Fifty miles south of Buffalo in western New York, Holiday Valley is as well known for its location in the quaint town of Ellicottville as for its ski mountain. But this mountain delivers: Readers of SKI Magazine rated Holiday Valley Resort as the sixth best winter resort in eastern North America. This places it among the top ten resorts in the East for seven of the past ten years.

Holiday Valley's humble origins date back to 1936, when a pair of ski buddies jerry-rigged a rope tow on a hill outside of Ellicottville to take advantage of the snows blowing off Lake Erie to the west. Visitors traveled from all over to use the novel device, and the town of Ellicottville began developing as a ski town, offering lodging with a smile and lots of Molsons, the skiers' drink of choice. Two decades later, a group from the Ellicottville Ski Club bought enough land to start a full-fledged ski resort, selling stock to potential investors off a card table in the parking lot. In 1958, Holiday Valley opened with a T-bar, four slopes, and a dream of things to come.

Over the past half-century, Holiday Valley has grown into New York's largest ski resort, with 58 runs (37 open for night skiing) and several terrain parks, one with a 400-foot halfpipe. Thirteen lifts, 11 of which are quads, keep lines moving efficiently; during peak season, expect to wait no more than ten minutes at even the most popular lifts. Skiers and snowboarders enjoy an evenly spaced terrain. Morning Star, a wide intermediate with easy bumps down one side, warms up early, while Mardi Gras, another intermediate, runs almost a mile long, and Yodeler, one of the resort's original trails, remains a

Fifty miles south of Buffalo in western New York, Holiday Valley is as well known for its location in the quaint town of Ellicottville as for its ski mountain. But this mountain delivers: Readers of SKI Magazine rated Holiday Valley Resort as the sixth best winter resort in eastern North America. This places it among the top ten resorts in the East for seven of the past ten years.

Holiday Valley's humble origins date back to 1936, when a pair of ski buddies jerry-rigged a rope tow on a hill outside of Ellicottville to take advantage of the snows blowing off Lake Erie to the west. Visitors traveled from all over to use the novel device, and the town of Ellicottville began developing as a ski town, offering lodging with a smile and lots of Molsons, the skiers' drink of choice. Two decades later, a group from the Ellicottville Ski Club bought enough land to start a full-fledged ski resort, selling stock to potential investors off a card table in the parking lot. In 1958, Holiday Valley opened with a T-bar, four slopes, and a dream of things to come.

Over the past half-century, Holiday Valley has grown into New York's largest ski resort, with 58 runs (37 open for night skiing) and several terrain parks, one with a 400-foot halfpipe. Thirteen lifts, 11 of which are quads, keep lines moving efficiently; during peak season, expect to wait no more than ten minutes at even the most popular lifts. Skiers and snowboarders enjoy an evenly spaced terrain. Morning Star, a wide intermediate with easy bumps down one side, warms up early, while Mardi Gras, another intermediate, runs almost a mile long, and Yodeler, one of the resort's original trails, remains a popular favorite. For a real treat, head to the far end of the resort and ride the chairlift over a snowy, picturesque pine forest (planted during the Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps) to Tennenbaum's gentle terrain. Thrill-seekers can check out 42/78 Park, Holiday Valley's most difficult terrain park. A progression park is located at the eastern end of the beginner's area, where novices can get acclimated and learn safety precautions.

Cross-country skiers and snowshoers have free use of a groomed golf course, or can purchase an inexpensive two-ride lift ticket to access advanced trails on the mountain's ridge line. For another snow-related activity, Holiday Valley offers a free shuttle to its 12-lane tubing facility. Or there's always the great shopping and casually chic restaurants in Ellicottville, one of New York's only true ski towns.

Called "the Aspen of the East" (although locals insist that Aspen is "the Ellicottville of the West"), Ellicottville has remained true to its roots—a one-stoplight town with shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, and not a chain in sight. The look is Victorian, the feel is homey, and the service is friendly. And while it's great for playing a board game with your family by the fire, Ellicottville is just as good for boozing with friends and enjoying live music till the wee hours of the morning; every January, more than a dozen bars and restaurants host the Winter Blues Festival. Don't worry about stumbling home: Just a mile from the mountain, Ellicottville boasts a wide array of rentals, townhouses, and condos. Those who want to be closer to the slopes can opt for ski-in, ski-out lodging at the Inn at Holiday Valley.

With skiing, shopping, and fine dining all in a picturesque town, Holiday Valley has been offering visitors a complete ski experience for more than 50 years. So what does the future hold? The resort is planning almost $14 million in renovations for the 2012-13 season, including opening the new Happy Valley Lodge as well as improving the recently opened Sky High Adventure Park and installing automated snowmaking systems. The mountain might look pretty different in a few years. But one thing is for sure: The skiers will keep on coming and the Molson's will keep on flowing.