Sunshine and fresh powder graced the slopes of Butler’s Clear Fork Resort on Saturday, Jan. 17, as area residents took advantage of “Customer Appreciation and Media Day” at the resort. The slopes weren’t crowded, but the parking lot was steadily filling around noon as families headed to a day of fun.
Clear Fork Resort Event Coordinator Cora Lyon-Eberhardt said this is the first year that Customer Appreciation Day and Media Day have been combined, and the resort had plenty to offer everyone. “For Customer Appreciation Day, anyone 12 and under can ski for free,” she said. “13 and older, if you buy a lift pass then you get one 50 percent off of equal or lesser value. And any media outlet, radio personalities, reporters, TV personalities, anybody in media, they get to come and at least try one or the other for free.”
Saturday hours include tubing until midnight and skiing until 11 p.m. Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, Jan. 17, will also feature The DeVault Ridge Band from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., with no cover charge.
The resort officially opened Jan. 16. “Mother Nature was not kind to us, obviously, in Ohio,” said Lyon-Eberhardt. “We didn’t take advantage of the colder weather in November, but we are open now.”
Bill Yarger of Butler said that the slopes were excellent on Saturday. A long-time fan of the resort, he noted he worked at the resort when he was a young man. In fact, a job at the resort is sort of a family tradition, with Yarger’s daughter also having worked there and his son, Dalton, currently employed in the facility as a ski instructor.
Justin Long of Lucas said he enjoyed skiing as well as tubing at the resort. “Anyone can tube, that’s for everybody,” he said.
“It’s beautiful skiing out here,” said Chris Carr of Butler.
For those who aren’t up to skiing, tubing, or snowboarding, the resort offers a full menu in its upper lounge with an excellent view of the slopes.
Lyon-Eberhardt added that the resort is planning their annual Winterfest Carnival on Feb. 14, which will feature U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) ski races, as well as teams from Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. The event will also feature a “Big Air” competition, and one for kids, as well.
“The Mini-Big Air competition is unique to our resort,” said Lyon-Eberhardt. “It’s for children 12 and under. It’s smaller jumps, but still they can go out and compete against each other like the big boys and girls do.”
Fireworks will light the sky the night of the Winterfest Carnival, and Southern Detour will entertain the crowd. “They are an up-and-rising country band out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,” added Lyon-Eberhardt.
The resort also offers a venue for weddings, parties, and gatherings, said Lyon-Eberhardt. For information, contact Lyon-Eberhardt at Cora@ClearForkSki.com or 419-883-2000. The resort is located in Butler at 341 Resort Drive.
“It’s a great family destination,” said Lyon-Eberhardt, “We’re very laid back and very family-oriented.”
