Holimont
135 acres, 55 runs near Ellicottville. North America's largest private ski club, lake-effect powder.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
12 Dec 2026
Closes
3 Apr 2027
Days open
112
Annual snow
13ft
The Overview
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 is a private club that opens to the public on weekdays, covering 135 acres (55 hectares) on the edge of Ellicottville in western New York. Its 55 runs drop about 700 ft (214 m) from a 2,260 ft (689 m) summit to a base at 1,560 ft (475 m). The split leans steep, with 44% advanced, 31% intermediate and 25% beginner and no expert-rated runs. Two quad chairs, two triples, a double and two surface lifts serve the slopes, and the club's low crowd numbers make those lifts feel faster than they look on paper.
The slopes are best known for their steep drops and open views across Ellicottville, with groomed corduroy a regular feature because there is no night skiing to wear the snow down. The terrain suits strong intermediates and advanced skiers, with a lean towards steeper pitches, though easier runs exist for learners. Weekday visitors get a quiet mountain with a different character to neighbouring Holiday Valley, and weekends are reserved for members. It suits confident skiers who value space and groomed snow over terrain parks or night sessions.
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 2026 - 2027
12 Dec 2026
Opens
3 Apr 2027
Closes
112
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
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Holimont, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
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Holimont Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 14 Oct 2026
2,260ft
summit
+0in
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast51°F / 69°F · NW 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.
12 Dec 2026 - 3 Apr 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 48 hours· Updated Oct 14, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,260 ftUpdated Oct 14, 2026 at 4:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.2"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Wed, Oct 14
Overcast
Temp69° / 51°°F
Snow0.0"(19%)
Wind12 mph NW
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.