Cataloochee Ski Area
add photosCataloochee Ski Area is great for families. They're always offering special family deals like 2010's Cataloochee's Family Days each Wednesday! Any child 17 and under will receive a FREE lift ticket when accompanied by a parent purchasing a full price adult day, twilight or night lift ticket! Now and every Wednesday through the end of the season!
3 Reviews for Cataloochee Ski Area
1
11 family found this helpful
"The most child-unfriendly ski area"
To sum up my lengthy review--boring slopes, no options whatsoever, slow & old lifts, crowds, scores of newbies that run into people, ridiculous prices, horribly inappropriate for families with small children (under 4), extremely poor management. For details, read on.
I decided to take my family (myself, my husband and my mom, all of us intermediate to advanced skiers, and our 3-year-old son) on a long weekend to Cataloochee based on its proximity to Atlanta. Because of many unflattering reviews that I read about the resort, we headed out with very low expectations and with the conviction to keep our minds open for a fun, albeit not the most exciting, ski vacation. Little did we know that what awaited us was worse than anything we had imagined.
We headed to Chataloochee on Saturday morning with the intention to ski half day on Saturday, all day Sunday and half day Monday. Because our son is only 3, we planned on having one of us spend time sledding with him, somewhere just next to the ski runs or on the bunny slopes. Upon arrival at the ski area, we were immediately told that we cannot sled anywhere on the property of the ski area. So what can we do with a 3-year-old? Not much apparently. Ski lessons begin at 4. So we decided to rent ski gear and buy ski passes for me and my mom that day (only 2.5 hours left until the day pass expired) and have my son and husband wander around and find something else to do. They were stuck by a dumpster "playing" in the snow for 2.5 hours because there was no place for little ones to play anywhere on decent snow terrain, safe from novice skiers smashing into people. In the meantime, my mom and I were able to ski for a whooping total of 8 minutes (4 runs, 2 minutes-long each) for the next 2.5 hours, because of the extremely slow lifts (by the way—advertised 5 lifts? Think again--2 are the belts on the bunny slopes and the 3rd one is a tiny green run, therefore, we were left with 2 lifts to "choose" from, one of which was ridiculously short as well and missed the better part of the so-called "black diamond" run). So the lifts are super slow, very outdated, could not handle the smallest group of skiers/snowboarders that I have seen and stopped working every 5-10 minutes resulting in the most expensive and unsatisfying skiing day that I have ever had (including the time I almost tore my ACL and writhed in pain for days to follow). The one lift that was of any remote interest (Omigosh), had to be stopped for repair, after my mother and I hung in the air for over 20 minutes on one of our ascents up. So, $130+ for two adults and we had skied for 8 minutes. Hooray!
To make things worse, the slopes are cluttered with novices who cannot control their skis/snowboards and threaten to sweep even the most experienced skier off their feet and down the run. The runs themselves are mediocre at best and boring at their worst, with the most challenging run (Upper Omigosh) yielding an unsatisfying short section of a true black diamond and swiftly transitioning into a gentle blue/green slope. Half-way through the run, you start getting the “Slow Down” banners because the slope merges into the green run—who came up with that brilliant idea?
Chalking up Saturday's experience to bad luck, we decided to give it another shot the following day and to rent skis for our son. We did that, again at what felt like a ridiculous splurge for what we were getting, at $56 per adult for ski passes, $23 per ski set for adults and $17 for kids. The day actually turned out better than the one before. The weather was nice, there were far fewer people and the lift--imagine that--stopped only a few times throughout the day. We actually skied that Sunday and my son loved it!
Reenergized and optimistic, we came back on Monday for one final day, but we had only 3 hours to spare on the slopes before getting back in the car. We decided to save some cash and have my mom stay with our son on the bunny slope, while my husband and I skied. Well, what do you know--you cannot do that without ski or snowboard shoes + a ski pass!!! At the ticket counter they told us that we have to buy my mom an adult day pass and rent her a set of ski gear, for a total of over $70, although she would not be skiing. I politely asked if they could give her a complimentary pass since we'll only be there for 3 hours and our son really wants to ski again. "No, but we could sell you a 30-minute private lesson, if you'd like or you could talk to the general manager, said the apparently soulless cashier at the sight of my sobbing disappointed son. The general manager was clueless, to say the least. After being presented with our situation, he had the audacity to declare that he does not know the prices of the ski area he manages and that the prices are irrelevant anyway. I am not sure how Mr. Bates makes his money, but ours is hard-earned, so to me and my family it is very much relevant how and where we spend that money and the value we get for it. So I asked him directly whether he would be willing to provide us with a free pass and a set of ski boots and make us happy, or would he rather see us not spend $140+ today, never come back to this place and tell everyone who cares about our experience. You guessed it--he was as insightful as to say that he cannot give us anything for free because he’d have to start offering free passes to everyone. Keen.
I looked outside and saw all of 10 people on the slopes (of course, a very slow Monday in the Great Smokies) and imagined the hundreds of pairs of ski boots sitting idle in the rental shop, not bringing any money to at this moment. Indeed, it would have been a great loss to Cataloochee to provide us with unused gear on a super slow day to ensure our satisfaction and future return. I knew that very moment that it is useless to argue with ignorance, shortsightedness, lack of logic and utter absence of any managerial skill, so I turned around and left. Not only will I never go back to Cataloochee, but I will not grace any NC ski area with my presence or monetary patronage ever again. And I strongly urge you to heed all negative reviews you read and seriously consider your options before you risk repeating our bad experience at Cataloochee.
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1 family found this helpful
"Family friendly slopes"
Cataloochee is a great place for families to hit the slopes together. It’s a kid-friendly destination with a great staff. There is plenty of fun for all ages and skill levels of skiers and snowboarders. Once the kids are old enough for a lesson, pack on up and hit the slopes in Maggie Valley, NC.
As I mention in my review of the ski schools, Cataloochee employees are genuinely happy to be there. I think this says a lot about a workplace. Everyone is friendly and helpful with a sense of humor. One girl working to clean up the equipment area had the job designation “Trash Princess” on her nametag.
Upon arriving, be prepared to park in a remote lot and be bused to the slopes. The buses run regularly to minimize waiting. The lots can get muddy, so wear appropriate shoes. The buses are contracted out and the drivers are not always considerate of who can hear them. Sit in the back with your kids if you don’t want them to overhear some salty language during the short ride.
Now, this is not a romantic fireside and leather sofa kind of place. The entire lodge is a no-frills zone but meets your needs. Restrooms are clean and stocked but there is no diaper changing station. The cafeteria upstairs has a variety of food from hamburgers to salads. Large bench tables make up the dining area inside and on the porch. Picnics are allowed in designated areas only. A beer garden is in the same area but separate from the cafeteria lines. There is also a chow wagon outside the ski school building for those who can’t leave the slopes long enough to sit and eat.
When you arrive at the ski area read the signs. Everything is clearly labeled and gives you step by step instructions to get started. Otherwise, you may waste time waiting in the wrong lines. If you just need lift tickets line up at the windows outside. Otherwise, head inside for equipment rental, lessons, and lift tickets. There are also lockers and changing rooms inside. Lockers vary from 75 cent single use lockers to $3-5 all day rentals. Equipment available includes: skis (Head), snowboards, boots, bibs, jackets, and helmets, all in good condition. Ski and board rentals range from $15-$45 based on age weekday/weekend, and length of rental.
Upstairs you’ll also find the gear and gift shop where you can rent bibs and even a jacket. There is also a small, well-stocked store where you can pick up anything you may have left behind. They carry new and used equipment and clothing. Also on the upper level are the cafeteria, beer garden, and an information window.
Lines move quickly at Cataloochee. I think this is in large part to the staff liking their jobs so they do them well. Even during heavy traffic, the line for the beginner triple lift was 15 minutes. This is the slowest lift because beginners use it and the crew will slow it down to help get them on safely. The staff is great at coaching people into position to keep the lift moving smoothly, though. They encourage singles to pair up with others to keep the chairs full. The expert lifts had more staff keeping the lines moving and orderly.
The bunny slope is where adult lessons are held and students do get preference on the lift. Even with the extra traffic, the line moves quickly and smoothly. Instead of a tow rope, the beginner areas have moving carpet lifts, sticky conveyor belts to whisk you to the top. If you’re practicing in the adult bunny hill area, be sure to have a hat and scarf. One of the expert lifts, the Omigosh, runs over this area and some guests like to knock the snow off of their skis and boards onto the newbies below. This is one of the places that the Ski Patrol was warning about equipment abuse.
Ski Patrol/Medics are visible all around the skiing area. They are quick to respond and help oversee safety issues on the slopes and keep the flow moving. Twice I heard one warning guests about not abusing rental skis. It was clear he was paying attention and ready to enforce rules.
The snow and ski run conditions were great when we visited. The machines were off, but had recently groomed the powder on top of a 50-100 inch base. The trails range from easy to challenging. At the top, there are several trail options to keep experienced skiers interested. All trails join at the bottom of the hill with several exit points. Upper Turkey Trot and Over Easy are particular favorites of snowboarders and can be reached from the Easy Way Lift.
Lift tickets range from $18 to $66 with lots of options in between. A family of 4 can ski all day on a weekend for just under $200 plus equipment. The Cat Explorers and Trackers programs for kids are a great value for families. There are a few promotions where kids can ski for free. Military and senior discounts are also available.
Cataloochee is a very family friendly destination provided your kids are old enough to try skiing. While there were a few small children there, it was not reasonable for us to bring our little one. He’s too young to learn to ski and there is no play area or childcare for him. If we had gone with extended family or a large group, we would have sent the toddlers over to Cataloochee’s Tube World for some snow fun. We didn’t make it over there on this trip but plan to next time.
This review is based on a complimentary lift tickets and ski school. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
0 families found this helpful
"Time to go skiing!"
Perhaps the best thing about the ranch is that it’s right next door to the Cataloochee Ski Area. With the help of snowmakers, the North Carolina ski season usually starts in early December. Cataloochee has ten slopes and trails that range from gentle slopes for beginners to the monstrous 5,400-foot Moody Top plus a snowtube park.
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