This week, there’s snow on the Pennsylvania slopes! That means skiers and snowboarders are about to get their first taste of a new season, and KYW’s Jay Lloyd reports it’s just a short drive to a snow sports getaway.

By Jay Lloyd

Pocono area slopes will feel the first rush of skis and boards this weekend. But closer to home, Spring Mountain, near Schwenksville, has a manmade blanket of white that grows with each bone-chilling night.

“We can make better snow than what we get naturally,” says Spring Mountain owner Rick Buckman (below), who expects to open these trails next week.

Story continues below photo…

(Rick Buckman, owner of Spring Mountain, stands in front of a snowmaking machine. Credit: Jay Lloyd)

—–

While Spring has long been known as a day-trip area where generations of skiers and riders have learned the sport, this year it takes on a destination-resort flavor. The Buckmans have bought and restored the venerable Woodside Inn, within yodeling distance of the slopes.

“We can cater to a person who would rather stay in a bed-and-breakfast type atmosphere with a restaurant and a pub,” says Buckman.

The accommodations, in a wooded setting, are two-room suites with a family tilt that leaves more time for skiing and less in the car.

“Jay Lloyd’s Getaway” main page