How Ober Gatlinburg Created a Reliable Opening Strategy With All-Weather Snowmaking
Ober Mountain, formerly known as Ober Gatlinburg, is Tennessee’s only ski area and adventure park. Located above Gatlinburg in the Great Smoky Mountains, Ober provides skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and family attractions for visitors and local residents throughout the Southeast.
For Ober, delivering a dependable winter experience means operating successfully in one of North America’s most marginal snowmaking climates. Its strategy combines all-weather snow production with traditional snowmaking to create early-season snow base and expand coverage when cold weather arrives.
The Plan
A hybrid system for all conditions
Ober partnered with SMI Snow Makers to create a hybrid snowmaking strategy around two complementary technologies: Latitude90 all-weather snowmaking systems for early-season base building and SMI PoleCat fan guns for high-volume production during favorable wet-bulb conditions.
All-weather snowmaking
Ober has installed 14 Latitude90 all-weather snowmaking systems since 2022 to produce snow before winter temperatures become consistently cold. Because Latitude90 systems can operate in temperatures from -4°F to +77°F+, Ober begins making snow in October and builds a snow base while daytime temperatures remain well above traditional snowmaking ranges.
The all-weather systems support priority early-season areas, including:
Snow tubing
Beginner terrain
Lift-loading and unloading zones
High-traffic areas requiring in-season replenishment
Latitude90 equipment gives operators the flexibility to produce different snowflake sizes as needs change. Larger flakes are more resilient to melting during warm periods, while smaller flakes provide better snow quality. The enclosed, automated units operate continuously and are controlled remotely through Latitude90 and SmartSnow 7 controls.
Traditional Snowmaking
When cold weather arrives, Ober uses 55 tower-mounted SMI PoleCat fan guns to quickly expand snow coverage across the mountain. The tower-mounted fleet gives the resort the volume needed to build trail depth, open additional terrain, replenish high-use areas, and maintain surfaces through the season.
Together, the two systems create a staged operating approach: Latitude90 builds a solid snow base regardless of outside temperature, and PoleCats turn productive cold windows into high-volume trail coverage.
Locations of L60 units across the mountain
The Results
Earlier openings and a longer season
Ober’s snowmaking strategy gives the resort a more proactive path to winter operations. By beginning all-weather snow production in October, the team can build snow inventory ahead of the holiday season instead of waiting for a sustained stretch of cold, dry weather.
The impact of this hybrid strategy is reflected in Ober’s recent operating milestones:
127-day season in 2024–25: In one of the country’s most marginal snowmaking climates, Ober Mountain achieved a resort-record 127 operating days! Outlasting several regional ski areas located at more than twice its elevation.
Pre-Thanksgiving openings in 2025–26: By starting all-weather snow production in October, Ober establishes enough snow to confidently schedule snow tubing for November 15 and skiing and snowboarding for November 22, giving guests confirmed access before the Thanksgiving holiday. (Ober)
Interested in Working With SMI Snowmakers?
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Step 1
Connect With Your Local SMI Representative
Discuss your mountain’s challenges, goals, existing system, and priorities with the SMI representative who serves your region.
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Step 2
Define the Right Scope
Your local SMI representative will help identify the right next step for your operation.Get focused help with pumping, automation, equipment, pipe, electrical, or retrofits—or choose a full turnkey snowmaking project.
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Step 3
Create Your Unique Solution With Us
SMI brings the right people and solutions together to build a plan around your mountain, your resources, and your goals.