It is ski season in the NC mountains. It's our second winter here and we've never been. But my spouse and 3 and 5/6 year old are supposed to go next weekend. Anyway, the Charlotte O! reports that the ski mountains are having a good year (King of the Mountains):
Fred Pfohl can tell how well the economy's doing based on the souvenirs visitors buy at his general store atop Beech Mountain. If they feel good, they splurge on the $49.95 hooded sweatshirt. If they don't, they buy the $14.95 T-shirt. This winter, Pfohl said, "has pretty much been a hooded sweatshirt year."
Who cares, right? The real reason for the post is at the bottom of the article:
N.C. ski areas attracted more than 544,000 visitors during the 2002-03 ski season, the most recent data available from the N.C. Ski Areas Association. They pumped $120 million into the economy buying lift tickets, clothing, lodging and meals, according to a study by two Appalachian State professors. Some of that spending:
• $14.5 million on lodging
• $7.3 million on restaurants
• $6.2 million on clothing and equipment outside the ski resort
• $3.6 million on food and drinks not bought at resorts or restaurants.
• $3.4 million on retail
SOURCE: Economic impact study by Appalachian State University economics professors Steven Millsaps and Peter Groothuis.
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