Snow, Southern style

The Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, N.C., loves to quote its superlatives. Earliest to open. Last to close. First ski area south of Virginia. With the original site built in 1961 and the present site in 1969, Southeastern families have learned to ski on Fie Mountain for almost 50 years. Today 80 percent of its visitors rent ski equipment.

“That tells you how many beginning and intermediate skiers we get,” said Tammy Brown, Cataloochee Ski Area’s director of marketing. “We’re only a three-hour drive from Atlanta, so people come here to learn to ski and snowboard, or to warm up their skills for a trip out West. We also have guests who ski regularly here for the love of it. Since we’re so close to so many cities, it’s really convenient for a day trip or a quick getaway.”

Snow comes in early November, thanks to the snow-making equipment. As long as cold weather holds, the ski area continues to make snow as needed until early April. As an added bonus, winter is off season in Maggie Valley, so lodging is cheaper.

Cataloochee Ski Area offers 13 slopes covering 25 acres. Two are considered difficult (black), five are intermediate (blue), and six are for beginners (green). The Cat Cage terrain park —- for skilled skiers and snowboarders —- has ramps, rails and boxes groomed into the snow for both snowboarders and skiers to test their prowess. Two carpet conveyors serve the lower beginner slopes while three aerial lifts (one double, one triple, one quad) carry skiers and snowboarders to the top of the slopes. On Saturdays and holidays, the lift lines can be lengthy.

With an additional 90 acres of pristine woodlands surrounding the Cataloochee Ski Area, the mountainous vista stretches to the horizon in all directions. Some say the word Cataloochee came from a Cherokee word meaning “wave upon wave” or “fringe sticking straight up,” referring to the surrounding mountains.

“We love coming here,” said Laura Moushey of Asheville, N.C. “They have the best school for kids.”

In addition to half-day and full-day ski schools for kids ages 4-12, Cataloochee also offers group or private lessons to individuals for a fee. Preregistered groups of 15 or more qualify for a free one-hour lesson for each person renting equipment.

“The Cataloochee Ski Area is great for families, especially those with young children that could go during the week,” said Amanda Reed of Roswell, who supervised a church youth ski outing to Cataloochee. “And it’s great for youth groups with mixed skill levels since all slopes converge on a final green run at the bottom. As a parent or a chaperone, I’m not as worried about my kids being on the slopes if we get separated. You eventually see them or catch up with them and make sure they are doing OK.”

Reed is unlikely to return on a Saturday or holiday, though. “It’s just too crowded,” she said. Also, “I think expert skiers and solid intermediate skiers would get bored quickly since there aren’t many challenging runs,” she added.

A sister property, Tube World, also makes snow from December through February. Located on Soco Road, just across from Maggie Valley’s summer attraction, Ghost Town in the Sky, Tube World draws kids and kids-at-heart from all over the Southeast. Wide snow “slides” are groomed daily so visitors can fly down the hill on fat inflated tubes. Wipeouts are generally pain-free, as Tube World maintains a deep base of snow.

Although Maggie Valley bustles with some 150,000 residents and visitors during the summer, in the winter there are fewer than 700 residents. Winter visitors find low prices for lodging, uncrowded restaurants and slopes that don’t have to wait on Mother Nature.

he Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, N.C., loves to quote its superlatives. Earliest to open. Last to close. First ski area south of Virginia. With the original site built in 1961 and the present site in 1969, Southeastern families have learned to ski on Fie Mountain for 50-plus years. Today 80 percent of its visitors rent ski equipment.

“That tells you how many beginning and intermediate skiers we get,” says Tammy Brown, Cataloochee Ski Area’s director of marketing. “We’re only a three-hour drive from Atlanta, so people come here to learn to ski and snowboard, or to warm up their skills for a trip out West. We also have guests who ski regularly here for the love of it. Since we’re so close to so many cities, it’s really convenient for a day trip or a quick getaway.”

Snow comes in early November, thanks to the snowmaking equipment. As long as cold weather holds, the ski area continues to make snow as needed until early April.

Cataloochee Ski Area offers 13 slopes covering 25 acres. Two are considered difficult (black), five are intermediate (blue), and six are for beginners (green). The Cat Cage terrain park —- for skilled skiers and snowboarders —- has ramps, rails and boxes groomed into the snow for both snowboarders and skiers to test their prowess. Two carpet conveyors serve the lower beginner slopes while three aerial lifts (one double, one triple, one quad) carry skiers and snowboarders to the top of the slopes. On Saturdays and holidays the lift lines can be lengthy.

With an additional 90 acres of pristine woodlands surrounding the Cataloochee Ski Area, the mountainous vista stretches to the horizon in all directions. Although they share the same name, the Cataloochee Ski Area is now where near the Cataloochee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Some say the word Cataloochee came from a Cherokee word meaning “wave upon wave” or “fringe sticking straight up,” referring to the surrounding mountains. “We love coming here,” says Laura Moushey of Asheville, N.C. “They have the best school for kids.”

In addition to half-day and full-day ski schools for kids ages 4-12, Cataloochee also offers group or private lessons to individuals for a fee. Pre-registered groups of 15 or more qualify for a free one-hour lesson for each person renting equipment.

“The Cataloochee Ski Area is great for families, especially those with young children that could go during the week,” says Amanda Reed of Roswell, Georgia, who recently supervised a church youth ski outing. “And it’s great for youth groups with mixed skill levels since all slopes converge on a final green run at the bottom. As a parent or a chaperone, I’m not as worried about my kids being on the slopes if we get separated. You eventually see them or catch up with them and make sure they are doing OK.”

Reed is unlikely to return on a Saturday or holiday, though. “It’s just too crowded,” she said. Also, “I think expert skiers and solid intermediate skiers would get bored quickly since there aren’t many challenging runs,” she added.

A sister property, Tube World, also makes snow from December through February. Located on Soco Road, just across from Maggie Valley’s summer attraction —- Ghost Town in the Sky, Tube World draws kids and kids-at-heart from all over the Southeast. Wide snow “slides” are groomed daily so visitors can fly down the hill on fat inflated tubes. Wipe outs are generally pain-free, as Tube World maintains a deep base of snow.

Although Maggie Valley bustles with some 150,000 residents and visitors during the summer, in the winter there are fewer than 700 residents. Winter visitors find low prices for lodging, uncrowded restaurants, and slopes that don’t have to wait on Mother Nature.

IF YOU GO

Cataloochee Ski Area: 1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley, N.C., 800-768-3588, www.cataloochee.com. From Atlanta take I-85 north to Ga. 365 north to U.S. 23 north into North Carolina. Continue on U.S. 23 north toward Waynesville. Take exit 102B/U.S. 276 north toward Maggie Valley. Turn left to stay on U.S. 276/U.S. 19/Dellwood Road. Go about 7 miles and turn right onto Fie Top Road at Ghost Town in the Sky. The ski area is 4 miles ahead at the top of the mountain. The last mile of road is gravel.

Lift Tickets: Weekdays, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or twilight, 1-10 p.m., $31 adults, $27 military and students, $24 children ages 5-12. Weekends and holidays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or twilight, 1-10 p.m., $51 adults, military and students, $41 children ages 5-12. Free for seniors 65 and older and children age 4 and younger with paid adult.

Equipment rental: Skis $19 adults, $16 military/students, children 12 and younger on weekdays; $22 adults, $18 military, students and children 12 and younger on weekends and holidays; snowboards $30, helmets $5.

Classes: Skiing for kids ages 7-12, half-day $60, full-day $80. Snowboarding for kids ages 8-12, half-day $70, full-day $90. Lift tickets, equipment rental and beverage break or lunch included.

Classes for adults $20, private lessons $50 for one hour up to $200 for six hours.

Tube World. 4821 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, N.C., www.TubeMaggieValley.com.

Open Thanksgiving through last Sunday in February. $25 for each 1-hour, 45-minute session, $5 for Wee Bowl snowplay area for kids under 42 inches. Kiddie tubes provided.

WHERE TO STAY

Cataloochee Ranch, 19 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, N.C., 828-926-1401, www.cataloocheeranch.com. Cabins or guest rooms available. Winter weekends and holidays, $79-159, summer rates $152-$446.

Smoky Falls Lodge, 2550 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, N.C., 877-926-7440, www.smokyfallslodge.com. Recently renovated. $79-$149, year round.

WHERE TO EAT

Cataloochee Ski Area Cafeteria. Breakfast items, hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza, $2.50-$5. Alcoholic beverages available.

J. Arthur’s, 2843 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, N.C., 828-926-1718. Lunch ($6-$7) and dinner ($12.95-$27.95).

Grizzly Grill at Smoky Falls Lodge, 2550 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, N.C., 877-926-7440, www.smokyfallslodge.com. Dinner buffet with barbecue on weekends, $10.95 adults, $6.95 kids 10 and under.

OTHER AREA ATTRACTIONS

Ghost Town in the Sky, 16 Fie Top Road, Maggie Valley, N.C., www.ghosttowninthesky.com. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily May 23-Sept. 1, weekends only May 2-18 and Sept. 5-Nov. 2.

Diamond K Dance Ranch, 1 Playhouse Drive, Maggie Valley, N.C., www.thediamondkdanceranch.com. Open weekends with live music and dancing. No alcohol served. Families welcome.