Tri-State Ski Slopes Remain Ghost Town Amid Warm December
VERNON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- December usually brings a white blanket to the ski slopes in the Tri-State Area, but this year, they are dry -- and ghost town too.
At Mountain Creek in Vernon, New Jersey, ski gear was locked up and the locker room was empty. There seemed to be more people on the golf course this December.
"This has happened before," said Bill Benneyan, president of Mountain Creek. "Winter will always arrive."
But it has made for a major delay in business for ski resorts around the area, as it is as green as far as the eye can see.
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The resorts said the slopes will remain green, not only because it is not cold enough to create snow, but because we need a few cold nights of frost to harden the ground.
"Snowmaking is art; science -- most people think at 32 when it freezes, that's good snowmaking. The best snowmaking temperatures are 12 to 22," Benneyan said.
Humidity also needs to be low.
The story was the same Tuesday at Ski Campgaw in Mahwah, where Christmas week is usually one of the most profitable.
"It's depressing," said Tony Rinaldi of Campgaw, "but you know what? It's nature, and nature has a way of paying us back. And I think this year is going to be a nice, long end to the season like last year was."
Last year, people were still in ski jackets on Easter. Still, Rinaldi said Campgaw has lost enough money to be a "total bummer."
Rinaldi said Campgaw usually has a couple thousand people a day during winter break, and at $38 a day pass, it adds up.
Meanwhile, the East Coast's loss is the West's gain.
"Clients that were originally booked on the East Coast – whether it be Killington or Stratton -- are starting to fly out west," said Guido Papa of the Papa Travel Agency.
Both New York ski spots say they are praying to that snow gods that come the New Year, they will be open.
On Monday, Campgaw general manager Kristin Orozovich told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell that the plan was to be making the snow by this weekend.
She said the snow guns need to be going for a week before the slopes can open.
