The Onlys

While some states are dense with ski areas, Tennessee, Maryland, and Rhode Island boast only one ski area each. These “onlys” play pivotal roles in the snowsports industry and the recreation economies of their respective regions. Here, we’ll take a closer look at these unique operations, their challenges and triumphs, and their place in the market. 

Tourism is the engine that drives Gatlinburg, home of Tennessee’s only currently operating ski area, Ober Mountain (formerly Ober Gatlinburg). “If you’re from here, tourism—particularly in the summer—was a part of your life,” says John Baker, the new owner of the ski area-cum-amusement park just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.