Gatlinburg, Tennessee — It’s interesting to see the difference a few years can make at a ski resort. At Ober Mountain, its skiing operations had become limited due to warming winters down south. In 2023, the momentum started to shift thanks to an ownership change. Thanks to new snowmaking equipment and two new quad chairlifts, Ober is now setting operational records.
Yesterday, Ober Mountain showed how snowmaking operations are going. While it’s fairly warm there, Ober can make snow thanks to the Latitude 90 and Snow Magic snowmaking systems. These all-weather snowmaking systems allow them to make snow at warmer temperatures. If you’re familiar with Ski Ward, this Latitude 90 system may ring a bell. The difference between the two mountains is that Ober has 14 of these all-weather systems, enabling it to make snow across a variety of terrain. The opening trail lineup is expected to be Cub Way and Lower Castle Run.
Ober explained its importance in a social media comment this week:
“These machines are a huge investment and a total game changer to our ski season. Not only can we extend the season, but we also can create predictable snow and conditions when mother nature isn’t cooperating.”
The results spoke for themselves last season. Ober operated for 127 days last winter, which was their longest season ever.
About Ober Mountain
Along with its southern location, Ober Mountain stands out because it’s much more than just a skiing operation. Located in Gatlinburg, many tourists come through on their way to and from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The ski area features 11 trails, 4 lifts (and a few others for operations outside of winter sports), and a vertical drop of 660 feet. The ski resort also features an aerial tram, which connects downtown Gatlinburg to the slopes. Other winter activities at the ski resort include snow tubing, ice skating, and a snowplay zone.
Some of the other activities include ziplines, a mountain coaster, rock climbing, a carousel, and bumper boats. In 2023, Ober Mountain opened a mountain biking park. Over the past few years, Ober has expanded its biking trail network. Last winter saw the opening of two new quad chairlifts; one for scenic viewing, and one that services most of the skiable terrain.
Image Credits: Ober Mountain
