Hatley Pointe elevates WNC ski experience
Over the last two winters, a special destination has emerged within the ancient mountains of Western North Carolina — Hatley Pointe Ski Resort.
“It’s all about continuous improvement. We’re building something unique, and to do that we need to be constantly learning and improving,” said Jeff Fissel, general manager at Hatley Pointe. “For us, it has been all about trying to see the ski experience through our guests’ eyes and making sure we’re on the cutting edge of a great guest experience and holding ourselves to the standard of all great resorts.”
The newest ski resort in the state, Hatley Pointe has an elevation of 4,700 feet. It encompasses 54 acres of skiable terrain, a landscape that offers a vertical drop of 700 feet and 21 trails. Night skiing is also available through March 8. As well, Hatley Pointe is a reservation-only ski resort, which allows the mountain to function properly and guests to not be waiting in long lines.
“Our goals are to provide amazing amenities and experiences to all our guests and that is from the parking lot to the top of the ski mountain,” Fissel said. “We’ve invested heavily in state-of-the-art snowmaking and grooming equipment, at the same time offering valet parking, RFID lift tickets and still ensuring all our chicken tenders are hand-breaded and made to order.”
To note, the resort was formerly Wolf Laurel, which opened in 1970. The property was purchased in 2023 by Deborah and David Hatley, who invested over $12 million into renovations and new amenities and reopened in 2024. Hailing from nearby Johnson City, Tennessee, the couple harbors a deep love for the mountain, its history and legacy, and all with a look to the future.
“Deb Hatley specifically has poured herself into this business and it is her vision, energy and commitment to excellence that has led every project,” Fissel said. “She loves this mountain and works tirelessly to bring out the very best in the lodge, the skiing and in all the people around her, and we are here to carry out a long-term vision.”
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And when it comes to the boutique side of Hatley Pointe, the resort is keenly focused on “a highly personalized and uncrowded experience for guests to create intimate, unforgettable experiences,” whether it be joyfully riding the slopes or relaxing and enjoying a meal, beverage and live music in the lodge.
“We’re excited to be a part of the skiing community in the Southeast, and we want to keep innovating and provide the best possible ski experience for anyone from a first-time skier to the lifetime skier who is on the snow 50 plus days a year,” Fissel said.
“Blending rustic charm with refined flavors,” the onsite restaurant Smoke & Timber offers an array of dishes, from scallop mushroom risotto with black truffle to Duroc grilled pork chop and from beef wellington to cedar plank salmon. The property is also home to Steeps Coffee & Juicery, Peaks & Pies (Neapolitan-style pizza), Terrace Bistro, The Viewer’s Lounge, and The Pointe food truck.
“Boutique means curated to meet the expectations of the modern skier,” Fissel said. “Boutique is great customer service, chef-curated food, crafted cocktails, elevated experiences and a personal and thoughtful touch to your day at the resort.”
Known as a four-season resort, Hatley Pointe transitions into a downhill mountain biking course once the snow melts and the grass turns green. Smoke & Timber is also a year-round culinary destination, with numerous events held onsite throughout the spring, summer and fall months.
“We’re also working on a full slate of events large and small that’ll give tourists an extra reason to visit and our locals to come out and enjoy,” Fissel said. “We expect all these offerings to grow over the next several years as we continue to build and are able to increase what’s available.”
For Fissel, being at the helm at Hatley Pointe is a full-circle thing for the lifelong skier. With parents who introduced him to the sport at a young age, skiing was one of the reasons he eventually went to school at Appalachian State University in Boone. That era of his life also parlayed itself into Fissel being a ski instructor at Hawk’s Nest for seven seasons.
“It’s such an amazing sport and it’s hard to find anything as exhilarating as making turns on a powder day and enjoying the mountains, the cold air and all the beauty,” Fissel said. “I also love that skiing is a lifelong challenge. It’s a sport you can always get better at, and the challenge of looking for ways to improve your skiing while enjoying it is what keeps the love of the sport alive.”
And each day, when Fissel heads to the mountain, it’s not lost on him to gaze out across the slopes and appreciate this perpetual scene of outdoor recreation and pure splendor conjured with ease at Hatley Pointe.
“What makes all that possible is an amazing team who work incredibly hard to pull that entire experience together,” Fissel said. “It’s always a joy to see all the hard work come together, and for all of us to have the opportunity to share this beautiful place with guests from all over the world is a true privilege.”
Want to go?
A boutique mountain resort providing a unique mountain experience, Hatley Pointe is located at 578 Valley View Circle in Mars Hill.
Current hours for skiing (day/night) are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The lodge is also open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. After March 9 through the end of the ski season, mountain hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the lodge open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hatley Pointe is limited in capacity. Reservations are required. For more information and/or to make your lift pass reservation, visit hatleypointe.com or call 828.698.4111.
