Laurel Mountain’s distinct character is the result of a rich history. The slopes were originally designed by European skiing legend Johann "Hannes" Schneider, a renowned Austrian ski guide and inventor of the Arlberg Method, the basis of modern alpine ski technique. The resort opened in 1940, just before the U.S. entered
World War II, and some of the original structures, including the storied Midway Cabin, still stand on the property. Once an exclusive club for the most prestigious residents of Pennsylvania, Laurel Mountain was gifted to the commonwealth in 1964. The resort closed for more than a decade, starting in 2005. In 2008, Bob Nutting, owner of Seven Springs and Hidden Valley, signed a lease with the state to operate the resort. The
Pennsylvania DCNR and
Seven Springs Mountain Resort partnered to invest $6.5 million into a multi-year renovation project to upgrade the facility with a modern SkyTrac fixed-grip quad chairlift, renovated lodge, and improved slopes. The
snowmaking system was overhauled with the addition of 52 new guns and the water storage capacity nearly doubled to 26 million gallons. Laurel Mountain reopened for the 2016-2017 season. In December 2021,
Vail Resorts took over the lease for the resort from Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Inc., with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania retaining ownership. ==Facilities==