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Beech Mountain Ski Resort Stoked To Exhibit Flurry of Improvements to Slopes, Village on ‘White Friday’

Beech Mountain Resort is ready to show off a multitude of improvements on opening day this Friday.
Beech Mountain Resort is ready to show off a multitude of improvements on opening day this Friday.

By Jesse Wood

Nov. 26, 2014. Instead of dealing with long lines and chaotic parking lots at big box stores on Black Friday, grab your winter gear and head up to Beech Mountain Resort for “White Friday.”

Now in its 47th ski season, Beech Mountain Resort opens for the first day of the winter season at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, and the resort is ready to show off improvements made on and off the slopes this past summer.

“We are pleased to be kicking off the 2014-2015 ski season on ‘White Friday’ and certainly appreciate the assist from Mother Nature,” Talia Freeman, director of marketing for Beech Mountain Resort, said. “The staff is excited, and skiers and snowboarders will notice a lot of improvements and upgrades since last winter.”

Upgrades to the slopes include the purchase of six SMI Super PoleCat snow guns. The resort now has 46 of these high-tech guns. Add the dozens of smaller guns it already operates, and this year’s snowmaking ability will excel prior years atop Beech Mountain.

Beech Mountain Resort improved a lighting system for night skiing and new Magic Carpet conveyor lift has replaced an aging J-bar that Beech Mountain Resort General Manager Ryan Costin particularly pointed out.

“The new lift is a big-ticket item for beginners, who will really notice the improvement,” Costin said.

For the first time, Burton Learn-to-Ride Center at the resort will offer expert half-day and full-day snowboard lessons for juniors and adults, and for skiers, the Rossignol Experience Center has a brand new fleet of skis, poles, boots and bindings.

And this winter for those eight years of age and older who rent ski or snowboard equipment at Beech Mountain Resort Monday through Thursday (excluding holiday periods) will receive free lessons.

This season when you walk into the View Haus expect to have an unfamiliar feeling because this is the first remodeling of the View Haus in four decades. New interior furnishings include all the carpet, tables, chairs and railings; state-of-the-art lighting; renovated bathrooms with automated fixtures; and an upgraded bar area

In addition, the new brewery in the village, Beech Mountain Brewing Co., which expanded this summer after merging with Blind Squirrel Brewery, was also completely refurbished to include an “upscale-lodge atmosphere.”

Don’t forget the new Skybar 5506’ that opened before the prior season and offers a unparalleled view of the High Country at 5,506 feet. Beech Mountain Resort will offer weather-permitting shuttles to the highest ski bar on the East Coast.

“People are seeing that we’re truly invested in making this one of the top ski resorts in the Southeast,” Costin said. “ All these upgrades are steps in that direction.”

And best of all, the upgrades and improvements are expected to continue in the form of increased and improved lighting on the slopes, more events offered, new signage and more.

Beech Mountain Resort will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice. For more information, click to www.beechmountainresort.com or call 800-438-2093.

For a rundown in more detail of “What’s New” at Beech Mountain Resort, see below:

What’s New?

We take pride in our product and are continually working to improve the customer experience. We did a lot of work in the off season to provide a more comfortable atmosphere on and off the slopes!

New Shopping and Dining!

View Haus Remodel

Beech Mountain Resort’s largest facility, the View Haus, has recently received a fresh, upgraded look, including an updated interior showcasing a mountain lodge feel, as well as a new, larger bar, flat screen televisions, new tables and chairs to provide more comfortable seating, and brand new bathrooms. The View Haus, originally constructed in 1969, is ready to serve as a classic and unique venue for all kinds of events with space for over 400 guests.

Beech Mountain Brewing Co. expands and merges

In a collaboration that’s sure to please the palate of craft beer aficionados, Beech Mountain Brewing Co. has merged with Blind Squirrel Brewery. The combined brewery, under the guidance of Brewmaster Will Young, will set the standard for craft beer in the High Country. Make sure to visit the brewery, located in Ski Village, to taste an exciting lineup of beers born from the finest ingredients and crafted with amazing attention to detail. The brewery itself was completely remodeled over the summer to include a brand new deck and a comfortable tap room accessible to skiers and non-skiers a like. This will no doubt be one of the resort’s most popular spots this season.

New Coffee Shop at 5506’

5506’ is happy to welcome a new partner, Bald Guy Brew. Enjoy specialty espresso drinks, organic and fair trade coffees, pastries, and various other food items with the best view in the high country. Learn more about Bald Guy Brew here.

Beech Village Gifts

Have you ever wanted to take a piece of Beech Mountain Resort home with you? Now, you can. Beech Village Gifts, a brand new gift shop adjacent to Ski Beech Sports, is now open! Purchase resort souvenir hats, shirts, accessories, stickers, and more to find gifts for the entire family.

New Equipment & Learning Opportunities

Free skiing & snowboarding lessons

Skiing and snowboarding lessons are valuable to everyone from excited first timers to those getting back in the game. Now, enjoy a free lesson included with the purchase of rental equipment. Lessons will be available Monday through Thursday for ages eight and older.

Rossignol Experience Center-New Rental Equipment

The all-new Rossignol Ski Experience Center at Beech Mountain offers the latest collection of high performance rental equipment for 2014-15, including brand-new Rossignol Experience skis and Rossignol boots for men and women. Whatever your level of expertise, our Rossignol Experience gives you the quality gear and confidence you need to have a great ski experience.

Burton Learn to Ride Center

You are never too experienced to learn new tricks or try new things. Burton Learn to Ride (LTR) Centers are located worldwide, including, for the first time ever, Beech Mountain. The LTR Center enhances the entire snowboarding experience, from skill development to gear and is designed to get you up and riding before you even realize it. Gain new skills from the best hands-on instruction available in a low-pressure learning environment via half-day or full-day lessons. Then, test your skills on high-quality gear made specifically for beginners from Burton, a globally leading snowboarding manufacturer.

The Burton Learn to Ride equipment is designed to accelerate the learning curve with an integrated system of boots, boards and bindings that were developed to provide ease of use and instill confidence at the introductory level. The Learn to Ride snowboards feature a softer flex and an edge bevel, which reduces the likelihood of catching an edge and makes linking turns easier.

If you have already perfected your snowboarding skills, The Burton Learn to Ride Center offers a full line of new rental snowboards.

Snow & Slope Improvements

New Pisten Bully Park Pro 400

The new Pisten Bully Park Pro 400 snow groomer will enable the Beech Mountain crew to maintain our grounds and provide a quality, well-groomed environment for our customers.

New Snowmaking

Ample snow coverage is a guarantee this season due to the five new SMI Super Pole Cat Snow Guns placed in key locations on the slopes.

Magic Carpet lift access from the Play Yard

Beech Mountain Ski Resort recently installed a brand new Magic Carpet conveyor lift to enhance the ski and snowboarding experience for all, especially beginners, by providing a hassle-free and stress-free way to get up the beginner slope. Located in the Play Yard, the Magic Carpet will eliminate any pre-ride jitters for beginners of all ages.

New Programs for the Kids

Snow Kamp

Snow Kamp provides a positive first-time experience of skiing and snowboarding to children while supporting parents with all day childcare. Children ages 3 to 5 years old are welcome to participate in this fun and welcoming introduction to snow sports and the mountain, where they will be encouraged to play and while learning skiing or snowboarding fundamentals.

When they are ready, all participants can receive quality coaching from our team of trained instructors with a three-phase lesson plan all about safety, fun, and education, with a gentle learning curve designed to provide fun on and off the snow. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy a day on the slopes while their kids learn and play in the snow in this day-long program, including lunch and snacks.

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Remodeled Beech Mountain Brewery
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Remodeled deck and patio area outside of Beech Mountain Brewing Co.
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One of new SMI Super PoleCat snow guns and new Magic Carpet conveyor lift on the beginner slope in background.
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Another view of the Beech Mountain Brewery.
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A portion of the brand new fleet of rental equipment offered at Beech Mountain Resort.
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Remodeled View Haus at Beech Mountain.
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New bar area in remodeled View Haus at Beech Mountain.
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New gift store in Alpine Village.
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New expanded space at Beech Mountain Brewery.