Cataloochee Ski Area is in the final countdown to opening its slopes for the season, and once again it took advantage of the summer to tackle new projects, make upgrades and expand operations.

We have increased our snowmaking capacity yet again, adding tower fan guns from the top of the mountain to the bottom, allowing us to make snow more efficiently and more effectively, said Tammy Brown, manager This will allow us to open more advanced terrain at the top of the mountain sooner in the season.

Also in the snow-making arena, Cataloochee added an automatic computerized snowmaking machine at the top of the beginnersÕ slopes Easy Way and Rabbit Hill.

Snowboarders, as well as skiers, will have bigger playground this year for practicing jumps and tricks. The Cat Cage Ski and Snowboard Terrain Park has been expanded with more boxes, features and rail and more terrain area.

The conveyor style lift at the Beginners Luck ski school area has been expanded by 75 feet, in effect enlarging the instruction area.

We have also painted each lift, lift tower and snow gun tower for a cleaner fresher look for the season, Brown said.

Last year, Cataloochee began construction on a new building to house groups, which has now been completed. The building will be a club house of sorts for groups. They will receive a welcome and orientation, will be able to store their belongings, and eat lunch. They will also be fit for skis in the group building so they wonÕt clog up the ski rental desk.

We have also upgraded our rental equipment again this season and have added approximately 450 sets of new skis and 100 snowboard rentals to our over 2,000 already in inventory, Brown said.