The Mt. Shasta Ski Park plans to open its season on Thursday (Dec. 17) as some two feet of snow are expected to fall on the slopes over the next 48 hours, says ski park Marketing Director Jim Mullins.
The park currently has 12 inches of snow at its base and 14 to 16 inches at the top of its runs.
“Over the weekend we got a foot, so if we get a bunch more with this upcoming storm we should be in really good shape,” Mullins said.
Opening a full week before Christmas can be a big financial benefit for the park. It’s an ideal time for students and families on holiday break to reach the mountain to ski and snowboard. The ski park has sold some 5,000 season passes, many at the end of last season when there was a special offer at $199. Currently, season passes are being sold for $499.
During the region’s recent cold snap, the ski park was busy making its own snow. The park was able to cover most of its main runs with machine-made snow, Mullins said.
“People really seem to be ready to go,” he said. “We’ve got some nice special events and we think it’s going to be a great year on the mountain.”
The Mt. Shasta Ski Park has four lifts and 425 skiable acres.
Adult lift tickets are $29 on Monday through Thursday, and $39 on the weekend. Night skiing tickets are $16 Thursday through Saturday.
For information on snow conditions, call the park’s snow hotline at 926-8686 or click here and view park webcams.
The ski park employees 288 people during the winter season, Mullins said. About 200 of them are returning from last year.
“We’re getting quite a few people who want to come back again and again and that’s good for us in terms of training,” Mullins said.
