After conflicting announcements, Sunrise Park Resort to open next week
Dec 14, 2017, 1:47 PM | Updated: 5:25 pm
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — After saying it would open this week before retracting that hours later, tribal officials have confirmed that Sunrise Park Resort in eastern Arizona will begin welcoming people for the ski season next week.
In an email, the resort said it would open on Dec. 22.
This latest update comes after days of misinformation and conflicting statements on the part of the resort.
Sunrise, located off State Route 273 in Greer, said in the original release that it made enough snow to open the midway point of Sunrise Peak and would have four runs operating by Friday.
Gwendena Lee-Gatewood, spokeswoman for the White Mountain Apache Tribe which owns the resort, said that information sent in a Wednesday statement and Facebook post was incorrect.
However, another Facebook post and email sent hours later said the resort was not planning to open.
Hundreds took to the ski area’s Facebook page to comment and ask what was going on. Some claimed the opening was delayed because an employee had passed away, while others claimed it was because of a change in management.
Neither of those rumors have been confirmed by KTAR News.
Resort officials were investigating if a former employee was responsible for the post.
One thing in this confusing situation was clear: The ski area has received no snow yet this season and has experienced above-average temperatures.
When it has enough snow, skiers and snowboarders have access to three peaks and more than 30 runs at Sunrise.
The National Weather Service said this year’s wait for snow was one of the longest on record.
Flagstaff averages about 18 inches of snow by Dec. 12, while Show Low normally receives 2.6 inches and Prescott has about 2.5 inches.
Temperatures in Arizona’s high country have been 5-15 degrees above normal and that won’t end for at least another week.
The weather service called for highs near 50 degrees at Sunrise through Tuesday, with overnight lows near 20 degrees.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
