New lift added as slopes are back in service at resort in W. Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Oglebay Park is hosting its first skiing and snowboarding season this year since 1997.
And while Oglebay was the only West Virginia resort to add a lift this season, others have upgraded lodging, trails and amenities.
Oglebay closed in 1997 after several years of poor snowfall, and the park could not afford to upgrade its antiquated snowmaking gear and lifts. A large gift from an anonymous donor, a flurry of small contributions and a $275,000 grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund provided the $1.2 million needed to add a new triple chair lift and high-capacity snowmaking equipment, according to The Charleston Gazette.
The hill provides a gentle run over a quarter-mile -- not a challenge for experts but ideal for beginners.
Elsewhere in West Virginia, Snowshoe Mountain Resort this year added lodging options, including Loggers Run, a four-bedroom slope-side condo complex next to Upper Hootenanny Trail; Creekside, a three-bedroom condo development at the Silver Creek ski area; and The Seneca, an upscale lodge at the Village at Snowshoe, scheduled for a midwinter opening.
A new beginners' terrain garden will open at the bottom of the Spruce Glades terrain park and existing terrain parks will be upgraded.
Guided overnight snowshoe and camping excursions will be offered and a new Snow Cat tracked vehicle will provide tours to the Boathouse restaurant at Shaver's Lake.
For more information, visit www.skiingwv.com.