Belleayre Mountain isn’t just a premier ski destination—it’s a proven economic engine and community partner in the Catskills. Since opening in 1950, Belleayre has steadily expanded its facilities and terrain, drawing more snowsports enthusiasts year after year.
That growth translates into jobs, visitor spending, and stronger local businesses. Beyond winter, Belleayre’s year-round programs and events deliver economic, cultural, social, educational, and accessibility benefits—making it a vital force for communities across the region.
An Inspiring and Impactful Evolution
The first to ski Belleayre Mountain was Maltby Shipp of Newburgh and his son, who hiked up and skied down in 1929. Two decades later, work began on New York State’s first chairlift, along with a base lodge and access road. Popularity quickly grew as trails and amenities expanded.
After the Olympic Authority assumed management in 2012, Belleayre added the Catskill Thunder Gondola, modern learning facilities, and high-efficiency snowmaking—elevating it as a model in the ski industry. Today, Belleayre generates more than $25 million in annual visitor spending in Ulster County, with the Olympic Authority investing nearly $10 million each year in operations.
Now a Year-Round Travel Destination
As Belleayre has grown into a four-season resort, its community impact has expanded. Visitors now come year-round for a full-service beach, scenic gondola rides, hiking and biking trails, disc golf, and a climbing wall, along with a steady lineup of summer and fall events.
Highlights include Music on the Belle, a free Friday concert series with live bands, food, drinks, gondola rides, and a lively mountain atmosphere, and the Fall Festival, a two-weekend October tradition with music, crafts, kids’ entertainment, and food that draws thousands. These offerings enrich the region’s cultural life while boosting local businesses, hotels, and restaurants through steady visitation and seasonal events.
Extensive Economic Benefits
Year-round operations have transformed Belleayre’s off-season into a major driver of regional spending on retail, dining, entertainment, lodging, and transportation. Indirect impacts ripple further as local businesses purchase goods and services to support this activity.
Belleayre also fuels the economy through jobs. Expanded operations require additional staff across events, guest services, marketing, IT, and more—employees who earn wages and spend them locally.
Mountain Jam is Back
In 2025, Mountain Jam returned to Belleayre for the first time since the pandemic, drawing thousands for a three-day festival reminiscent of Woodstock. The event delivered a memorable experience and showcased Belleayre’s ability to host large-scale gatherings.
In addition to the standard economic impact of a large event like this, one of the sponsors of the event, Mike’s Amazing, cooked for the crowd and staff and through the generosity of those in attendance raised $15,000 for the benefit of three Hudson Valley organizations:
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley – an organization leading a network of partners in fighting food insecurity across six counties.
Family of Woodstock – a crisis support organization offering intervention, prevention, and support for individuals and families across the region.
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater – a member-supported organization committed to protecting the Hudson River through education and advocacy.
Mountain Jam’s return was not only a cultural highlight but also a powerful boost for the region and its communities.
Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives
The Catskills were declared “forever wild” in 1895 and formally made a park in 1904. To this day, they remain a haven for nature lovers, artists, and adventurers.
Belleayre honors that tradition by serving as both a premier recreation destination and a responsible environmental steward. Alongside its economic and social benefits, the mountain is committed to minimizing its ecological footprint through initiatives such as:
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- Efficient snowmaking with advanced snow guns, electric instead of diesel pumps, and compressors that cut energy use and emissions
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- Renewable energy purchases and LED lighting throughout facilities
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- EV chargers and a transition to hybrid/electric groomers and vehicles
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- Trail improvements to reduce erosion and water use
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- Sustainable dining, including increased sources of local foods, reduced plastics, composting, and aluminum packaging
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- RFID lift tickets to reduce printing waste
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- Front-country hiking options to ease pressure on wilderness trails
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Through these measures, Belleayre ensures recreation and sustainability go hand in hand.
Climb It for Climate
For the past three summers, Belleayre has hosted Climb It for Climate, a zero-carbon trail race offering 8k and 25k runs. Entry fees fund carbon offsets, while registrations and raffles support the Catskill Center and other environmental nonprofits.
Youth Ski and Snowboard Programs
Belleayre offers lessons for all ages and abilities, starting with Kidscamp for children as young as four, plus group lessons for skiing (ages 4–12) and snowboarding (ages 7–12).
In 2024, Belleayre expanded learning to the summit with a carpet lift on an easy trail near the Catskill Thunder Gondola. This provides beginners longer access to snow, inspiring views, and the chance to learn alongside more experienced skiers and riders, creating a fun and inclusive experience.
Partnering with the Stoked Foundation, Belleayre offers an additional mentoring program that provides opportunities and safe spaces for youth from underserved to discover new potential while learning skiing and snowboarding. That’s in addition to their working with local school systems, such as Margaretville, to ensure area youth have access to discounted lift tickets and lessons.
Education for Hikers and Skiers
Belleayre extends learning beyond skiing with interpretive signs along hiking and Nordic ski trails, covering topics such as beaver ecology, stone-wall history, tree identification, and human-environment interactions.
Each summer, the team at Belleayre also provides a children’s story walk across the summit of the mountain to create a fun and educational reading experience. This summer, the experience followed the journey of Momma Bobcat and her cubs, riding the gondola, hiking through the Catskills, and meeting all the New York State symbols along the way.
Shaping the Region’s Spirit and Livelihood
Belleayre goes beyond being a ski resort, offering year-round events, programs, and adventures that empower people, support local businesses, and strengthen communities. Its impact drives job creation, boosts infrastructure, promotes healthy lifestyles, and enriches regional culture—all while setting a standard for environmentally responsible operations. Belleayre is committed to being both an economic engine and a positive force for the Catskills’ way of life.