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    New York, USA

    Holimont

    135 acres, 55 runs near Ellicottville. North America's largest private ski club, lake-effect powder.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    13 Dec 2025
    Closes
    5 Apr 2026
    Days open
    113
    Annual snow
    13ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    HoliMont's summit reaches 2,260 feet, dropping 702 vertical feet to a base at 1,558 feet across 55 runs spread over 135 acres near Ellicottville in western New York. Terrain splits 44 per cent advanced, 31 per cent intermediate and 25 per cent beginner, with no expert-rated runs, and average annual snowfall of roughly 150 inches from the region's lake-effect weather patterns. Five lifts, including two quad chairs and two triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside one double chair and two surface lifts.

    HoliMont operates as North America's largest private ski club, a genuinely distinctive model in the industry that keeps its slopes notably uncrowded relative to comparably sized public resorts. The mountain welcomes the public on weekdays while reserving weekend access for members, a structure that shapes the entire visitor experience.

    William Merk, inspired after witnessing the 1932 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, pursued his passion for skiing in the Ellicottville area for years with the Ellicottville Ski Club before deciding to establish a private club of his own. In 1961, Merk initiated purchase options on land parcels along Route 242 with the backing of local investors, who coined the name HoliMont from the phrase Holiday Mountain. The first trail was cut in 1961, with seven more following in 1962, the club's official first season.

    HoliMont has continued operating as a private, member-focused ski club since its founding, maintaining its distinctive weekday-public, weekend-members structure across more than six decades. Adult weekday daily tickets run from 75 to 85 US dollars, with substantially discounted rates for military members on Fridays.

    702ft
    Vertical
    55
    Runs
    135 acres
    Skiable
    13ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    55 runs across 135 acres skiable

    Holimont spreads 55 runs across 135 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 44%, with 14 beginner runs to find your feet and 24 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    55
    runs
    55 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner14 runs · 25%
    Intermediate17 runs · 31%
    Advanced24 runs · 44%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
    Time it right

    When to visit Holimont

    The 2025-26 season at HoliMont ran from 13 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 150 inches, among the higher totals in New York State thanks to the region's lake-effect weather patterns off Lake Erie.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent lake-effect powder conditions to the club's advanced-and-intermediate-weighted terrain. As North America's largest private ski club, HoliMont maintains a distinctive access structure, welcoming the public on weekdays while reserving weekends for members, keeping the slopes notably uncrowded relative to comparably sized public resorts.

    This weekday-public, weekend-members model shapes visitor patterns throughout the season, with weekday visitors drawn by the promise of substantial lake-effect powder without the crowds typical of public resorts on similar terrain. School holiday periods bring some increase in weekday public visitation given the substantial advanced and intermediate terrain on offer.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. HoliMont's continuous operation as a private club since its 1961 founding by William Merk and local investors continues to define its seasonal character. The club's reputation for reliable lake-effect powder and uncrowded slopes remains central to its appeal each winter.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    13 Dec 2025
    Opens
    5 Apr 2026
    Closes
    113
    Days open
    13 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Holimont, and where to stay

    HoliMont sits near Ellicottville in western New York, with a base elevation of 1,558 feet and a summit at 2,260 feet across a 702-foot vertical drop over 135 acres. This western New York setting places the club within the broader Ellicottville ski area cluster, a well-known regional ski destination.

    Ellicottville, a lively small village with dining, shopping and lodging, sits within a short drive of the club, providing a genuine mountain-town base for members and weekday public visitors alike. Buffalo, the nearest larger city, lies within a reasonable drive, providing the club's primary metropolitan visitor base.

    New York State Route 242 provides direct access to the club, running through the heart of the Ellicottville ski area cluster. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, particularly given the region's substantial lake-effect snowfall, though the road is well maintained given its role serving multiple ski areas. There is no direct public transport service to the club.

    Buffalo Niagara International Airport, within a reasonable drive, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, making HoliMont accessible for visitors flying into western New York. This proximity to Buffalo supports the club's role as a significant private skiing destination for the region.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Holimont, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032

    FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032

    The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.

    4 Sept 2026
    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.

    4 Sept 2026
    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

    2 Sept 2026
    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

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    1 Sept 2026
    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

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    31 Aug 2026
    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

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    28 Aug 2026
    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

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    27 Aug 2026
    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.

    26 Aug 2026

    Holimont Snow Report

    Snow Report
    Updated 10 Sept 2026
    2,260ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Overcast64°F / 75°F · W 12mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Total lifts7

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    13 Dec 2025 - 5 Apr 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 47 hours· Updated Sep 10, 2026 at 4:02 PM
    ThuNow8p9p10p11pFri12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pSat12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
    6768
    6667
    6566
    6466
    6465
    6263
    6162
    6060
    5858
    5756
    5656
    5554
    5553
    5756
    6161
    6463
    6564
    6667
    6768
    6868
    6968
    6967
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    6159
    5956
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    5551
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    5450
    5451
    5551
    5552
    5552
    5755
    6363
    6869
    7173
    7478
    7476
    7274
    6972
    7173
    7173
    Snowfallin
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Precip chance%
    0%
    0%
    1%
    2%
    3%
    3%
    4%
    0%
    0%
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    0%
    0%
    0%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    39%
    39%
    39%
    Precipin00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.00.00.00.0
    Wind / gustmph
    6G18
    2G11
    3G13
    3G11
    2G11
    2G12
    2G9
    2G6
    2G2
    3G4
    1G1
    2G2
    2G2
    2G3
    2G6
    3G10
    5G12
    6G11
    7G10
    7G10
    6G8
    5G7
    4G6
    3G5
    2G4
    4G4
    3G4
    2G3
    3G3
    2G4
    4G5
    3G6
    6G7
    5G7
    5G7
    5G6
    5G5
    4G5
    4G10
    7G18
    7G15
    8G14
    9G15
    10G17
    9G21
    10G20
    9G19

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    2,260 ftUpdated Sep 10, 2026 at 4:02 PMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.0"

    Days 8–14

    0.0"

    Unlock days 8–14

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    Thu, Sept 10

    Slight Rain
    Temp75° / 64°°F
    Snow0.0"(21%)
    Wind12 mph W

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Holimont snow report

    Holimont snow conditions, updated regularly: current snowfall, snow depth, temperatures, and the outlook for this New York resort.

    Snow measurements

    Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 475m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 214m higher at 689m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.

    Weather conditions

    Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Holimont's 475m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.

    Data sources

    We pull Holimont's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 7 lifts, including 2 quad chairlifts.

    When to check

    The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Holimont's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.