
"It's too warm," said Killington Resort Communications Manager Tom Horrocks.
"Every ski area in Vermont is in the same boat right now."
It's the first time snow hasn't made a Thanksgiving appearance on the mountain in at least 20 years, but maybe even since the early 1960s, Horrocks said.
For the resort, the closure signifies a waiting game until late Saturday, when weather experts say a cold front is expected to make its landing over Killington Peak, blowing cold air and with it, winter weather conditions.
The storm may warrant a Sunday opening and bring 6 to 10 inches of natural powder, according to meteorologist Conor Lahiff of the National Weather Service in South Burlington.
For mountain-town tourism, no snow isn't good, but it's also not the worst that could happen, said Jim Blackman, chairman of the Killington Select Board, on Wednesday.
"Certainly it's not great, but it's far from the end of the world," Blackman said about the impact on local businesses. "If Thanksgiving Day is a little light, we may have a stronger time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas."
Blackman, a rental property owner and longtime resident, said hotels on the mountain were filling up with Thanksgiving Day reservations even when the resort remained closed.
He said he expected a good four-day holiday weekend for businesses because there are people intent on spending their time off in Vermont, regardless of skiing.
"There won't be as many if there was skiing but there will be people here," Blackman said.
Some people just "want to spend Thanksgiving away," he said.
Horrocks said the warm mountaintop weather is odd for late November and it's not just plaguing Killington.
Okemo Mountain Resort is not opening Thanksgiving Day either, for the first time in roughly 10 years, said Bonnie MacPherson, Okemo's public relations director.
"It's nothing to worry about," MacPherson said Wednesday. "I would rather open a little later and have it stay cold longer."
The resort is expected to open Dec. 2 but all activities scheduled for this weekend will happen as planned, she said.
For daily updates on weather conditions at Killington Resort and Okemo Mountain Resort, go to www.killington.com and www.okemo.com.
Staff Writer John O'Gorman contributed to this article.
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
27