Seven Springs Mountain Resort has signed a 10-year lease with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to operate the Laurel Mountain Ski Area, but there won't be any tracks in the powder there this winter and maybe not next.

The Laurel Mountain ski area hasn't been open since the 2004-05 season, and because extensive work is needed to get the slopes and lift equipment back in shape, it's too early to say if it will open for the 2010-11 season, said Anna Weltz, a spokeswoman for Seven Springs. She declined to disclose the monetary terms of the lease.

"We're figuring out what's important to do now but we don't have a project schedule yet," Ms. Weltz said. "We should be shovel-ready by spring but there's a tremendous amount of work to be done."

The state-owned Laurel Mountain ski area is located eight miles east of Ligonier in Westmoreland County, in the 493-acre Laurel Mountain State Park.

Seven Springs wants to have ponds built for snow making and change some of the ski runs and trails.

"We're optimistic," she said. "Everyone here is looking forward to the opening of Laurel Mountain. We just can't put a date on it right now."

The state has committed $6.5 million to do the renovations and improvements on the ski mountain, and has begun the design phase of the project, said Chris Novak, a DCNR spokeswoman.

Seven Springs acquired the assets of the 63-acre ski area -- including the lodge, two chairlifts, snow-making and grooming equipment and various maintenance structures -- a year ago from a bank that had foreclosed on the previous concessionaire. Also included in the purchase was real estate in Laurel Mountain Village, a second-home community a mile from the ski area.

"We'll only be spending money on the stuff we own. That includes one lift -- they own two, plus the lodge," Ms. Novak said. "The lifts are ancient and need to be brought up to code, and anything they want to do with the lodge is up to them, as is snow removal on the roads."

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