Tornado Damages Chairlifts, Buildings At Snow Ridge Ski Area
A tornado touched down at Snow Ridge Ski Area in Turin, New York causing significant damage to the resort's infrastructure.
The tornado snapped the haul ropes on all three of the ski area's chairlifts, overturned or otherwise damaged the lift buildings, and struck the cabin of Snow Ridge's Pisten Bully 200 snowcat. A yurt on the property was also lost.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the storm.
The tornado is believed to have touched down around 8:00 PM on Monday night. It was part of a line of thunderstorms that moved through upstate New York, causing widespread damage.
The damage at Snow Ridge is significant, but the resort is committed to rebuilding.
"We are devastated by the damage caused by the tornado," said Snow Ridge General Manager John Mead. "But we are committed to rebuilding and getting back to operation as soon as possible."
Mead said that the resort is currently assessing the damage and developing a plan for repairs. He said that he hopes to have the ski area open for the upcoming winter season.
In the meantime, Snow Ridge is offering refunds to guests who had reservations for the upcoming season. The resort is also accepting donations to help with the rebuilding effort.