I'm writing this with a heavy heart. Over the last three to four years, the resort has taken a dive in customer service.

Two years ago, the (thankfully gone) former CEO gutted the Courtesy/Safety Patrol and the customer service volunteer force, in one of his usual, monumentally stupid decisions. The result has been pandemonium in the lift lines. No one seems to give a damn in the customer service side, including the ski patrol, food and beverage, and parking attendants. Notably supportive are the shuttle drivers who are also aghast at management, and the groomers, who despite being decimated themselves, have done a wonderful job.

This weekend, despite incredibly wonderful conditions and snow out the ying-yang, it was a cluster. The Western Territory quad had no management except one sole, brave attendant who was desperately trying to do both ticket zapping and line control. The ski patrol was busily having fun on the slopes while the Western Territory quad had a line clear out to Arbuckle's Cabin. As a result, the quad was running with one to three people per chair, no one was directing traffic, there was no single's line, and when customers took it upon themselves to self-police, the ski patrol came in, more interested in not having to wait for a chair than in customer service. The result was pandemonium.

Saturday, one of my guests was struck and injured by an out-of-control boarder on lower Cupp. We went out looking for a patroller. None in sight.

The bus depot, normally policed by an attendant, was devoid of traffic control. The result was a mad rush to the buses resembling more the evacuation of the Port Au Prince Presidential Palace during the Haiti earthquake, than a line to the bus. Out of control teen-agers literally pushed women and children aside to get to the bus.

It was a sad spectacle. On the bus to Silver Creek, numerous customers were voicing their concern.

I love Snowshoe. I've been going there now for over 20 years. The resort can be, and is, a wonderful destination. Parts of it, such as the incredibly fastidious grooming on Lower Shay's this weekend, reflected a motivated workforce. However, management seems to be totally out of touch with their customer base and over the last three years, it has accelerated. Perhaps instead of management, they need some leadership. Sad.

I have noticed the exact same thing at Snowshoe this year, though I have only been there a dozen times in the last 5 years.
On a more positive note, I have also noticed The Soaring Eagle Lodge doing the exact opposite; they will pamper us until we smile, and the service is top-notch.

The above first post should be printed out, emailed to a few key individuals at SS. I would even go as far as sending a copy to the 5 to 7 real estate offices. These agents want to sell more property and will be by your side to make sure that they have 1/2 a chance at selling something; they want you to have a good experience, again hoping to sell us a piece of land. Just a thought...

Time for Mr. Jim Justice to move in and show Intrawest how to run a resort. I can see it now, there will be an awesome new lodge at Top of the World and it will have table games galore...

I can only dream...

As long as the customers keep coming back...complain as they will...they will probably pay a new $99 lift ticket and complain all the way to the cash register, money-in-hand. Bill Rock discovered the formula: to make $$$ - raise prices, cut service, cut personnel...and they'll keep on coming anyway!!! Why would Intrawest change a good thing??? It's just business...sad...but business.

If I had a dollar for every customer that said they'd never come back...BUT THEY DO...I could almost afford a lift ticket! LOL LOL Someone must be coming - they're still in business!

I swore off Snowshoe years ago. I broke that vow last season but I feel like I had a valid reason. When they extended their season last year I went up for a last hurrah because everywhere else was closed. On top of that one of my riding buddies missed his entire season due to surgery, including our trip to Big Sky, so I paid for his lodging and lift tickets for the weekend too. It worked out pretty well because there were no lift lines. Conditions were good for that time of year and most importantly of all my buddy had a blast. With that I revised my vow. I refuse to go to Snowshoe in peak season. I used to organize a trip up there for a big group of friends every year but after a while it became hard to justify the 4 hour drive, the $76 lift tickets and the ridiculous lift lines. I would consider going in mid March when things are quieter but otherwise I'm not going.

I also have to add that for the dollars and time it takes to get to Snowshoe VT or NH can be pretty reasonable. I scored a deal for Rt flights on Southwest from BWI to Manchester for $80/person. From Manchester Loon and Cannon are 1hr 30mins. The Econolodge is only $76/night and is 5 minutes from the mountain. Jay is 1 hour 30 from Loon. The Woodshed Lodge (awesome B&B) is only $113 including taxes for a room that could sleep 3. BTW the Jay Village Inn has food that is nothing short of incredible. If you have a season pass, or in my case and Advantage Card, for any mountain in the workld, Jay will knock $20 off your lift ticket. In the space of 4 days you can have some epic riding and it doesn't have to be outlandishly expensive.

Have not been back since 2007. But we really don't even get to ski but a couple of days a year any more anyway..............

I have no intention of going to Snowshoe. Maybe with a buddy during a weekday lark. But 90% of my skiing is with my daughter and so it is when she is out of school. That equals crowds and from what I have read on this forum the past few years the place sounds too dangerous. Sounds like they need to get their act together quickly.

Sometimes I say the same things but then again the week before xmas I skied light powder every day with my 9 year old and had a great time, beat all hell out of working, which is the important thing. If skiing is viable and SS screws up there will be alternatives, otherwise, we deserve what we get. Maybe Lou should join ski patrol. Peace.

(when does Andy chime in about MPC?)

If my schedule allowed it, I would. My plans are a second retirement soon... And relocating to a ski property in Mt. Snow or Stowe. My spiritual batteries have always been in Vermont, having learned to ski there, attended College and lived there before entering US Air Force pilot training.

I was discussing SS yesterday and came to the same conclusion:
There lift lines, so there are tons of people having purchased tickets. These people are not happy, but they keep coming back.
Under the circumstances, it would be difficult for snowshoe to change what they are doing: making money in a hurry.

I also skied at SS this weekend, but had a very different experience. I was with three other adults and two children, ages 5 and 8. Our skills ranged from beginner to advanced. We skied Saturday and Sunday at the Silver Creek area and had a great time. Snow conditions were excellent, there were essentially no lines at any of the lifts (we used them all), and the slopes were not crowded.

Silver Creek is always quieter and it's absolutely fun to ride there but I always feel like it's akin to driving 4 hours to ride Whitetail for 2 straight days. I'm paying out the nose for a pas for the whole mountain but then only use a third of it or less. I almost wish they had a SC only pass that I could buy cheaper.

Southern skiers are the most fanatical, and most of Snowshoe's skiers seem to come from further south, not from the DC area or Pittsburgh. In my observation southern skiers will bear any price, any inconvenience getting there, and bad service, all without complaint. Perhaps SS management has noticed the same thing.

Frankly the only day we go to Blowshoe is on WV day when its free for anyone with a WV drivers license.

Hummm...the more I read about SS the more I fear it will be the Killington of the South. We had a multi mt pass for YEARS that included killington and we avoided at all cost. Crazy crowds, not the most friendly folks, and MANY other options on the same pass. Large mountains can demonstrate good mgmt. We logged about 20 days at Sunday River one season and NEVER had a problem even on the "crowded" weekends. Stratton is another Intrawest resort and we always had fun there. Efficient crowd control, amusing people watching, and we rarely paid for our ticket d/t promotions. Do promotions exist down here? They seem hard to come by.

We are doing one day at SS next Friday. We always look for the good in a resort... I just hope that I do not have traumatic flashbacks of the K-mart masses. Needless to say, missin' my New England resorts.

Bring a magnifying glass...however, a usually empty weekday @$79/per...a SS/Intrawest snowdream at the ticket booth! But, man, that's a long daytrip isn't it?

Guess it's near three hours but never made the drive before...we are crashing in the area Friday nite, probably do some non-skiing outdoor stuff on Saturday. Have Kroger coupon to help in the wallet dept.

Denis - As a Snowshoe homeowner, I counted the home states of my reservations this season. Based on this simple count I believe this confirms your observation.

NC - 8
VA - 6
FL - 4
SC - 4
GA - 3
MD - 3
AL - 2
PA - 2
WV - 2
KY - 1
TN - 1

Ironically, my family has skied 4 times this season

Hidden Valley - 2
7 Springs - 1
Wisp - 1

and ........ SNOWSHOE - 0

I have always Stressed that Snowshoe is a "Southern" resort..the fact that the NC resorts are having a Banner year so far means Less visits to SS which might explain the lower crowds...just a thought..