Very little chatter about the Shoe this season. Once they get more open, I'll make my way down for a few midweek dates and avoid the brutal weekend Ballhooter massacre.

10 AM Tuesday DEC 9,2025

Here is a picture of the new Shaver Center that I took a couple of weekends ago. They just announced that it won't be open for a few more weeks, but they got it up quicker than I thought they would.

 Have you considered staying in Elkins or Marlinton?  Elkins is about 1 hour away and lodging cost is very reasonable.  

pagamony wrote:

Thanks. That looks good.  Might return later.  The main obstacle to Shoe trips is the cost of lodging.  Any lodging.  

Thanks.  Yep, stayed in Marlinton several times - at the eponymous motel, above the fire station, in a rental house, and in a scout camp nearer to Minniehaha that no longer exists ....   Elkins is the wrong side.  The economics depends on the number of people.  When you have a few people or more its nice to be close enough so someone can bug out without needing a car.  The new Shavers will help.  I want a nice 2 star motel right in Slatyfork :)

PS - anyone here old enough to remember the old Spruce lodge at Snowshoe ?

fosphenytoin wrote:

 Have you considered staying in Elkins or Marlinton?  Elkins is about 1 hour away and lodging cost is very reasonable.  

pagamony wrote:

Thanks. That looks good.  Might return later.  The main obstacle to Shoe trips is the cost of lodging.  Any lodging.  

I did not realize Elkins is the wrong side... I drive from NoVA.  That is the place my friends suggested when I first started skiing. They drove from Indiana and me from NoVA, we met up in Elkins.  Ever since, I stay in Elkins if I go SS.  
I have never stayed in Marlinton, I will consider it next time I go.  Thanks!

pagamony wrote:

  Elkins is the wrong side. 

.  

Marlinton is about a 20 - 25 minute ride south on 219 from the "entrance" to Snowshoe on WV rte 66. 

If you usually come thru Elkins, Marlinton is completely out of your way. You'd drive right past Snowshoe to get to Marlinton.

fosphenytoin wrote:

I did not realize Elkins is the wrong side... I drive from NoVA.  That is the place my friends suggested when I first started skiing. They drove from Indiana and me from NoVA, we met up in Elkins.  Ever since, I stay in Elkins if I go SS.  
I have never stayed in Marlinton, I will consider it next time I go.  Thanks!

pagamony wrote:

  Elkins is the wrong side. 

.  

 Correct.  I drive up from North Carolina, so Elkins is wrong for me, but good for fosphenytoin.

Blue Don 1982 wrote:

Marlinton is about a 20 - 25 minute ride south on 219 from the "entrance" to Snowshoe on WV rte 66. 

If you usually come thru Elkins, Marlinton is completely out of your way. You'd drive right past Snowshoe to get to Marlinto

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SS runs a hotel style lodging at the base but its over $200 / nt, so usefuless depends on who is going.  I would have needed 2 rooms, so not an efficient option for me.  I did not find any 'bargains' anwhere for Dec 21-23, even planning ahead.  It's interesting that I randomly met people on the mountain also complaining about lodging options and expense.  I see that  SS now how has a campground at the base.  Marlinton Motor Inn seems like the primary offsite small group option.  Yes I have stayed there and it is fine, but since it's not even in Marlinton, separated by a high pass, there really is nothing else nearby, other than snow.  Otherwise you can search Airbnb etc... for cabins off mountain but really the price difference was not 'amazing' considering the distance and amenities.  Might as well suck it up and stay on mountain.  Much better cost and options in Frisco or Midvale. 

snowsmith wrote:
What is the cheapest lodging in the Snowshoe area? Silver Creek? I thought there was a motel type property at the bottom of the mountain. How about VRBO? I’m trying to understand why someone would want lodging an hour’s drive from the resort?  

snowsmith wrote:

What is the cheapest lodging in the Snowshoe area? Silver Creek? I thought there was a motel type property at the bottom of the mountain. How about VRBO? I’m trying to understand why someone would want lodging an hour’s drive from the resort?  

 Back almost 20 years ago I stayed at the Inn At Snowshoe near where the mountain roads up to the resort and at Silvercreek.  Looks like on a weekend the Inn is $150/night.  On the plus side, there is a shuttle for skiing.  On the negative side, all the options for eating out are at the base at the top of the mountain.  Even staying at Silvercreek, really needed to bring food to cook for dinner to keep a kid happy.  She liked the indoor/outdoor pool there and I liked that it was in the building.  After those experiences, we booked at Rimfire.

For a solo traveler, the cost difference between slopeside lodging and a motel room can be a factor for where to stay.  Perhaps a simpler decision process for a family with kids where having more space and a kitchen is worthwhile.

snowsmith wrote:

What is the cheapest lodging in the Snowshoe area? Silver Creek? I thought there was a motel type property at the bottom of the mountain. How about VRBO? I’m trying to understand why someone would want lodging an hour’s drive from the resort?  

We have stayed at the Silver Creek lodge. It’s not bad, maybe kind of dated, but it works. 

I had a bad experience with an AirBNB there. The complete lack of cell service there made it extremely difficult to try to resolve. Might be an isolated incident but it turned me off to go with that service. 

Lodging, has become insanely expensive at Snowshoe. The "regular Joe's" and ski bums have been priced out. The motel you noted (Snowshoe Inn) can be a little pricey on weekends. It is a 10 - 15 minute shuttle ride to the Village and literally nothing to do down there once you return.

My friend runs a rental company with 100 plus units at the Shoe. There is not one damn vacancy for the weekend of Jan 2 - 4.

Many people are resorting to some of the Snowshoe Facebook groups, posting last minute lodging requests hoping to find a reasonable deal.

I'm a firm believer of taking a day or 2 off and going non holiday mid week.

Added holiday bonus today - Soaring Eagle lift was / is down today.   You pay top dollar for lodging and get to hang out with 200 new friends in the Ballhooter Lift Line.

snowsmith wrote:

What is the cheapest lodging in the Snowshoe area? Silver Creek? I thought there was a motel type property at the bottom of the mountain. How about VRBO? I’m trying to understand why someone would want lodging an hour’s drive from the resort?