With the exception of drought-stricken California and the “Polar Vortexed” Midwest, the 2013-14 ski season ended on a high note—even if getting there was not always easy.

“We had to fight tooth and nail for every visitor, every run,” says Matt Peterson, marketing director at Boreal, Calif., which managed to open the entire resort and Tahoe’s only halfpipe despite the lack of natural snow.

The unprecedented drought in California left skier visits at least 50 percent down, says Bob Roberts, executive director at California Ski Industry Association. “I can’t even rate the season 'R.’” Roberts says. “It’s unrated. Our third subpar year in a row.”

Meanwhile, in the Midwest, fantastic snow and conditions could not offset the unrelenting Polar Vortex that brought 60 subzero days to the northern tier and 50 to Minneapolis and parts farther south. “People just stopped wanting to go outside,” says one Midwesterner who predicted a below average season for the region.

Everywhere else, the season was at least average or above, even a record breaker for some. Here’s a quick rundown.

West
California’s ski season was the worst Roberts has witnessed in his four-plus decades in the industry. Through Christmas, the state had received just 17 percent of its normal precipitation, then went 63 days without another drop. A few areas, including Shasta, never opened. “Snowmaking made the difference,” Roberts says.

Even so, he predicted visits will be at least 50 percent down from last year, not a stellar year either. “It’s very concerning,” Roberts says.

Farther north, the same drought, though not so severe, left Pacific Northwest snowpacks 50 to 75 percent below normal through January. Unlike California, February brought snow—tons of snow, except in southern Oregon where a few resorts remained dry and never opened. By the end of March, snowpacks were 120 percent of normal and the season rescued.

“It’s not like last year. It was just average,” says John Gifford, president of the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association.

The same February snow pattern also lifted Whistler/Blackcomb to a “great” season, says Jill Young, PR coordinator.

Utah also had a strong year, as did Colorado, where visits were up 13 percent through February.

East and Midwest
In the East, a strong start and finish helped overcome a freeze-and-thaw January. “We never have high expectations for January, and Mother Nature certainly delivered on our low expectations,” says Greg Sweetser, executive director of Ski Maine. “The swings were wild. A couple of rainstorms and then deep freezes. Thank goodness, it came during our least busy month.”

February roared back with record snow, followed by more natural snow and cold in March, lifting everyone to above average and better results. Many resorts extended their seasons. Even with the longer length, many closed with 100 percent of their terrain open.

“March keeps getting better and better,” says Chris Bates, general manager at Cataloochee, N.C., which closed March 30 with a five-foot base. Cataloochee set a wire-to-wire record (up 15 percent over last season, its previous best), hitting every holiday along the way, beginning with Thanksgiving, then Christmas, MLK and President’s Day. “Normally, we get two out of four, and think it’s great if we get three,” Bates says.

And the records keep falling. Early pass sales were up 28 percent.

Other eastern resorts reported similar bumps in everything from pass sales to lodging and hamburgers consumed to runs skied. Vermont’s Stowe Mountain Lodge sold out for the entire Presidents’ week, and Bolton Valley, Vt., served up 66 percent more hamburgers that week.

Heading across the border, Mont Saint-Sauveur planned to remain open until Mother’s Day, May 11, “We’ve had a great season,” says Patricia Bergeron, PR manager.

David Trathen, VP of finance at Holiday Valley, N.Y., says visits and revenues were both up over last year and the resort’s five-year average. Scott Brandi, president of Ski Areas of New York, predicted the state as a whole will be up five percent over last year.

One bright spot, literally, from the Polar Vortex that gripped the Midwest and Northeast was an unusual number of sunny days. “We can get a lot of gray days in the winter,” Trathen says. “The sunshine helped people feel more active.”

Wachusett, Mass., which made a record amount of snow before Christmas and then received a record amount of natural snow (98 inches), was on track for its longest-ever season (136 days). Last season ran 117 days.

Visits were also way up. “We’re outpacing our prior year, three-year, and five-year averages,” says Tom Meyers, marketing manager. “It’s been a great season.”

In addition to the February snow, resorts say the Winter Olympics also boosted enthusiasm. Mount snow, which received a record 72 inches of snow in February, renamed the resort “Mount Logan” in honor of Olympic ski slopestyle silver medalist and hometown favorite Devin Logan.

“Hundreds of people came out to see her,” says David Meeker, communications manager. “It was very cool.”

Trends
Events in general, with and without local Olympians, were very popular this season. “We used to have to struggle to get people to attend events,” notes Sweetser.

Not any more.

Waterville Valley, N.H., which added a tubing park this season, had events going on every week, from a rail jam and a day honoring Olympic mogul silver medalist Hannah Kearney, to comedians, Nordic clinics, ice skating and more. “There’s a lot to do here,” says Pete Sununu, marketing coordinator. “It’s been a very successful season.”

Other trends: Facebook chatter continues to grow in importance, allowing resorts to do quick snow alerts and promos, and even re-open for a weekend.

Many resorts reported success with January “learn to” programs. Wachusett extended its “Bring a Friend” January program through the rest of the season and will bring it back next year. It also had good success with its re-vamped online ticket portal.

Gifford says several Pacific Northwest resorts reported lessons and rentals way up.

Yields are increasing, and there was a lot of talk about summer capital commitments. “The trend toward rounding out revenue is continuing,” Brandi says.

Nowhere is that trend more obvious than California. “The larger resorts are looking at themselves as mountain recreation and year-round businesses, not ski areas,” Roberts says. “There’s a lot of innovation going on.”

Boreal is just one example. Home to Camp Woodward, the resort’s facilities include seven trampolines, including a super tramp, one of just four in the country, plus an indoor skateboard park, pump track and mega ramps.

“It started as a summer camp,” Peterson says. “Now, we’ve opened up the facilities in the winter and made it a resort offering.”

Asked if this is the future for ski areas, Peterson says, “I think we’re pushing toward the right direction. Having another offering is definitely a successful way to go. It also brings a new clientele to the mountain. Just as ski areas are becoming more dependent on snowmaking, we’re doing the same thing, offering products that are open rain or shine, and are less dependent on the weather.”

After this winter, most resorts can surely agree with that idea.