Finally some love from the snow gods

No surprises here, but Colorado’s ski industry is reporting a drop in skier visits for the winter, probably thanks to the mediocre mid-season snowfall for the central mountains, home to the state’s most-visited resorts.

Trade group Colorado Ski Country USA reported Thursday that its member resorts (which don’t include Vail Resorts’ four mountains) saw a 4 percent drop in visits from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, compared to the same period last season. For the season to date, visits are down 2 percent.

“Snow conditions are the biggest driver of visitation,” said Melanie Mills, president & CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA, in a news release. “So where conditions were dry during some important mid-season weeks, we saw a sizable drop in visits. The combination of snow, when it arrived, and a smorgasbord of great deals really boosted visits in February.”

But things are changing. Most mountains have been finally getting some love from the snow gods, and the industry is hoping for a big spring break boost.

For more about the snow on the mountain, visit the Gazette's Out There Blog