FLAGSTAFF — A small ski area near Williams that has been plagued with low snowfall in recent years is installing runs covered with artificial turf for year-round sledding.
The owner of the Elk Ridge ski area on Bill Williams Mountain said she'll install the two sled runs in hopes of drawing up to 500 people a weekend during the winter. Owner Tammy Fountain, of Las Vegas, said the sledding material is recycled plastic and can be used with or without snow.
"The comment was that it's not natural," Fountain said. "Well, yeah, it's not natural. But it was also the most environmentally friendly product for this purpose that I could find."
Fountain began looking for something to supplement snow after buying the small ski area in 2005. She put more than $1 million into lodge renovations, ski equipment and other upgrades.
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The sledding area, expected to open Nov. 8, will have a fast lane and a slow one, each 200 feet long.
"It's basically a bobsled run, except it will be on tubes," Fountain said.
The area will offer skiing as the weather allows and sledding on the weekends all year.
Infrequent snow and drought were the top reasons for the change, Fountain said.
The Kaibab National Forest granted a one-year special use permit for the area, located on 37 acres south of Williams.
