When you think of skiing in America, your mind probably jumps to Colorado’s towering Rockies, New England’s mountains, or Utah’s legendary powder. But scattered across the country are four states that can claim only a single ski area to their name. Whether it’s geography, climate, or sheer stubbornness keeping these lone hills alive, they deserve some attention. Here are the four states flying solo on the ski map.
1. Alabama – Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort
Yes, Alabama has a ski area. Nestled in the Appalachian foothills near Mentone, Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort is the southernmost ski area in the eastern United States. With a vertical drop of just 150 feet and two rope tows, Cloudmont runs on snowmaking and sheer stubbornness, opening for a few precious weeks or days each winter. It’s a genuine labor of love, and if you want to say you’ve skied in all states possible, Cloudmont is required.
2. Maryland – Wisp Resort
Wisp Resort is the Maryland’s lone ski destination sitting on the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. Operating since 1955, Wisp offers a respectable 132 acres of skiable terrain, 32 trails, and a summit elevation of 3115 feet. Plus there’s a hotel, spa, and year-round activities to make it a proper four-season resort.
3. Tennessee – Ober Mountain
Perched above Gatlinburg in the Great Smoky Mountains, Ober Mountain is Tennessee’s one and only ski resort. Part ski area, part amusement park, part Appalachian experience, oyu reach the resort via aerial tramway from downtown Gatlinburg, and once you’re up top you’ve got eight trails, tubing lanes, an indoor ice rink, a wildlife encounter with black bears, and much more. The mountain features around 600 feet of vertical drop and snowmaking across all of the trails.
4. Rhode Island – Yawgoo Valley
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union, so maybe it’s fitting that it makes do with just one ski area. Yawgoo Valley in Exeter has been open since 1965, featuring 245 feet of vertical and 18 trails. It’s a family-friendly operation with a ski school, night skiing on most trails, and a summer water park that keeps things going year-round.
