Appalachian Ski Mtn.

Good, simple ski spot for families, where all runs end in one spot directly in front of the lodge so it’s easy to keep track of everyone. Cons: Food is ok (not great) and expensive. Employees were not overly friendly or helpful. We were there with a group, one ski instructor was great, one didn’t teach the kids much at all. Payment, rental, signup process is confusing and requires use of their online system, which isn’t set up well. Pros: The weather was warm and it had rained off and on, but there was plenty of snow and it was in great shape. Rental process was fairly simple. Lifts were in great shape and ran smoothly. Atmosphere was fun and casual. We’ll be back!

We had an amazing experience at Appalachian Ski Resort, and my kids absolutely loved it! We’ve been to several ski resorts before but Appalachian truly stood out for us. One of the biggest advantages was the comparatively smaller lines, which made the whole experience much more enjoyable. We also really appreciated the ability to rent full gear on-site, including goggles, gloves, helmets, jackets, and bibs, everything you need in one place. If something got wet or uncomfortable, it was easy to come back and swap it, which was a huge plus. The staff was exceptional, friendly, helpful, and professional. Yes, there were many skiers and snowboarders, but there was no chaos. The flow was very well organized, the atmosphere felt safe, and the slopes were well groomed. We purchased 5-day passes, and the kids honestly couldn’t get enough, they had an incredible time and are already asking to come back. A big thank you to all the staff at Appalachian Ski Resort for doing such an incredible job and providing outstanding service. Special thanks to the team at the jacket rental desk, snowboarding rental desk, and the parking booth, everyone was welcoming and patient, which made a big difference. You truly made our family trip memorable. We highly recommend this resort and look forward to returning!

My family and I spent a wonderful weekend at **Appalachian Ski Mountain** in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, in late January 2026. With two teenagers who were new to skiing and snowboarding, we wanted a welcoming, beginner-friendly resort that wouldn’t overwhelm us. This historic spot—the first ski area in the NC High Country since opening in 1962—delivered exactly what we hoped for. I’m happily giving it **4 out of 5 stars**. Arrival was smooth and stress-free. The resort sits just minutes off US-321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, with plenty of parking. Online reservations for tickets and rentals worked perfectly—no long lines at the counter. The base lodge feels classic and cozy: a big, warm building housing the rental shop (thousands of well-maintained skis and boards), lockers, and a cafeteria. Staff got us fitted and out the door quickly. What really sets this place apart is the **French-Swiss Ski College**, the Southeast’s oldest and most respected ski school. Our kids took group lessons in the morning and were linking turns on intermediate runs by afternoon. The instructors were patient, encouraging, and genuinely fun—exactly what nervous first-timers need. The mountain itself is perfectly sized for families: 13 trails across 27 acres with a 365-foot vertical drop. Terrain breaks down nicely—25% easiest (gentle bunny slopes served by conveyor lifts), 50% more difficult, and 25% most difficult. The four terrain parks (Appaljack, Appal Jam, AppalTop, and The Highline) kept the kids entertained for hours with small jumps and rails. Snowmaking covers 100% of the mountain, and daily grooming delivered excellent conditions (50–80 inches base while we were there). Orchard Run, the longest trail at a half-mile, offers lovely Blue Ridge views and is a joy to cruise. Lifts (two quads, one double, two conveyors, and a handle tow) kept wait times short most of the time, though weekends naturally get busier. Night skiing under the lights was magical and let us stretch the day even further. Food in the lodge is standard ski-resort comfort fare—burgers, pizza, hot soup, and endless hot chocolate. Nothing fancy, but hot, filling, and reasonably priced after a long day in the cold. The no-alcohol policy keeps everything family-friendly and safe. If I had to point out why it’s not quite a perfect 5 stars: the resort is small, so strong intermediate or advanced skiers might want more challenge after a day or two. Peak weekends can feel crowded, and while most staff are friendly, a couple of interactions felt a bit rushed. The cafeteria also isn’t going to win any culinary awards. Still, Appalachian Ski Mountain does exactly what it promises: delivers approachable, fun skiing and riding for families, beginners, and anyone who wants a low-pressure mountain experience. The views, the teaching, the reliable snow, and the welcoming vibe make it a true gem in North Carolina’s mountains. We’ll definitely be back next season—and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for that “first resort for family fun” feeling.

Great place for family with kids. Less crowd than the sugar mountain and smaller. With great airbnbs in short driving distance to the resort and onsite parking made our weekend smooth. Was able to get a private instructor last minute who was great for my child.

Our family is all beginner skiers and we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Appalachian Ski Mountain. This is an excellent ski area for learning to ski or snowboard. They have excellent instructors and they give lessons throughout the day from ground lessons to private lessons that are all reasonably priced. Overall, the lockers, rentals and ski tickets were reasonably priced for a family. The snow conditions were better than expected for 50+ degree weather. The lodge and ski areas are laid out nicely and the RFID card they give you to access your locker, the ski area and everything about your order is a nice touch. It allows your whole family to be connected to your online purchases without having to have a ticket or piece of paper, so the older kids can manage without having to have an adult present with them the whole time. The ski runs are relatively gentle slops for most of them, but they do have a few black diamonds, a terrain park and some big jumps, it is a good mix for family skiing and snowboarding and was not too crowded when we went during the week. The food is pretty good, but it is considerably expensive for what you get, we are not talking gourmet here. The downstairs rental area seems to have a funk smell that is constantly present, probably because there are thousands of sweaty boots and helmets being taken on and off and stored in open air on a daily basis. The parking lot is muddy on the front end when its not below freezing, due to all the traffic, the ground literally moves under your feet, but good gravel on the back end, so park further out and walk is my recommendation.

This mountain is an excellent place for beginners. The staff is incredibly supportive and always ready to assist those who encounter difficulties, such as getting in or out of the lift. However, the boot trying experience isn’t the best since there’s no one to guide you. You’ll need to determine if the size you choose is suitable on your own. If this is your first time, it might be beneficial to research the process beforehand.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) Appalachia Ski Mountain is a smaller, family-friendly ski resort that’s great for a relaxed day on the slopes. We visited on New Year’s Eve for the night ski session, which was a lot of fun and a great way to ring in the holiday. The parking lot is very convenient, with plenty of spots close to the entrance, and I highly recommend buying tickets online ahead of time to make the process much smoother. The staff were courteous and welcoming, and lift line waits were short, which made it easy to get plenty of runs in. The on-site food options were also great and convenient. As is typical with Southeast ski resorts, ice buildup and icy conditions are to be expected, so coming prepared for that makes a big difference. There are a few areas that could use improvement. There is no on-site bar, which may be a downside for some. We also noticed people leaving trash at tables, and there didn’t seem to be enough management coverage to address items left lying around, including garbage, skis, and poles. The longer magic carpet was another challenge. It really needs a buzzer or warning system to warn riders when it’s about to stop or start. Maintaining balance on it was the most nerve-wracking experience of the day—it stopped four times on a single ride up. While the staff overall seemed knowledgeable, I did have an issue with my bindings. My ski kept popping off when cutting back left, and I had to go back for an adjustment. The next pro immediately recognized the issue and fixed it with a two-click adjustment, but unfortunately this was after I had already fallen and sprained my shoulder, limiting movement in my left arm. One helpful tip: the gift shop sells merchandise much cheaper than the pro shop and even has a clearance section, which is worth checking out. Overall, Appalachia Ski Mountain delivers a solid experience—especially for families and beginners—with friendly staff, short lift lines, and a fun night skiing atmosphere. With better housekeeping oversight, some safety improvements, and a few operational tweaks, it could be even better.

App-solutely (lol) the BEST experience ALWAYS. Parking is a beeeze. Great spots and never - FULL (busses in/out). Streamline tickets and rentals, friendly hosts and employees. Beyond helpful and putting safety first regarding fit and understanding of the equipment. They offer clothing and google rentals as well that are clean and very convenient. Lessons are really well run. No overpacked and unsafe experiences. The food is really good. There are typical concessions - burgers, pizza and hotdogs. Then a daily in house made meal with tons of side options. Very healthy and clean options available. Customer service is top notch and friendly!!! I love app and am always thankful for a safe and great day out on the snow!!

I'd give it 5 stars, but it's just so small. Great place for beginners or just to get out close and quick. Lodge is cool, food is good. Rental/Check-in is easy and there are a lot of people there to help you out. BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL. None is sold in the lodge.

I have been going for 12 years and it's been great. We go here for one reason and one reason only. My kids love the big terrain park. I called and checked the on-line slope report the day before going this year. Both on-line, and the person answering the phone confirmed that both the terrain parks would be open. First time we went this year, only one was open but there were no jumps or rails. On-line it showed both open with rails and jumps. I asked why the incorrect info.? They told me they thought they were open. $300 down the drain and 6 hours of driving. We went again today. They both showed open. They were open but the big one had zero jumps and zero rails. Another $300 and 6 hours of driving down the drain. Again, I asked why no jumps etc. They told me it hasn't been cold enough to make enough snow. Total B.S. They had a huge mound of snow large enough for a huge jump. They just hadn't put the resources into to making it a jump. My issue is not with having jumps etc ready. I take issue with the incorrect on-line reports and the incorrect info when calling. Total waste of my time and money. They were very unapologetic. Needless to say, i won't be going back. They have lost a long time customer who has sent a lot of business their way.

Good place for beginners. Easy access from Boone. Lifts run well. Not a large ski hill, but it flows well. Knocked out a lot of runs in one day.

10/10 was amazing so exhilarating!! i was raised by the beach so i've never attempted snow sports but this was sooooo worth it! took me a little bit to get the hang of it, but they do have lessons! i went with a group and we had a blast i'll definitely be back soon! all the employees were so awesome and helpful from the front gate all the way to the top of the slopes, even the lifeguard people were great!

Amazing experience! Staff extremely friendly and willing to help. Great classes for kids. Check in process smooth and easy. Slopes super safe and fun! Come with your family, this is a great place to ski!

This is a buyer beware if you plan on doing group reservations and I copied the Better Business Bureau complaints that my daughter's Girl Scout Leader made. This, unfortunately, is the 2nd year in a row that her leader tried to book online and didn't get the refund owed them. The previous year, they got most of the money back, but this year, a lot of it is still owed to them. The Resort Representative claims that BBB said not to speak with us, and BBB claims that they do not advise Businesses to handle complaints in that way as they are non-profit. As of July 9, 2024, this complaint still remains unanswered. "I made reservations for my Girl Scout troop for a ski trip. We were overcharged for our group tickets, which ***************************** in the sales office has acknowledged. She refunded a portion of what she said she would refund us, but she still owes us $266."

I saw a lot of conflicting reviews but I truly think it's a really fun ski resort. I came on a weekday day in early March, it was empty. I was able to have some of the skii slopes all to myself!!! Instructors were so helpful. Definitely got better and was able to go on harder blues one after the lesson! Food was surprisingly good. Slopes were made of fake snow for sure and melted during lunch but it's not really their fault since temp has been weird this yr. Overall I had lots of fun here! I always come here because it's closer to Chapel Hill where I live.

First time snowboarder here. I knew I wanted to try it and between App, Beech, & Sugar, I knew App was probably the most beginner friendly (from reading other reviews). I now have 1 full day of snowboarding under my belt and couldn't be more pleased. I pre-purchased all the snowboarding clothing prior to flying into Charlotte. I reserved my ticket, terrain pass (not knowing what that was), and snowboard, boots, and bindings online. App tried to streamline the process by sending me an email a day before on what to do when I get there, but it was a little overwhelming. Here's what I did: Step 1: Check in at the counter, get your ticket and locker rental out of the way. I don't know if lockers are cash only because I had cash on me. You get $5 back upon return of the key. Step 2: Go to your locker, throw all your stuff that you don't need in there. Step 3: Get your rental equipment and put it on so you can make sure there aren't any issues. Walk back to your locker and toss your shoes in there. Step 4: Hit the slopes or go to the meeting area for your instructor. I did rent a session with the French-Swiss Ski College and it was really beneficial. I watched a lot of YouTube beginner snowboard videos but it really helps when a person who knows what they're doing tells you what you're doing wrong. This was enough to get me set for the rest of my time there. Ryan Click was my instructor. He was awesome. By the end of my day, I was doing the Blue Square slope - Strudel without falling and was coordinated enough to record it on my phone while going all the way down. I'd highly recommend this place!!!

This might be a nice little place for beginners on weekdays but wow, this place is not set up to handle weekend crowds. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide where to spend your time and money skiing in WNC: Pro: You can purchase your LIFT CARD and sign your waivers online before you arrive, making it very fast to get on the slopes. Pro: The wide RUNS were great for beginners and those who want to avoid beginners since there was enough room to safely pass them. Pro: Lift OPERATORS seemed safety focused and were paying attention. Pro: Most STAFF were friendly and helpful. There were several who acted too busy/ important to talk. Pro tip: take your nametag off if your job does not include being nice to the public. Pro: The FOOD was tasty and not as outrageously priced as some places. Con: PARKING and DROP OFF. There is no drop off close to the lodge. You have to walk pretty far with your gear. You also have to pay $2 for parking which just feels like they are trying to squeeze their guests. Con: This is the only ski resort we've been to that doesn't offer a half day lift ticket. You have to buy a full-priced full-day ticket. We spent $150 to ski for 2 hours before the wind got too bad to ski. It seems bonkers not to have the half day option for a place with beginners who usually aren't up for a full day. Con: This is NOWHERE TO SIT indoors! This is just shocking for a place that brands itself as family friendly: This resort has ZERO indoor seating for people who are not actively eating in the restaurant dining areas. We watched staff continuously kick people out who had finished eating or who brought their own snacks. "No picnicking" signs are everywhere. That is perfectly reasonable for a restaurant but not for a ski resort! Where are people supposed to go?? Case in point: we watched a mother with 2 young children whose husband and older children were skiing be told she couldn't sit at the table if she was done eating. The food line is easily 10-15 minutes long and people are swooping in on tables as soon as you get up. Was she supposed to leave her toddlers at the table while she went to buy more food when they weren't even hungry? Take them and hope no one took her table? Then what, after they finished their second round of food? Go sit outside in the 7 degree weather? It makes absolutely no sense. It must be a new policy because so many people were upset and vowed never to come back. Con: There are no ski/ board racks at the entrance of the lodge. Skis and snowboard are not allowed in the main part of the lodge. You have to drag your gear all the way downstairs, through long hallways then outside to stow your gear while you check in, eat, use the restroom, etc. One staff member said we could leave our gear near the entrance while we got settled but I honestly have no idea what other people do other than drag it all the way through the building and outside then come back. It seems like the vast majority of people are first timers and rent their gear so maybe this isn't an issue for the masses but still, it seems like a big oversight. Overall: We give this place a C- Not a failing grade, but we know they can do much, much better

For a small, east coast experience, it was great! Drive from Atlanta with three 13-year-olds and two 19-year-olds. The younger kids needed snowboard lessons and they were effective and affordable. Rental helmet, boards, and boots were good quality and the customer service was positive. The kids liked the food selection. The place is small enough that they can be independent and there's just enough variety to keep them entertained for a week. We were pleasantly surprised at how well the slopes were maintained and how deep the snow was, even when the temps got warm (like 60 degrees!) Will definitely go again next time we wait too long to get tickets to CO.

I have brought Girl Scout troops to Appalachian to ski for many years. For the past two years, we were overcharged due to tech errors on their group reservation webpage. Though Jennifer acknowledged we were owed $466, I have yet to receive the full refund, despite numerous phone calls and emails. Beware if you are trying to reserve group tickets. Very poor customer service.

This was our first ski trip and we are more than happy! The staff were so helpful and nice! We had no idea what we're doing in regards to skiing, but we figured it out. Ski lessons are available for purchases, but we just went and winged it! Make sure you dress appropriately for the mountain! Will come back!

I took my son to App Ski for his first time skiing. I signed him up for the Skiwee lessons (half day) and I hung out watching to see if he liked it enough to come back the next day. He definitely did. The instructors at the Skiwee class were great and very caring for the kids. There ere all ages from 4-10 and the instructors were great with them all. My son was the oldest and he said he didn't learn much but based on what he was able to do on the slopes the next day, I think he learned more than he realized. He had the basics of slowing, stopping and slight turns and just needed some time on the snow. Overall experience with App Ski was pretty good. Professionalism and kindness of the staff varies quite a bit but for the most part, everyone was great. The slopes are well cared for and offer alot of variety for NC skiing. The restaurant has good food and plenty of options. We ordered two cheese burgers with fries, a side of cauliflower, a side of fried green beans and two soft drinks and it came out to $42. A little steep but there aren't any other options close by. I wish they served beer or wine and had a lookout area inside to watch. Overall, great experience and we will be back.

poor managements, no refunds no matter what makes this a poor place in customer service, the mountain has the least amount of variety among when it comes to the selection of ski mountains in boone. low value per high cost

I have been here many times over the last several years with my most recent trip being last month. I went with my husband for his first ever ski trip. Being that he has never skied before, we signed up for the beginner ski lesson. This is what their website recommends, but I would not. If you are an adult and have an athletic bone in your body I would recommend just skipping to intermediate, even if you have never skied before. Our group lesson was full of children all below age 7 and could not even stand up with their skis on. So we did not get very much attention from our instructor, though she did her best (not her fault). All other adults were in the intermediate classes. So that was kind of a waste of time for us. We went on a Saturday, and it was the last weekend in February so I thought there was a chance it would be less crowded. But I was wrong. We still had to dodge tons of people. I was also surprised to see more freestyle slopes than I remember, which makes the other slopes even more crowded. There are now only 3 slopes you can go on not counting freestyle and bunny slope. That was kind of lame in my opinion. I think if we go again we'll try Beech of Sugar next time. I like the lower cost of proximity to Boone, but I think it would be worth it to have more slopes to go down.

Pros: Beginner-friendly slopes. Super helpful staff. Clean facility. Various classes for beginners. Easy access. Easy setup and process. Cons: Food is very overpriced as with any place like this. Some parts of the lodge smell like dirty feet/socks. Crowded. Overall we had a great experience and would visit again.

Poor to mediocre. 1. We skied at ASM on a Monday when the temperature was in the low 30's. The low temp previous night was in the teens. There was about an inch of snow on solid ice in many places. They need to be making more snow. 2. When we arrived there were no signs about where to go to check in, and there was no one at the cashier's window. Turns out the cashier was helping someone at the malfunctioning computer reservation system. Then she came to the window and her ticket printing machine was malfunctioning. 3. We were supposed to "measure our heads" for helmets using one of the many non-functional tape measures affixed to the wall. Gave up on that. 4. Got our skis and boots and helmets. Bindings on my 7-year-old's skis were incorrectly adjusted. Too loose. The bindings would release with even a slight fall. 5. The doors from outside into the changing room were not automatic. Carrying skis you had to try to pull open heavy doors that opened outward. Very, very difficult unless you're an adult male. This is really unacceptable. 6. The "restaurant" was filthy. 7. The group lesson for my 7-year-old had 6 students, including two 5-year-olds who weren't capable of putting on their own skis. They took up a tremendous amount of the instructor's time. Our child maybe got the equivalent of 15 minutes of instruction. The instructor was patient and very competent, but they need to segregate the very young students who are going to take up too much of the instructor's time. The cost for lift tickets and rentals for a 9-hour weekday session for one junior and one senior and a 1 hour group lesson for our child was $145. This is waaay too much to pay considering the quality of the experience. I doubt we will be coming back. I'd say you really have to be ignorant of how a good ski resort is run to be willing to patronize this place. Really kind of pathetic.

One of North Carolina's most accessible ski destinations, App Ski Mountain is a great place for beginners to learn the sport, and a surprisingly decent spot for intermediate skiers to enjoy a few hours of fun on the slopes. Less than 2 hours from Charlotte, it's close enough for a day trip -- which is perfect, because it won't take most visitors very long to get bored on the hill and its handful of trails. But their French Swiss Ski College is outstanding, with friendly instructors and super-affordable lessons to help novice skiers of all ages learn the basics. My daughter saw significant improvement in her control and her turns after just a single one-hour lesson, and the mountain's wide intermediate hill gave her lots of room to improve as the day went on. Lift tickets and rentals can be purchased in advance (and actually MUST be, in the Time of COVID), and I was extremely impressed with how quickly we were able to get our gear and hit the slopes. Their rental operation is fast and efficient -- the only downside is the locker rental, which required us to wait in the lift ticket line for 15 minutes at the end of the day to return the key and recover our deposit. The 4 trails are accessed by 3 modern and efficient lifts, and the lines moved pretty fast on our visit. Strudel, the easiest trail, has a forgiving grade but is too narrow and overcrowded with novice snowboarders to create the right environment for beginners to practice. My daughter and I moved to the much wider Appel trail, which beginners will want to access from a midway point on the lift. Even the 'Black Diamond' Upper Appel is a great trail to learn on, and the nearby Orchard Run has some challenging turns. There's even a narrow, advanced trail with moguls for the more experienced skier. Food in the restaurant is predictably poor, and tables are hard to come by at peak times. Parking, however, was close and convenient, so you may want to consider packing a cooler and tailgating it when you need to recharge. All said, App Ski Mountain is a terrific place for Charlotteans to get in some basic skiing without spending hours in the car. And if for those just getting into the sport, it provides a friendly (and extremely affordable) environment to get started.

If you plan on snowboarding here, I would not recommend. I've been to a dozen ski resorts, and this has by far the worst customer service. On December 29th, my girlfriend and I drove up from Charleston, SC where I'm stationed on one of the rare occasions I get time off work. She really wanted to learn how to snowboard, so we paid $330 for rentals and tickets. When we got there, I already noticed a severe lack of snow. They have the machines to make it, but they hadn't been used in at least 3 days. Every hill had large patches of grass and dirt showing through and the snow that did exist was slushy and not good condition for a first timer. All of their black diamond slopes we're shut down because of this. It was also severely overcrowded, because they announced a 50% off ticket prices for skiing only. Despite this, we already paid for the trip so we were going to make the most of it. We picked up our rental gear and went outside. I spent the first 2 hours teaching my girlfriend the basics, then we decided to take a little break for food. When we came back outside, someone had stolen my rental snowboard. We went to the rental office to report it and to get a replacement, only to be told I had to rent another if I wanted to continue snowboarding for the remaining 12 hours I paid for. All they did was announce the missing snowboard and hoped for people on the slope to stop and check their boards. We checked back in for the next 4 hours and no one had returned the board. They will issue another set of skis if they are stolen, but not snowboards. So for the remainder of our time there, my girlfriend and I did not get to snowboard with each other. She got to go down a few more slopes while we hoped for someone to turn it in. Another man said the same thing happened to his daughter. And when someone tried to turn in his board, the guys at the rental office gave it back to the person returning it because it wasn't his board that he rented. It was the daughter's missing snowboard, but they didn't bother to check if it was the missing one. The only reason the daughter got her board back is because they happened to be walking into the office and overheard the conversation about that guy returning the wrong snowboard. Overall, just very poor management and even worse treatment towards it's customers. Skiers take precedence here over snowboarders. Only skiers got the 50% off slope discount despite the horrible snow condition for everyone and only ski rentals will get a free replacement if they are stolen. Choose any resort besides this one.

We had a terrible experience. Girlfriend was new to skiing and the hope was that she could get a group lesson and utilize the beginner hill. instructor was worthless in getting her any preparation during group lesson. "private" lesson area is right next to a run where people are flying down the slope and causing colissions. The public bunny hill (area for beginners) is so crowded that even once you wait 30+ minutes for the lift, there's so many people on the little hill that there's nowhere to ski. People were fighting in line because the staff (or lack thereof) is not doing anything to facilitate line movement, and people start to cut due to wait times. I have no idea what type of skier would want to come here. It's not beginner friendly and it's definitely not for a intermediate or advanced skier given there are only 2 very small runs. The place is understaffed and very overbooked. Rental gear was mediocre at best. Very clearly trying to squeeze out every last dollar that they can. It also reeks inside

As a first time skier, I highly recommend taking the lessons. I did the group and thought Thomas was a very patient and thorough instructor, he did an amazing job! There was only one beginner slope open and the weather was quite warm so even though we rented out all the clothes and equipment, the ski jacket really was unnecessary. I found the slope to be quite fun but repetitive after a bit since it was the only one I was comfortable skiing on. Overall, I had a fun time with the family!

We took our 9 year old daughter to the skating area today, the worker Skylynn was phenomenal we can't say enough about her. She was the only one there, and she got out and helped every one of the kids that were on the ice. Not because people paid for lessons just because she said she loves helping the kids. She is a model for hospitality jobs and went above and beyond. She made our daughters' day, thanks so much.

Choose this company over the others because they had a discounted ticket this weekend. The staff we interacted with day of were great. Every single one was super helpful, friendly, and pretty much in great moods! Which is awesome to say for anything customer service based. I really liked that I could switch from snowboarding to skiing mid day. I have been skiing since I was a kid but wanted to try snowboarding. I gave it my best shot but knew I was never getting off the small hill on one. So mid day I switched and got to ski the larger slopes. I booked online ahead of time because the website suggested it. When I booked I also booked the evening skating session and the rental skates for that. After returning our ski equipment we made our way to check in to skate and no one was there. When I booked online it said to check in at 6:30, about 30 minutes before we could actually get on the ice. But no one was there. No signs posting hours or info either. It had rained that day and was raining a little then so I thought maybe they closed it for the night. I called the next day to inquire about a refund on the rental skates only. I read the no refund policy on tickets but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask for a refund on equipment that was not used for a session that wasn't open. I called and simply, respectful, nicely asked about the skating session the evening before. The person i spoke to on the phone got very defensive and a bit rude immediately. Told me I "should have waited longer" for someone to show up to the rink and there are no refunds ever. I didn't say it to him over the phone but my response should have been "maybe there should be an attendant there ready for the check in time stated on my ticket..." My other complaint is the cost of renting snow gear. We are from Florida and it would be a waste of money and closet space to purchase gear for the once a year we are anywhere near snow. I should have purchased gear online before our trip because I would have spent substantially less. My bibs didn't keep me dry either, remember I tried to snowboard first so I did spend a substantial amount of time on the ground the first half of the day. Over all not a horrible experience but won't return. If it's an option not to prebook I wouldn't book ahead of time unless it's an in demand day to save yourself from purchasing something you can't use. I believe their pricing is lower than others in the area but that is reflected in the facilities and slopes. Probably a good place for beginners and first time skiers.

"It is not protocol for us to stop the lift" my daughter got hurt here today because they did not stop the lift when she fell getting off the lift and her snowboard twisted around her; they then had the audacity to tell me it didn't happen and that they watched the footage and that the lift was stopped and my daughter stood up and boarded off. They lied straight to my face. I had them pull the footage again in front of me which showed they never stopped it and my daughter going down and board twisting around her because of it and then their response changed to it's not protocol for us to stop the lift. I also requested a copy of the footage which they denied me. I went in and spoke to them about this so they could correct the girl operating the lift so it doesn't happen to anyone else and they could have cared less. Someone is going to get seriously hurt at this mountain!! This was extremely disappointing and I highly recommend you go anywhere else if you care about yours or someone else's safety. The people in the first aid area are fantastic though! So thank you to them for helping my daughter and actually caring.

Sabrina, Jennifer, and the owner should all be ashamed of how this business is run. Three separate families coming from three separate states planned a trip to this resort MLK weekend. We spent weeks of planning, and hours trying to figure out how to properly book on their website due to it being a holiday weekend. We were told three different rates over the phone and were told we could not send a friend to buy in person, nor buy on the same day. Upon arrival, we received minimal assistance, followed by rude associates. The few sympathetic associates told a few of our guests to go to guest services to try and clear up our issues. There we were greeted with not only more rudeness but denied a refund or credit to come back although their lack of customer service led us to the situation we were in. They even asked me to point the employees out who suggested I request such. We emailed and called after the trip, only to be hung up on or transferred. The outcome came from the owner, who agrees with Jenifer and Sabrina, that this is "our fault".

APPALACHIAN SKI MTN. may put you at the (((Highest Risk))) of getting COVID-19. The Park operations are open at full capacity with NO modifications to allow for social distancing. * CDC GUIDELINES ARE NOT FOLLOWED @APPALACHIAN SKI MTN. *Disinfect shared equipment _____NOT DOING THIS *Block off rows or sections of seating or lines in order to space people at least 6 feet apart._____NOT DOING THIS *Install physical barriers and partitions in areas where maintaining social distancing is difficult. ((Plexiglass barriers))___NOT DOING THIS *wipeable cover on electronics, which make cleaning and disinfecting easier. _____NOT DOING THIS *Limit indoor activities_____NOT DOING THIS *Temperature checking ______NOT DOING THIS *Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces within the park at least daily or between uses as much as possible - for example ATMS, handrails, turnstiles, faucets, cash registers/payment terminals, tables and countertops, lockers. _____NOT DOING THIS *limiting the number of people who can occupy the restroom at one time to allow for social distancing._____NOT DOING THIS I was there 1/30/2021 4pm-8pm never saw Staff clean or wipe down anything. I took my concerns to management "Addison" Midway trying to communicate the issues at hand he answers his radio as he walks away. After that I requested his name & contact to the owner. " Brad Moretz" 828-295-7828 Hands me a paper with the information then says "GOOD LUCK WITH THAT." & walks off. NOTE: TO OWNERS TAKE A TRIP TO "DISNEY WORLD" SO YOU CAN EDUCATE YOUR SELFS ON HOW TO RUN A FACILITY SAFETY under the CDC GUIDELINES. Having my business closed for 3 months in Charlotte I had to implement modifications to reopen SAFETY for the public. I will ask not only my partners & staff to stay away from Appalachian Ski Mtn., but EVERYONE STAY AWAY from Appalachian Ski Mtn for their own heath & safety!

Our first experience doing ANY type of skiing or snowboarding! So we were super excited! Especially after seeing that there would be some snowfall in the afternoon. I can't compare this place to anything else, as I mentioned, it was our first time making an attempt to do something like this. So price way, it seemed high, but when comparing to other places, it was reasonable. Kids 5 and under are free (ticket only - not rentals) and they give a discount to military so that's not bad. What I can compare this to, is customer service. No matter what industry, customer service should be good. But this place REALLY lacked customer service. But it was spotty, all over the place. We had real horrible experiences renting our snow clothing (red head in clothing rental was horribly rude) and "Andi" who chose to just interrupt a conversation between my wife and I when we were discussing some problems at the resort (non of your business!). But then there were super awesome people like Jon, who talked up my son when renting the Skis or even the person who checked us in. There are a couple other options, both cheaper and more expensive. So really it could be a good or bad place.

I'm a 50 year old dad with wife and 3 tween kids. App Ski is our goto place from Charlotte for a day of skiing or boarding. They are always well staffed with local college kids. The check in process is pretty well organized. We usually go for night skiing to avoid the crowds and costs less. The lodge is kinda old and the dining is mediocre but the nuts and bolts for a good ski are all there. Seems more relaxed than beech or sugar.

EVERYONE (parking attendants, food service, rentals, etc) was so friendly and helpful. This was the first time our kids had skied, so there was a lot of questions, and we weren't the fasting moving folks around. No one seems to mind. Even the other people skiing were friendly and helpful. This made for a fantastic family vacation. We will definitely be back! Our kids were planning our next trip before we even left the parking lot.

Great family ski resort! As beginners, my kids and wife loved it after a poor experience another resort. The staff were Chick Fil A nice! Not sure if our day was representative, but the food special was Veal and roasted veggies for $13.75, and it was the best resort food I've experienced.

This is our first time at App Ski Mtn. They had a $5 lift ticket special for this weekend only so we decided to try it out with my 11 & 15 year old boys and two of their friends. First of all, they lost one star already because their website doesn't have a link to print out the equipment rental form at home first so the whole process of payment takes way longer than it should. Once we got our forms filled out, payment was also a bit time consuming. Extra surcharges for certain types of ski rentals and surcharges to use the terrain parks were over the top. Winterplace has one ticket that allows you access to the whole resort and I'm not sure why Appalachian charges extra except because they can. Once we got past the ticket window to the rental area it was a bit chaotic. The first sign you see is the ski rentals. Now anyone who has skied before knows you need to get your boots first. After a scan of the area we found where the boot rental desk was hidden and headed over there. This must be a common problem because there is a sign posted at the ski rental desk that says to go to the boot desk first. Ummm, call me crazy but a sign directing people from the ticket window to the boots would be nice since it's hidden in an alcove. One more star lost for confusing and chaotic rental area. The people at the rental desks were friendly but seemed to really want us to move along. I was having my youngest try on his boot to see if it fit OK and they told us to move to the benches so he could help the next person. I'm used to the rental person being attentive and wanting your equipment to fit well before shooing you off. My oldest wanted poles but we could't find where these were available. He never found them but said he was fine without them anyway. I finally headed upstairs to sit in the lodge while the boys went to the slopes. I found the restaurant and was greeted with signs on every pole and flat surface stating "No Picnicking". I brought a bag full of snack type things but still planned on buying lunch in the restaurant so I plopped myself down at a table. In all fairness, the table signs say in small letters "The outside deck and dining room annex are available for picnicking". It was a bit chilly outside for me and I have no idea where this "Annex" place is because again, no signs to direct me to it's location. Once the boys decided to come in for lunch, we hopped in the line to eat. They serve cafeteria style and extremely overpriced for the quality and quantity. One could easily drop $75 to feed a family of 4 in the restaurant. We spent $20 on our tray of food that consisted of a large soda(no refills), small cup of chili, YooHoo, individual cereal, small milk, small side of broccoli w/ cheese sauce, and small cappuccino. To boot, the service was again super rushed and borderline rude. One more star lost to rude and rushed customer service and overpriced mediocre food. So, as for our overall experience, unless the boys really really love the slopes this is a two star place in my opinion. There are others in the area that I've heard are good so we may give them a try. One plus I will give this place is they have excellent WiFi so I've been able to write this review while sitting in the lodge and keep myself occupied with other things while the boys are skiing.

I can only review on the New Year's Eve event and ice skating. I really enjoyed the event. Ice skating is reasonably priced. They also offered helmets and safety walkers for adults and children. I thought the rink was fairly small. When we arrived around 9pm they had just cleaned the ice so it was perfect but by 10:30 it was slushy and difficult to skate on. I fell like 3 times and I even saw experienced skaters take a few hits. They have skiing on the property. They also rent equipment and clothing. They have a gift shop which had hats and gloves amongst the regular souvenirs. They also have a cafeteria with seating. They had a deck where you could watch those skiing down the mountain. They also offer lessons for adults and children. This particular night they had a New Year's Eve show. The had a "torch parade" they basically had people skiing down the mountain at night with "torches" which really just looked like red lights. But either way it was entertaining. They also had a very nice firework display. It began to rain so we watched it from the parking lot. It's a cute place for some family fun.

It is a great ski slope for anyone's first time. The slopes are not very long, and they offer a good variety of options. It is close to town, so it is easy to get to, without a lot of traffic. If you have been to a Northern or Western ski resort, this is not your cup of tea. If you are trying out the slopes or taking the kids for the first time, you will enjoy the resort.

First-time visitor and I enjoyed the day! Made all reservations on line as required (I had to rent everything: skis, boots, helmet, bib and gloves-- since I live in a barely-gets-cold-in-the-winter state and all I have is a jacket) and checked in at my assigned time. Covid changes, like the check in time and wearing masks at all times, were strictly enforced. Social distancing was not, however, and I'm not sure how one could enforce it in that environment. It was a fairly packed place, especially in the lodge and rental areas. I would implore management to review their on-site check-in and rental process, and come up with more efficient processes. It was a disaster-- I timed myself; it took an hour and 50 min to get checked in, equipment in-hand and a locker rented to store my shoes, etc. This was in addition to the time spent online reserving everything. It was also pretty pricey, as I then had about a half-day left on the snow at a cost of $135.

It was our first time skiing and we had a great time! Evening hours it's less packed. We took lessons for beginners which helped a lot and got us ready to take on the mountains. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful throughout the rental process and guiding us along the way. Great place for beginners will come back again! We also did ice skating which was nice but was pretty small.

21 minutes ago-Edit First of all they claim on their website to reserve a ski lift ticket ahead of time due to a reduced capacity because of covid-19. Their definition of reduced capacity is a joke. The rental area and ski lift lines look as if they have no policy for reduced capacity. This place looks like it is actually overcrowded and looked like a regular holiday weekend from 2019 with the enormous amount of people that are allowed on the ski slopes and in the facility. Second the girl that comes over the intercom announcing for everyone to wear a mask is unprofessional, obnoxious and rude. I like everyone else there had a mask on and wore it all times. She talked to all guests on the intercom as if we are all stupid and incomptent of wearing a mask. Its funny that they talk down to their guests on the intercom as if we are all dumb and dont know how to wear a mask but then they dont even uphold any covid standards themselves by allowing as many people as possible in this resort. This place should be shut down for covid violations. I would not be surprised if a large portion of people that attended the ski resort on 1/30/2021 get covid due to all of the people that they were allowing in their facility. Also the manager Addison is very unprofessional and does not know how to take questions, concerns or any critism whatsover. His main response when you question how this place is run is to put his hand in the customers face and say "this conversation is over". His management style with customers is lacking, as you may read other customers reviews as they say the same thing about his poor attitude. My advice for the owners is to get rid of the poor lack of management that runs the facility and enable some actual standards for covid. I will be reporting this place to the CDC and the govenor as it is a covid-19 safety violation/super spreader location of the coronavirus. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE IF YOU DONT WANT THE CORONAVIRUS!!!!

EXCELLENT experience at App Ski Mtn! My family and I decided the night before we went skiing to come here instead of Sugar Mountain (where we always go). I read Sugar Mountain's recent Yelp reviews the night before and couldn't believe what I was reading. Choosing to come to App was an amazing decision! All of the employees are extremely friendly and very willing to help you! We purchased our lift tickets (recommend the FLEX ones to max out your day) the night before and then rented equipment when we got there. I recommend renting equipment online before you go to speed up the process too! We had a 11:30 reservation time to check in and get equipment, and were on the lifts by 1. Obviously it's a very busy time of the year for skiing and COVID slows things down a bit. Also parking is VERY convenient, employees were all out there directing traffic and ensuring everyone parked appropriately. The food at the lodge was great and lines were very quick. The employees also take masks VERY seriously which is greatly appreciated. If you don't like wearing masks, don't come here. Overall couldn't give them a higher rating! 10/10 recommend choosing App Ski Mountain! Already planning another trip!

Wow! Extremely poor customer service. A representative named Dunkin completely misinformed us about room availability for the short trip we were trying to schedule. He took payment information and explained that he would call us back to finalize details. When he didn't call, we tried multiple times to get back in touch. No one was willing to come to the phone to help. Hours later the owner Jennifer called to say that the trip we had essentially booked was canceled and that there was no availability. She was not apologetic, she offered no solutions, and she was downright rude. I know it's a great season this year, but that's no excuse for treating customers poorly. We will make it point to never do business with this resort due to the arrogant demeanor of it's representatives and owner.

Very small. Great for learners. Decent ticket price for what is offered. You'll quickly out grow this mountain if your skills contouring improve. You'll end up only going for either the terrain park, a group pulled you in or you need the nostalgia. Still love this little mountain though. It's where I learned to ski, snowboard and where I got my first injury lol. Look out for the $5 throwback pass day and it's a great time. (It May have gone up or disappeared but I certainly hope not!)

If you want to be charged a physical dollar to park, spend more time on the lift than on the slopes, and enjoy feeling like a sardine crowded into the tiniest lodge on Earth...this place is for you.

I never post reviews, but I felt like I needed to on this trip. My wife and I haven't skied in nearly 20 years and our 7 & 9 year olds never have. We wanted to do something reasonably priced to see if they like it before going out west. We drove from Nashville and stayed at the Chetola Resort. It was exactly what we were looking for. Quaint resort with nice clean rooms. They had a nice indoor pool the kids loved after skiing. Breakfast buffet was included with our package and it was a solid buffet with the usual selections and some a little more upscale like smoked salmon. The staff was great. We chose App ski Mountain over Sugar because we read it was really good for beginners and we liked the town of Blowing Rock and some good restaurant options. The mountain was less than 10 min from the resort and parking was easy. We got there a little after 8:30 on Sat and there were no lines to get equipment. We never waited more than a minute on any lifts and the ski wee program was great for the kids. The food was what you would expect, but enough of a selection to make it work. Only a handful of runs, but we knew that going in. Kids are already wanting a real ski trip and that is great as this trip served it's purpose well. We skied in March and there was a great base of packed powder. Good conditions. If you are within a reasonable drive and want a family friendly resort that caters to beginners and intermediate skiers, then this is a great choice. Chetola Resort is a great compliment to the mountain as well. Don't compare this to a Colorado resort, because they don't compare, but it is a great option for families from the South looking for something easier.

This was my first ever skiing and I must say what a wonderful adventure! They have a ski school where I was able see grade school children practicing to ski. I also received skiing lessons where my instructors were more than patient with me! The food was also tasty when I needed to come in for a break. All the rental equipment was even affordable . I will definitely come back!

So this was actually my first time skiing and I don't think the experience could have been any better. First off this past winter yielded more snow in the area than they have seen in the last 5 or more years so the conditons were perfect in January 09'. I can't speak on how well the skiing would be with the artificial snow. You can rent everything; pants, jackets, goggles, boots, skiis, and poles. The equipment seemed to be a quality brand and it was all in good relatively new condition. It was a pretty reasonable price to rent all the equipment. The food at the lodge was simply ok. I was not terrible by any means and there was quite a selection. The lodge seemed to be the only eating option in the area unless you bring your own food or want to drive to downtown Boone (about 15 mins away). They had several options for beginners up to advanced skiiers and snowboarders. Since it was my first time I paid for a quick 1 hr lesson and was skiiing down the blue trials the entire day. It was a great place to learn and the slopes/lifts were not overly crowded. I never had to wait more than 5 mins to catch a chair lift on either of the two main lifts. All in all, it was a great time and I am definitely going back next winter.

Great skiing experience for beginners. I paid an extra 40 dollars for a quick beginners course on skiing basics that was well worth it. The instructor justin was very informative and taught us how to accelarate/decelarate, make simple turns, etc. Basically taught enough so you wouldn't come tumbling down the slopes. There were slopes of different kinds that ranged from beginner type slopes to the more hardcore professional type. The beginner and intermediate slopes are pretty fun skiing down. I tried one of the more advanced slopes on my fourth or so try. Pretty scary once you get to the top, as you can see so much far in the distance, but definitely worth trying if you're looking for a more exhilarating experience. Overall, this is a great place to come skiing, especially if you're a beginner. I'll definitely be coming back.

We skied here on New Year's Eve and it was insanely crowded. It would have been fun had there been about half the volume of people. The beginner slopes were complete anarchy - the lift lines were too long and people just gave up and walked up the hill. The rental area seems inefficient, but also may just not to be set up to deal with the crowd. The intermediate slopes were less crowded and fun, although there was a pretty good risk of being knocked down by inexperienced out-of-control skiers/snowboarders. Seems like it would be a fun family experience but better to go at a non-peak time of year.

Pros: great lessons, the ski wee camp was definitely worth the extra money. My 5 year old had a blast and learned so much. It was her first time skiing and she went down a green run with the instructor at the end of the day! The mountains were great for beginners and people that worked there were very nice. Cons: it took forever to get on the mountain! Instead of there being one place to get everything, we had to go 6 different places and fill out forms at each one and pay for each item seperately. They desperately need a pos system. Very disorganized to figure out where we needed to go to get what. Took us close to 2 hours to get all the gear and lessons and passes for all 5 of us. It shouldn't take that long. My sister is from Denver and skis regularly in coloardo. They all have one place you go to pick up everthing and be done. There needs to be a simpler way to get everything accomplished if you need to rent gear. The 400 dollar deposit for snowboards is ridiculous. The snowboard we rented isn't even worth 400 dollars! That's not fair to people who would like to try out snowboarding but don't have 400 dollars to put down to try it out. The food in the restaurant was reasonably priced but it wasn't anything special. They also do not so refills. Even on water. You need to pay for a new cup each time which is so wasteful. Overall we had a wonderful day once we got on the mountain but we are unsure if we will return again if we need to rent equipment.

The locker rooms are really nice. Yep, that about sums it up. P.S. A single dollar to park is the most obnoxious thing I've ever seen. Just charge another dollar on the lift ticket instead. Literally nickel and dime-ing.

Took the kids up for homeschool day w French Swiss ski school- absolutely fantastic day. It's not a big or fancy ski resort, but for the location and the price- you can't beat it!! We opted for lessons and they were perfect for my beginner skier & snowboarder- personal and professional, but fun too! Great little cafeteria. Nice gift shop. Will do again. And again!

Went as a group during the week. 1st ski place we checked out. Small but good for beginner and family oriented. No alcohol served here. Only have 3 beginner slopes and the rest are intermediate so not many options for beginner. Took a Ski Class with the group, Manny out instructor was great. He took his time, explained everything in depth and was 1 on 1 every step of the way, he's 5 Stars. All in all would go back to warm up and practice before hitting any bigger ski and snowboard locations.