Oak Mountain

Here’s the thing about ski-area economics: When Oak Mountain went up for sale in 2012, the cell tower at its summit was worth a lot more than the ski operation. Skiing’s a tough business – you need snow and cold, and increasingly, it seems, those aren’t guaranteed. So after purchasing this 650-vertical-foot hill, new owners Matt and Laura O’Brien turned it into a three-season operation, adding mountain biking and other warm-weather diversions. Winter’s still at the heart of Oak Mountain, though. A terrain park for freestylers and tubing are also available.