It’s ski bum slang: corduroy. Referencing the meticulously groomed and grooved snow that only the earliest birds get to make their mark on seemed like the perfect name for David and Kristin Billings’ forty-two-room inn. Corduroy Inn & Lodge rivals the West’s popular skiing destinations with panoramic views of Snowshoe Mountain’s slopes. Drawing from the surrounding elements, the lobby warmly welcomes guests with vaulted timber ceilings, tufted leather seating, and a stacked stone Rumford fireplace that combats the cold.
When the snow melts, the fun doesn’t stop. Set in the middle of Snowshoe Village, West Virginia, the lodge acts as a launchpad for all that the area offers in the warmer months, from ATV excursions, to mountain biking, to the Billings’ favorite activity, horseback riding.
The Neighborhood: Snowshoe is known as an “upside-down resort” because, unlike other ski villages, visitors stay at the peak of the mountain rather than at the base. Corduroy Inn provides unmatched proximity to bustling Snowshoe Village, so visitors can ski in and out at their leisure. Guests also receive access to the nearby Splitrock Pools, which feature heated indoor and outdoor pools and waterslides throughout the winter.
The Food Scene: Corduroy Inn has curated dining experiences for guests ranging from the skier grabbing something quick to the fine diner looking for multiple courses. Located at the top of the Western Express chairlift, the Pizza Slice is an effort to bring great pies to the peak with a wood-fired brick oven imported from Italy. Homemade dough and sauce infused with smoky notes make for the best pizza in Snowshoe.
Tuque’s Bar and Grill elevates typical bar food and features menu items such as the smoked trout mac-and-cheese bites and a venison meatloaf sandwich. Après ski is a way of life in Snowshoe and Tuque’s does it best with live music.
Honing in on the rich agricultural diversity of the region, Appalachia Kitchen provides a more formal dining setting, where items like the pan-seared trout and roasted beet and goat cheese salad come out of the kitchen frequently.
The Digs: Meant to reflect the warmth evoked by the inn’s name while pulling from nature, the accommodations work to recuperate the sportsmen and women who flock to the mountain year-round. The in-room fireplaces are ideal for drying out snow gear and the homey kitchenettes (stocked with Nespresso), heated bathroom floors, and living spaces ornamented with local photography make unwinding all the easier. Although each room has a view of the landscape, the banquet hall and terrace on the top floor is the best place in Snowshoe to catch a sunset.
