Family-friendly ski resort announces opening day

A snowmaking gun shoots snow onto the hills at Snow Valley Resort in Minesing, Ont.

Time to gather the family, bundle up, and hit the slopes.

Snow Valley Resort, known for being a family-focused destination and famous for snowtubing, is kicking off the season on Friday.

It says for this early in the season, conditions are looking great.

The resort is offering a special in celebration of opening day. Skiers and snowboarders will be able to get a deal with a lift ticket for the whole day costing just $50. Normally a six-hour lift access pass costs between $72 and $99.

Winter enthusiasts can save even more and knock $10 off their ticket if they donate a non-perishable food item to go towards the Elmvale Food Bank. The resort says that offer will run through until Dec. 24 on Over-6 Early Season lift tickets.

Not only will the ski and snowboard hills be up and running but the Tube Park and Summit Soar Zipline will open a week later, on Dec. 19.

Snow Valley says it has upgraded its equipment having invested $1 million in snowmaking and grooming advancements. It says having added a new groomer to the team, visitors will notice a “more consistent skiing and tubing surface.” It says the steeper slopes will especially benefit from this and will allow for longevity throughout the season.

The resort’s opening day will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Snow Valley has been operating since 1952, with 20 ski slopes on the resort and 14 tubing runs, plus a Kidz Zone for the little ones.