Snowboarder finds the gnar at Canaan Valley. Image Credit: West Virginia Department of Tourism.

West Virginia — Growing competition in the area is one of the reasons why a state-owned ski resort is upgrading its infrastructure.

WDTV reports that last week, Canaan Valley Resort announced improvements for the 2025-26 season. The key improvement is a massive overhaul to their snowmaking system. A new snowmaking pumphouse has been constructed, enabling greater production and improved efficiency. This will result in quicker openings and longer seasons. The other notable purchase is a snow groomer. The upgrades are made possible by a $6 million investment from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

“We are excited about bringing new improvements to our beloved mountain and can’t wait to welcome guests to an elevated skiing experience this winter,” said Ryan Rosenau, the General Manager of Canaan Valley Resort. “These investments continue our commitment to providing outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities in one of West Virginia’s most beautiful settings.”

The upgrades are partially to keep pace with a nearby competitor: Timberline Mountain. Revived by the owners of Perfect North in 2020, upgrades over there include new chairlifts, snowmaking upgrades, and more. Canaan Valley is nearby, so modernizing the facility is key to attracting new guests and/or encouraging longer stays to ski at both mountains.

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About Canaan Valley Resort

Part of the West Virginia State Park network, Canaan Valley is more than just a ski resort. The ski resort features 46 trails, 6 lifts, and a vertical drop of 850 feet. Other winter activities include snow tubing, nordic skiing pistes, snowshoe trails, and ice skating. In the summertime, Canaan Valley is home to a championship golf course, a fitness center with a pool, hiking and biking trails, scenic chairlift rides, and a sporting clays facility. Those who want to make a trip of it have various options, including a 160-room hotel (referred to as the Main Lodge), 23 cabins/cottages, and a campground that’s open during the warmer months.

Image Credits: West Virginia Department of Tourism, Canaan Valley Resort

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Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ian Wood became passionate about the ski industry while learning to ski at Mt. Sunapee. In high school, he became a ski patroller at Proctor Ski Area. He travelled out...