Strap on the skis as Chicopee gets set to open

The recent snowfall is good news for outdoor winter enthusiasts.

Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort announced Friday morning it will open on Thursday at 3 p.m. with a community night where people will get a free, all-access lift ticket to use until 9 p.m.

• Green 2015 Christmas has Chicopee Ski Resort seeing red

The SilvertipLounge and Chicopee Hall will be also open, the facility said on its Facebook page.

"We are thrilled to be getting started 18 days earlier than last year," the Chicopee post said. "The snowmaking crew is hard at work assisting Mother Nature who is doing her part this year to get us off to a good start. We are laying down a solid base with a mixture of manmade and natural snow."

Chicopee is joining a number of southern Ontario slopes that have opened ahead of the Christmas break. The website skicentral.com says 11 different resorts are already open including: Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Boler Mountain in London, Hidden Valley Highlands in Huntsville, and three resorts near Barrie Horseshoe Resort, Mount St. Louis Moonstone and Ski Snow Valley.