The Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, located in southwestern Pennsylvania’s gorgeous Laurel Highlands, is a winter wonderland both locals and visitors cherish. This resort, just a short drive from Pittsburgh, has some of the most incredible skiing and snowboarding in the state, with 20 routes spread across 70 acres of skiable terrain. Laurel Mountain has something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie hitting the slopes for the first time. Aside from skiing and snowboarding, the resort provides a variety of other winter sports, such as snow tubing and snowshoeing. When ready to get out of the cold, head to the resort’s toasty lodge with a roaring fireplace and tasty food and drink selections.
History
Laurel Mountain dates back to the winter of 1939 when Pittsburgh financier Richard King Mellon began planning a ski facility for members of the renowned Rolling Rock Club on the western face of Laurel Ridge.
The game enthralled Mellon. After returning from a ski vacation at his former employee’s nearby home, the Dupre’s Seven Springs home, Mellon decided to establish his ski facility. In the winter of 1939-40, Mellon’s banking colleague, Harvey Gibson, chairman of New York’s Manufacturer’s Trust Company and owner of Cranmore Mountain, was contacted for advice on developing a ski slope for the Rolling Rock Club adjacent Ligonier.
Early in 1940, Mellon’s right-hand man, Len Bughman, announced the arrival of “the biggest name in the then small ski world.” Laurel Mountain was created by European skiing icon Johann “Hannes” Schneider, a renowned Austrian ski guide and the originator of the Arlberg Method, the foundation of contemporary alpine skiing technique.
The Nazis arrested Schneider at the height of his career for his resistance to Austria’s annexation. Gibson facilitated Schneider’s release and relocation to New Hampshire in 1938.
Schneider and Arnold Berry designed the trails and slopes on Laurel Mountain, as they had done the year before at Gibson’s Cranmore Mountain in New Hampshire. Schneider devised a master plan that would be carried out over three years. The route and lodge were built beginning in 1940.
The Best of the Resort
- Ten chairlifts serve 33 slopes and trails.
- There are 285 skiable locations.
- There are seven terrain parks, including a superpipe.
- The region’s largest snow tubing park Rental and equipment shops
- An indoor swimming pool
- A bowling lane
- Golf in miniature
- Bear Snare Game Room Fun Zone
- Skating on roller skates
- Trillium Spa
- Several restaurants offer a variety of dining experiences
- Special activities are held all year.
- Accommodations range from cozy guest rooms to slopeside townhomes.
Adventure Parks
Extreme skiers and snowboarders return yearly to the Laurel Highlands ski resorts for mountain thrills in the terrain parks. There are terrain parks for all skill levels spread throughout three alternatives, with every size and type of jumps, rails, and pipes. Beginners can hone their abilities on more accessible courses before progressing to more complex elements and finally conquering the expert leaps and rails.
Laurel Mountain – An Experts-Only Ski Resort
Regarding Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, you fall into one of two camps. Those in Camp #1 have yet to learn what this resort is. Those in Camp #2 are die-hards who fantasize about the resort. Prioritizing the top qualities of the best ski resorts in Pittsburgh is pivotal for an exquisite trip. Laurel Mountain, a local favorite ski resort that closed in the early 2000s, was opened again for the 2016–17 ski season after being closed for many years of labor and campaigns from the people who adore this small mountain retreat. Talk to any local at the lodge, and you’ll quickly realize how much they love this property and how relieved they are that it is back in operation.
This resort is the smallest of the three covered in this book, but it excels at what it offers. The resort is an inverse mountain with a newly refurbished chalet-style lodge at the top, and all routes connect at the bottom, where the park’s only ski lift transports you back to the top. Aside from that, the property has no infrastructure because it is on state land leased to Seven Springs for skiing. There are only you, the mountain, and the little but beautiful lodge. Intrigued? You ought to be.
They rank this one as expert because the about a dozen paths are anything but easy. The few greens are more like easy blues (with rather long runs), and the trails get increasingly more complex from there. To give you an idea of what we’re talking about, the resort’s double black diamond, Lower Wildcat, is believed to be the steepest slope in Pennsylvania.
Best Winter Activities in Laurel Highlands
Visiting the Laurel Highlands is one of the best weekend getaways in any season. Outdoor lovers will enjoy the many winter activities, history buffs will learn about George Washington, the French and Indian War, and the Revolutionary War, and foodies will enjoy superb comfort meals across the region. Enjoy these experiences while sipping locally manufactured spirits for craft beer and wine lovers.
Where exactly is Laurel Highlands?
The Laurel Highlands are a mountainous region in southwestern Pennsylvania that spans 3,000 square miles and is shared by three counties: Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland. This diversified region is within 250 miles of Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC. Some of the top attractions in Laurel Highlands are less than an hour away from Pittsburgh, making the location one of the best weekend getaways from the city.
Snowboarding and skiing
The Laurel Highlands boasts four excellent ski and snowboard destinations with perfect slope conditions, providing some of the most incredible skiing in Pennsylvania. Visit Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Laurel Mountain, Hidden Valley Resort, and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort to hit the slopes.
Tubing in the snow
Snow tubing is one of the most enjoyable winter hobbies for the entire family! Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Hidden Valley Resort, and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort are the three snow tubing parks in Laurel Highlands.
They went snow tubing at Seven Springs, the region’s largest snow tubing resort, which has 11 tubing lanes, and the Magic Carpet, a conveyor that transports riders back to the top of the tubing lanes.
Other Outdoor Activities
If you don’t ski or snowboard and want to experience the winter season in another way, Laurel Highlands has wonderful snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding.
Hiking in the Winter
Winter is my favorite season for trekking. It’s like wandering in a gigantic snow globe with a fresh blanket of snow and the exhilarating, crisp air! With 120,000 acres of state parks, the Laurel Highlands has some of the best hiking routes in Pennsylvania. There are eight state parks, two state forests, and several local parks to visit, including the Laurel Highlands 70-mile backpacking and hiking trail. Hike the Pumphouse Trail to the historic Jones Mill Dam and see the beautiful waterfalls at Ohiopyle State Park.
FAQs About Laurel Mountain Ski Resort in Pittsburgh
1. When does Beech Mountain open?
Hours of operation as usual 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday and on holidays
2. How many slopes and trails are at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort?
The resort features 20 slopes and trails ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert. The overall skiable area is around 70 acres.
3. How high is the Laurel Mountain Ski Resort?
The resort’s base elevation is 2,320 feet, while its summit elevation is 2,988.
4. How long is the longest Laurel Mountain Ski Resort run?
The longest run at the resort is called “Broadway,” and it is 5,200 feet long.
5. Is snowmaking available at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort?
The resort has a snowmaking system covering roughly 90% of the skiable terrain.
6. Does Laurel Mountain Ski Resort have any terrain parks?
Yes, there is a terrain park named “The Streets” at the resort, which contains numerous rails, boxes, and jumps.
7. How much snow falls on average at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort?
The resort receives roughly 100 inches of snow per year on average.
8. Is night skiing available at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort?
The resort does not provide night skiing.
9. Do you have any accommodation choices at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort?
No, the resort does not provide lodging. Visitors can, however, select from several neighboring hotels and vacation homes.
10. Aside from skiing and snowboarding, what other activities are provided at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort?
The resort has hiking and mountain biking paths, as well as picturesque chairlift excursions, throughout the summer months. Throughout the year, the resort also offers a variety of events and festivals, such as live music performances and gourmet festivals.