Trip Report
Few ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic offer almost everything a skier or rider could want in a mountain. The region is home to small-to-mid-size ski resorts that have been for most of history independently owned and operated. The region is not blessed with huge verticals, thousands of acres of skiable terrain, or a long ski season. However, sooner or later, every skier or rider accepts the reality that nature provided you with a ski resort and you should be grateful for that, regardless of how high or big the mountain is.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort is a mid-sized ski resort that is located about an hour east of Pittsburgh in the Laurel Highlands off of the PA Turnpike. It was purchased by Vail Resorts in 2022 from Bob Nutting who was the former president and CEO of Seven Spring Mountain Resort. Vail Resorts owns eight Mid-Atlantic ski resorts in Pennsylvania including Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Jack Frost, and Big Boulder, Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, and Whitetail Resort.
Quick Facts and History:
- Founded in 1937
- Elevation: 2,994 ft
- Base Elevation: 2,240
- Vertical Drop: 750 ft
- Longest Run: 1.25
- Average Snowfall Per Year: 135 inches
- Skiable Terrain: 285
- Trails: 33
- Terrain Parks: 7
- Lifts: 10
- Beginner Terrain: 34%
- Intermediate Terrain: 44%
- Advanced Terrain: 22%
- Hotel and Lodging Accommodations: 7
Seven Springs sits at the top of the list when it comes to the other eight ski resorts in the state of Pennsylvania with size, terrain, trails, lifts, amenities, and lodging. It is the crown jewel of all the Vail Resorts in the Mid-Atlantic region and for good reason. The resort has a dedicated group of locals and draws visitors from Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Columbus, and Harrisburg, making it a regional destination spot. Seven Springs main hotel can accommodate 5,000 guests and has almost 1,200 condominiums and townhomes while also providing eight personal cottages and fifteen private chalets.
Besides having a wide variety of terrain for all skill levels of skiers to enjoy, Seven Springs also has plenty of indoor activities for friends or family who may not like being outside in the cold all day. The main lodge houses activities such as bowling, axe throwing, an indoor pool, an arcade center, mini golf, and the Trillium Spa. Whatever activity you are looking to find, Seven Springs is sure to have something that everyone will enjoy.
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There are also a wide variety of dining options on the mountain with 14 different locations at the main lodge or hotel that is sure to satisfy anyone’s palette. For those staying in the Slopeside Hotel or for those looking for a great place to eat, the Slopeslide Restaurant is a great choice. The restaurant serves a very nice breakfast buffet with a lot of selections every morning and also has an omelet station as well. The Slopeside serves as a great place for dinner when you want a quiet place to relax after a day of skiing. They offer a lot of classic menu items as well as more contemporary items as well. There are several other places on the mountain to get grab-and-go food options such as pizza, burgers, tacos, and gourmet hotdogs.
Seven Springs does offer a lot of amenities and activities for everyone to enjoy, but most come to the mountain for the wide variety of terrain it offers. It is one of the biggest ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic with 33 trails, 7 terrain parks, glade skiing, and a North Face complex. The mountain is spread out pretty evenly and skiers and riders can hit almost any part of the resort by accessing three lifts. The North Face complex is where you will find steep groomers accompanied by a series of headwalls that give you opportunity to do some carving. That is where you will find intermediate slopes like Gunnar, Giant Steps, and Yodeler which all can be accessed from the Gunnar Lift. It is also where you will find my favorite beginner run at Seven Springs, Lost Girl. It is about 4,646 feet long and is a super fun run to go down if you just want to enjoy being on the mountain and relax.
If you are looking for the best Apres Skiing in North America then Seven Springs has you covered in that category as well. The Foggy Goggle is known throughout the East as being one of the best bars to hit after a long day of skiing. The Goggle has multiple bars throughout the facility and features a DJ on the weekends and it is the place to be after a long day of skiing. This past December it was voted the Best Aprés Ski Bar in North America according to the USA Today 10 Best. If you are staying in the Slopeslide Hotel, the Barvarian Lounge is located across from the Slopeside Restaurant and provides a great place to relax, enjoy great drinks, and meet new people. Seven Springs also offers the Matterhorn which is a classic late-night hot spot and features live entertainment on the weekends in the winter.
Seven Springs hosts several events throughout the year, but perhaps the most meaningful and fun-filled is the Pennsylvania Special Olympics. It will be held this February 13-15 (Tuesday through Thursday) and is a great time not only for the athletes but also the volunteers. Athletes compete in four events: Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing. There is an Opening Ceremony on Tuesday night that features a parade through the breezeway by the clocktower at the main lodge.
It is an inspiring and touching gathering of almost 250 athletes, volunteers, and fans from Maryland and Pennsylvania to this special event. The Special Olympics is an event you could tell that means a lot to Brett Cook, the General Manager of Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain, and Hidden Valley Ski Resort. “The athletes are so much fun to be around, and the level of excitement they have for the event is so exciting for me and everyone else as well,” said Cook.
Cook plans on sending a team from Seven Springs to participate in the Polar Plunge fundraising event that happens at the Point in Pittsburgh which supports the Pennsylvania Special Olympics as well. He also is planning on setting up Seven Springs’s own Polar Plunge at the end of the year at Seven Springs’ Annual Pond Skim Event to build a stronger partnership and to awareness for the Special Olympics.
Another big event that will be happening this February 23-25 (Fri through Sun) is the Toyota Rail Jam which will be hosted by X Games Gold Medalist, Tom Wallisch. It will be a great event that can easily be watched from the Foggy Goggle Deck as athletes compete in the Foggy Bowl. The event will feature live music, giveaways, and a party at the Foggy Goggle with Toyota-themed cocktails. There are five categories for competitors and they have the chance to win $2,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place. Open Categories are competing for a $16, 000 prize and an invitation to compete in the Carinthia Classic at Mount Snow, Vermont.
There is always something going on at Seven Springs, whether it be competitions, wine tastings, beer fests, and much more. The resort is a prime destination spot that can host many events and has the infrastructure, facilities, and great atmosphere to be able to pull it off. Seven Springs is the spot to go to if you ever have the chance to go skiing in the Mid-Atlantic region and has something that everyone will enjoy. It is one of three resorts in the Western side of PA that are easily less than 45 minutes from each other and offer three different experiences. This makes Seven Springs, Laurel Valley, and Hidden Valley unique and rare to other areas in the Mid-Atlantic region and the “Triple Crown” of ski resorts in the state of Pennsylvania.
For more information visit Seven Spring’s website.
