Magazine publicity benefits ski area

Seats were scarce at the Red Dog Saloon on Saturday night as Turner Mountain enthusiasts consumed pizza, salad and pitchers of beer all in the name of the beloved volunteer-run ski area that was featured in a national magazine this year.

The annual Fun Night served to raise money for Turner Mountain Ski Area and to raise enthusiasm for the upcoming winter months – a season that may include more tourists than years past. 

“We’re receiving tons of e-mails from folks that read that article,” said Bruce Zwang,

president of the board of directors for Turner Mountain. “I think we’re going to get a lot of business because of it.”

Zwang reported that e-mail inquiries have increased about four-fold since Skiing Magazine featured Turner Mountain in its October edition and recognized it for having the friendliest locals.

Turner Mountain, which evolved over the years from a T-bar with powder to a chair lift with groomers, hasn’t caught the eye of many tourists in the past. The ski area, in a remote locale with inexpensive burgers and a noticeable lack of extravagant lodgings – or any lodgings at all – is geared more toward locals.

But like its recent “friendliest locals” award suggests, residents don’t seem to mind sharing the place with out-of-towners. 

“We welcome new people,” Zwang said. “You recognize the new people when you see them and everyone’s real friendly.”

More snow will have to fall on Turner before it’s ready to open for the season, but a good, dense base is forming, according to Zwang, and the depth is normal for this time of year. The base of the mountain will need about 18 inches before Turner will open, Zwang said, and there’s currently about four inches at the base and 14 inches at the top.

Hopefully, Zwang said, Turner will open by the time students are out of school for the holidays.

Not much has changed at Turner since last year, but skiers and snowboarders will notice this season a few new gladed areas.

“We’ve opened up several areas this year and I think the folks are really going to like them,” Zwang said.