Western North Carolina is home to six different ski resorts, all in the Appalachian Mountain Range. They feature ski seasons running from October to late March or early April. If you're looking for something to do for New Year's Eve, several of these resorts offer entertaining options.
Beech Mountain Resort is located near the Tennessee-North Carolina border, where the Cherokee National Forest and the Pisgah National Forest meet. The "Beech" has more than 600 lodging units, access to three regional airports, a 7,000 square-foot outdoor skating rink and several recreation options, from skiing to snowboarding to tubing. On Dec. 31, Beech Mountain hosts its own New Year's Eve celebration with two different fireworks shows, live entertainment by local bands and late-night ice skating.
Beech Mountain Resort
1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy.
Beech Mountain, NC 28604
800-438-2093
skibeech.com
Located just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in western North Carolina, the Cataloochee Ski Area offers action on holidays, including New Year's Eve, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., though holiday rates apply for such things as rooms, life tickets and equipment rentals. The Cataloochee has no lodging, but does offer access to more than a dozen home and condo rentals through its website and can provide referrals to a dozen more traditional hotels and motels. Along with skiing, the Cataloochee offers TubeWorld, a five-lane tube park with moving carpet lift to help you get from bottom to top.
Cataloochee Ski Area
1080 Ski Lodge Rd.
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
800-768-0285
cataloochee.com
Located in the Pisgah National Forest, the Sugar Mountain Resort hosts its own New Year's Eve Celebration every year. It includes a local band performing, torchlight parade and fireworks at midnight. Indoor festivities are also held, but require a fee and a reservation, which should be made a month in advance. Sugar Mountain has 20 dedicated slopes on 115 acres for beginner, intermediate and advanced. Guests can also tube, enjoy the outdoor ice rink, ski school and equipment rentals. For lodging, access more than 25 options through Sugar Mountain's website.
Sugar Mountain Resort
1009 Sugar Mountain Dr.
Sugar Mountain, NC 28604
800-784-2768
skisugar.com
