Ohio Ski Season: Some Resorts Uncertain About Opening Date, All Implementing New COVID-19 Guidelines

With the arrival of colder weather, Ohio’s ski resorts are slowly beginning to open. Alpine Valley in Geauga County opened for the season on Monday with new guidelines in place.

Vail Resorts has not set an opening date for Boston Mills or Brandywine because of uncertainty with snowmaking, said Thomas Conti, spokesman for Vail Resorts, which owns Alpine Valley as well as Boston Mills and Brandywinein the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

“It's always about 2 to 3 degrees warmer at Boston Mills, Brandywine than Brecksville or Chesterland or Peninsula. And because of that, it's kind of affected our snowmaking," Conti said. "We haven't had an opportunity to make as much snow as, for example, Alpine Valley has. We're really looking for this weekend. That's definitely our goal,” Conti said.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, new guidelines are also in place at all three resorts.

All employees are required to undergo temperature checks and answer a health screening questionnaire before being permitted to work, but Conti said there is no such requirement for guests.

"We would love to but that would include HIPAA violations, which nobody in the whole country can violate HIPAA restrictions," he said. "You can't ask about somebody's health and their personal health and wellness..."

The resorts have put a strict mask-wearing policy in place for everyone, Conti said, and are encouraging social distancing, including on ski lifts. All transactions are now cashless, and reservations are required online before entering the resorts.

Conti declined to disclose pandemic limits on resort capacity.

He said the resorts will not be hosting any special events this season to avoid mass gatherings.

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