Sunday, December 27, 2009
Ski areas celebrate West Virginia snowfall
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s ski areas are celebrating the snow.
West Virginia Ski Areas Association President Terry Pfeiffer says the storm that dumped well over a foot of snow on much of the state — and even more in places — was just what the industry needed.
The organization says all the state’s downhill ski areas now have abundant natural snow to start the important holiday season. So, too, do cross-country ski areas in Tucker and Pocahontas counties.
In West Virginia, ski season typically extends into April and the ski association estimates that season pumps $250 million into the state economy.
Resort anniversary
NEWRY, Maine — The Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry has just marked its 50th anniversary.
What was then called Sunday River Skiway first opened Dec. 19, 1959, with six trails, a single T-bar and a small base lodge. It now has 132 trails on eight peaks served by six lifts.
Bethel residents first got the idea to set up a resort after a T-Bar was installed in the western Maine town in 1947. It was later transferred to Barker Mountain in Newry where the new Sunday River was developed.
New service added
ORANJESTAD, Aruba — AirTran Airways has added new weekly service between Atlanta and the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba.
The discount carrier says the weekly nonstop route began Dec. 19 between Atlanta and the tourism-dependent island off Venezuela’s coast.
Florida-based AirTran also announced that it plans to introduce weekly nonstop flights between Orlando and Aruba on Jan. 9.
Timeshare units open at Planet Hollywood
LAS VEGAS — The first timeshare owners have begun moving into a new tower attached to Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip.
PH Towers by Westgate has 1,200 units including vacation homes and regular hotel rooms, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
Westgate Resorts Chief Operating Officer Mark Waltrip says 500 units are open now, while the others will be open by Friday.
Westgate owns the tower, while Planet Hollywood operates it. The Planet Hollywood casino-hotel is in talks with Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. for Harrah’s to take it over.
There is no deal yet, but Harrah’s has filed an application with Nevada gambling regulators for a license to run the property.
Associated Press