Roger Moraes – and several hundred other winter sports enthusiasts – couldn’t wait to hit the slopes at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, which opened its season on Friday.
The snowboarder from Pittsburgh arrived in the Laurel Highlands at 2 a.m. Friday and slept outside so that he could be the first in line as the largest ski resort in Pennsylvania opened for the 2024-25 season.
So how excited was Moraes for the opening?
“On a scale of one to 10? Probably 11,” Moraes said with a big grin. “I’ve always been a rider all my life. Seven Springs has always been my mountain. I started here in 1991, when snowboarders weren’t much welcome around here.”
Snowboarders certainly are welcome at the resort now, as Seven Springs is home to six terrain parks, but so are skiers, as the resort has 33 slopes and trails on 285 skiable acres.
Moraes, who comes to Seven Springs between 30 and 50 times per year, loves having one of Pennsylvania’s best winter sports resorts within a short drive of Pittsburgh.
“Seven Springs has always been a part of my life,” he said. “That’s where I learned. I’m always going to be here. I love Seven Springs.”
What's New at Seven Springs
Seven Springs announced a series of enhancements aimed at elevating the guest experience for the upcoming season. In addition to its already impressive offerings – including an on-site hotel, indoor pool, arcade, bowling alley and snow tubing park – the resort is expanding its family-friendly amenities with new full- and half-day children’s group lessons. Professional instructors, specially trained to work with kids, will help young skiers and snowboarders build confidence and master new techniques.
To keep guests connected, Seven Springs has launched four new live webcams, showcasing popular areas like North Face, Tahoe Lodge, Avalanche Slope and Snow Tubing.
Additionally, Seven Springs, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Snowsports Museum, unveiled a new exhibit in the Main Lodge’s Center Lobby. This display features memorabilia from the resort's history, including parts from the original rope tow, vintage skis, and historic photographs.
The resort has made significant investments in snowmaking and grooming, adding energy-efficient HKD snowmaking equipment and four new grooming machines, including a Piston Bully PB400 Park Pro. These enhancements aim to improve snow quality and early season terrain availability. Lastly, to enhance guest convenience, Seven Springs has added 300 new parking spaces near the Meadowoods area.
Signature Seven Springs Events for the 2024-25 Season
- New Year’s Eve Festivities, Dec. 31
- Toyota Take-Over Weekend Rail Jam, February
- Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games, February
- Pond Skim, March
- New this season – Thursday night bubly snow tubing parties!
When Laurel Highlands Ski Resorts Will Be Open
The slopes at Seven Springs Mountain Resort will open for skiing and snowboarding from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6; from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7; and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The slopes will be closed Monday-Thursday, then reopen on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.
Snowmaking efforts will continue as conditions permit at Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Laurel Mountain. Opening dates have not yet been announced for Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain.
