Our Story...
Mountain Creek is the New York/New Jersey Metro area’s closest ski resort. Located just 47 miles from NYC, we boast 167 skiable acres on four mountain peaks, night skiing on all runs, the region’s most extensive snowmaking system and highest vertical at 1,040 feet. We’re a true 4-season resort with our bike park, waterpark, and multiple restaurants and lodges.
Mountain Creek started as “Great Gorge Resort” in 1965, on what is now known as Bear and South Peaks, by founding families the Kurlanders, Fitzgeralds and Bakers. In the early years, Great Gorge was known as a ski racing and jumping mecca, where many US Ski Team members, like Stein Eriksen, came to train and start their illustrious careers. Mountain Creek’s extensive snowmaking roots can also be traced to the early Great Gorge days, where they were the first ski area in the US to utilize jet engine technology in snowmaking.
In 1971, Great Gorge expanded to “Great Gorge North” which is now Granite Peak and “Vernon Valley Ski Resort” opened on what is now known as Vernon Peak. Great Gorge and Vernon Valley eventually merged and became one spectacular 3-peak ski resort. That year, Playboy opened their $20 million, 650-room Great Gorge Playboy Club to much fanfare. In 1978, Action Park, the area’s premier amusement and water park, opened its doors and began VV/GG’s multi-season resort era.
1998 brought a new era to Vernon Valley / Great Gorge when Intrawest, who owns and operates destination ski resorts such as Whistler Blackcomb, Tremblant and Steamboat purchased the resort. Vernon Valley / Great Gorge was renamed, Mountain Creek, with visions of becoming the area’s premier 4-season resort destination. Intrawest invested in renovation, development and infrastructure throughout the early 2000s and the resort was transformed! Throughout the 2000s, Mountain Creek became one of the east coast's top snowboarding and terrain park resorts, hosting many events, most notably the US Snowboarding Grand Prix on 2004 and 2005.
At the turn of the decade, Intrawest introduced additional beginner and intermediate terrain to make Mountain Creek a ski resort for the whole family. In 2010, an ownership group including Crystal Springs Resort, one of the area’s most well-known resort and golf destinations, purchased the resort and sought to upgrade the amenities which included the construction of the Red Tail Lodge, with new restaurants, bars and improved equipment rental area.
In June 2015, The Koffman family, one of four partners that purchased Mountain Creek in 2010, became the sole owner of the resort. The Koffman family was also a partner in the original Great Gorge ski area in the 1970s. The Koffman’s experience and ownership of other world-class resorts brought a wealth of knowledge and experience that is ushering in a bright future for Mountain Creek. This future includes the return of golf (Great Gorge) in 2017, new lodging and spas, restaurants, activities and more!
The Koffman family’s connection with the resort’s history, and the understanding of what the resort means to the area, is ushering a new era of development, improvement and expansion to Vernon Valley and the resort. Mountain Creek looks to continue its rich tradition, while offering a world-class resort experience you might not expect so close to home.
