One area that managed to avoid operational issues was Snowshoe, W. Va., where 36 inches of snow fell in 36 hours—more than doubling its season total for snowfall. “This storm was exactly what we needed,” said resort spokesperson Shawn Cassell. “The power stayed on, our snow removal crews performed admirably, and we landed three feet of the good stuff. What more could we ask for?” The storm had an immediate positive affect on business at Snowshoe, too. “It helped us make up some ground with a solid weekend in terms of bookings, and sets us up for an awesome February in terms of ski conditions and skier visits,” added Cassell.

While the big snow is an overwhelmingly positive event for the long term, Liberty Mountain, Pa., endured a challenging weekend. The resort reported 26 inches in total, about the total it receives in an average winter season, said marketing director Anne Weimer. “While we LOVE a nice natural snow, the D.C./Baltimore metro region does not do well with snow—it pretty much debilitates the area. And to have it hit on a weekend, sadly, it was a blow to our business,” she said.

After opening a month later than normal on Jan. 7, losing another valuable weekend hurts, Weimer added. “On Sunday it was 30 degrees, blue skies, and perfect conditions, but business was light because officials were still telling people to stay off the roads. Ultimately, it is great to have something to overshadow the mild December and late opening, and it should significantly boost business for a few weeks to come.”

At Maryland’s only ski resort, spokesperson Lori Zaloga said the crews at Wisp were proactive to keep operations running smoothly. “Wisp Resort Hotel opened up some rooms for employees to stay overnight Friday to ensure we had key staff at work on Saturday morning,” she said. The mountain operations team utilized a variety of equipment for snow removal, including skid steers and snow cats, to manage the 36 inches of snow that fell. Thanks to these measures, the powder day was not lost: “Crews began digging out the chairlifts before the sun came up, and we had the first chair turning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday,” Zaloga said.

Massanutten, Va., created a dedicated web page with winter storm information so guests could keep up to date on the 31 inches of snow that fell. According to spokesperson Sarah Elson, the page received nearly 5,000 views over the weekend. Elson said the resort also sent a snow cat to Dulles International Airport to help clear the grass areas around the runways where the glide path sensors are located.