Ski season start gives business a boost

RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) - What started out as a gloomy season with no snow and no skiing has taken a turn in southeastern New Mexico. Things are now looking up for businesses and a community that depends on a white Christmas.  

Ski Apache looked mostly dry two weeks ago. A lack of snow forced officials to delay opening for nearly a month.

"Our concern was, is it going to snow? Is Ski Apache going to you know, be able to open at least in time for Christmas?" recalled Gina Kelley, director of tourism for Ruidoso. "We were very concerned."

Since Friday, that's all changed. Ski season officially kicked off, which means so has business in Ruidoso. Ski shops that were losing out on the weeks with no snow are now open.

Owners made clear during the delay that this time of year is crucial for business.

"Christmas sometimes can be you know 30 to 50 percent of your income can come in 10 day, two week period at Christmas and New Years," Don Damron, owner of the Alto Ski Shop told KRQE News 13.

However, it's not just the ski shops that benefit. Shops in midtown have already started seeing a boost.

"Maybe the mom brings up the 10 teenagers, and the 10 teens go up on the hill and the mom comes and shops, so yes that's a plus," explained Beth Steiner, owner of Heart's Delight gourmet gift shop.

More than half of the people that live in Ruidoso don't actually live there all year round, so Kelley says bringing those people back for the holidays is vital to Ruidoso's economy.

"Even if they're second-home owners and they're not in our lodging, they eat in our restaurants, they shop in our stores, they buy gas, they buy groceries, so it's important," explained Kelley. "And we do see a huge influx of second-home owners during the holidays."

Snow was plentiful last ski season. This season so far, the ski mountain has about 11 inches of snow.

In town, the weekend storm brought about three inches, which have since been melting. But there is more snow in the forecast.

"It's supposed to snow, knock on wood, tonight," said Kelley. "It might even snow for Christmas, so that would make a lot of people very happy."

This weekend, Ski Apache will have it's annual torch light parade and fireworks show Saturday at 6:30 p.m. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Ski Apache will also have their Dummy Gelunde contest. For more information on events going on in Ruidoso, click here , or visit the village Facebook page .