Here's what's totally acceptable: closing a zip line due to weather. If it's raining, if there's lightning, if there's some act of God, it's understandable. Here's what isn't: taking reservations with happy and welcoming arms, an hour and a half drive to get there, and then closing the zipline because it's fucking cloudy. I'm dead serious. I'm writing this from the base lodge, lightning supposedly 5 miles away. It isn't. Everyone here could have ziplined by now. No one's safety is at risk. But our nice day is. So here I sit, literally nothing is open. The gondola is shut down, you can't even rent discs for disc golf. Ridiculous. I mean, ya know, We're just 2000 miles from home. No big. What a colossal waste of time. Thank God you don't operate in New England, you'd freak out every fifteen minutes. read more

Very beautiful! Especially when everything is open, like Apache Bowl on top. But wow! I was so sore due to all the poling I had to do on the Catwalk at the top of the Moonshine Liftline to get to the good (& well-groomed) runs (the good black runs I love, & of course Apache Bowl). And I use the snowblades sans poles! I think they could use some kinda pulley system in that area, so people didn't need to pole as much. The burger joints & places at the cafe now accept cards as payment, which is easier than carrying cash. But they do require an ID for all card payments. (Note to self to remember to bring ID with my cards in the future.) Welcome to the 21st Century, Ski Apache! They also have black bean burger patties & veggie burger patties available (vegetarian-friendly options), but they are made-to-order which takes an additional 5 minutes. And the fountain drinks do not include free refills, so get a huge cup whenever possible. Along with my uncle & cousin, we also checked out the zipline tour they offer. It is amazing! I would love to do it again sometime! The equipment is more user-friendly than the kind I've used in Nicaragua. There is even a practice zipline in the front of the office area, which is great since the first real zipline is 1 mile long! So many great memories of coming to this place since the early 1990s! And they have changed so much for the better since then! read more

Ski Apache - View - Recreation Centers Near Me - Alto, New Mexico

Ski Apache fix list - Friendlier more helpful staff - Better fresher healthier food options - Wifi - Upgrade seating areas - Add small casino and lounge - More heaters - Music throughout - Cleaner - More efficient lines - Ski shop ticket sales option to ease the lines on the mountain Love this resort but it need some help! read more

So, Ski Apache is owned by the Mescalero Apache tribe, who also own the Inn of the Mountain Gods. The Inn is exquisite. Ski Apache, not so much. I've been here the last two Thursdays, and service is non existent. The restaurant workers need to be coupled to do anything. All the drink machines say out of order, but enough complaints showed the machines were fine, and they just put those signs up. Food is subpar. For a grilled chicken sandwich - chicken, a slice of swiss cheese and a bun - for $9.50. No side, no frills. The slopes are great. The services suck. read more

Don't ski here. Waited an HOUR AND A HALF in line for lift tickets because they were "short staffed". Prices were jacked up "without notice" ($112) because it was busy. Long lines for everything, not because of the crowd, but because the employees just don't care. Skiing was ok, but because of the chaos caused by a genuine lack of care by the employees, we will not return. I've skied all over the US, including holidays, and this was by far the worst experience I've had in over 30 years. read more

Ski Apache ended up a disappointment. The rental process is very slow but we started our skiing off well. Should have anticipated a disappointing end when two different employees discussed what a money grubbing place this is. We noticed that last gondola ride was at 3:30 (despite website states 4pm) so we finished up our skiiing early with the rental returns. Stood in line but boarded by 3:16-17pm. Perfect we thought. Nope. When we got to the top, the employee told us we were not allowed to get off because it was time to shut down. No notice of that happening. We talked to an rather unpleasant manager that would not give our family of 5 just gondola passes for the next day. Needless to say not returning here if 5 gondola passes are not worth keeping a returning family (and anyone we know). read more

This review is for summer time Mountian Biking/zip line/frisbee golf. First off, if your from Texas and brought your Walmart mountain bike to hit the trails with, leave it at home! Pay the $50 something dollars to get a fulls suspension bike from the shop. Don't be one of the countless Walmart Texans I saw walking down the mountain with their mangled bike! Trails were decent and just technical enough to get a few seconds of hang time if your into that. 4 stars is for the staff. They are super friendly but for the most part didn't know what was going on with the mountain operations. Simple questions like "what trails are open" or "when is the last day of the season" drew blanks stares. I mean cmon, to find out there were only 2 trails open the day I went. I would overlook the staff if they could open more trails. It did seem however they were at least working on them! Be sure if your just going up the gondola for the views to only hike on the walking trails. Pros: -ticket is cheap -views are awesome and weather if nice! -trail has a good flow(a little more switchbacks that I like) - trails are beginner and advanced rider fri Shreddy brah! Update March 2020 for skiing. 5 stars Staff was great, snow was amazing, no lift lines! So many Texans who can't ski so tree and advance runs still had fresh tracks 3 days after storm. Don't let the amount of "lifts open" scare you away like it about did me. From the gondola you can reach about 90% of the mountain. read more

Probably the worst ski resort in the world. Lift tickets cost an arm and a leg, along with having one ticket booth open so it takes a day and a half to get it. Half the ski lifts are either broken or just aren't running so you can't even access half the mountain. No terrain park for any of you thrill seekers unlike how it advertises so that's crappy. I will not be going back and will talk bad about this place to all my friends till they go bankrupt. read more

Went for the first time and the experience was not good. Staff were rude, unfriendly, and unprofessional! I wanted to book a ski lesson so I called during listed hours and nobody bothered to answer. I left a message and had no response either. I called again next day around the same time and result was the same. I am not sure why, but I guess during certain times of the day they don't answer phones. If that is the case then why not put it on the website so customers can save their time? I finally got hold of somebody and the lady was not helpful. She had no answers to my simple questions. On top, she convinced me to not do advance booking because in the afternoon there is not much people interested in ski lessons. I asked her multiple times and her answer was the same. Trusting her I decided to not book it which turns out to be the biggest mistake! I arrived only to see chaos and mismanagement everywhere. Place was overcrowded and management was struggling to handle it. I went inside ski lesson office and even though there were at least 4 ladies they were hardly trying to work. Their attitude was lazy and worn out. Instead of keeping up with the pace they were all taking their time and moment. Most of them had no idea to customers questions and were pointing to others for answers. Finally my turn came and was told there was only one spot available for private lesson. I wanted two. After some back and forth, we were charged FULL for two private lessons, but were given only 1 instructor for both of us! While I can understand that there was only one instructor available due to the number of people, which was not my fault because I was told to simply walk-in when trying to reserve on the phone earlier, why was I charged full and not given any kind of discount just like any other place would do? I then went to rentals pick up area and it was overly crowded. To top it off, there was ONLY one lady cashier who was rude, unfriendly, and unhelpful. She was the ONLY one assigned to help long line of people. Since people had no choice, they were all dealing with her attitude and rudeness. Only ONE person was at the boot pick up department and was clearly exhausted and overwhelmed with the rush. She was also taking her sweet time and was extremely slow. There were 3 person working at the skis pick up department but all of them were chatty instead of working fast and were moving with their own pace instead of the situation. Went to the pole pick up department and even though 2 people were working, one of them, a girl, had no idea which pole to give out that is correct and right in size. She would randomly choose and give one and then look out to her partner to verify if it is correct or not. Of course if the partner is busy with someone else then you just wait and waste your time. Why would someone assigned a person who has no idea about the department they will be working on, specially if it is busy, is beyond my thinking! Finally arrived at the lesson area and there was even more madness! There were people everywhere and were struggling to know where and who to check in with. It was extremely disordered and unorganized. People were loud enough to take out their frustration and have heard multiple times people saying, "I am not coming back," or, "This is my last time here," etc. Our instructor, Alex, was good but he ended right on time instead of giving full 50 mins I am supposed to get. Due to the whole chaos and mismanagement, we started late and only got about 35 mins or so. They also had only 2 main restrooms and both were out of order. Restaurant restrooms were crowded and was a mess! Overall, it was disappointing experience as a first timer and would definitely consider a different place next time. read more

I gotta start by saying that the staff here are phenomenal. Fernando, Darian and David were our guides. Darian had to leave mid tour but she still was super nice! I was ecstatic to be zip lining for the first time. Fernando was so knowledgeable and gave us a bit of the history of the area and you just know he truly loves his home of New Mexico. I not once ever felt unsafe or doubted his or David's knowledge or abilities. They were both funny and personable. I don't think the tour would've been the same without them! Thank you guys so much for a wonderful birthday surprise! read more

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Why have the gondola tickets doubled in price from last year??? Super disappointed when we brought friends in to take them to the top of the mountain. Last year $18 this year $35?????. For a gondola ride? Not Taos, not Aspen. When we asked we were told new director new prices.... I get it but to double the price for a 40 minute round trip? Hoping lift tickets won't be doubled this year. read more

Arrived Sunday for the start of spring break. As is our habit, we had to be some of the first to arrive when lifts start. The lower lodge area is our hangout while family members ski. It was dirty with food and trash from the day before. I wiped down our own tables (being prepared with supplies for the COVID19 virus). Later in the day two employees told us that it was the last day and they would be closed today that they had just been informed in a meeting. Apparently that wasn't true and websites have not been updated. Very disappointed. We have been coming for family trips for many many years and the resort is really going downhill. read more

As soon as I found out about the zip tour I knew I wanted to do it. I am so glad I did! Wyn was amazing and even shared some history about the area and the people. The view is just breath taking and at the top you are about 2 miles above sea level at over 11,000 ft. The bottom of the first line is around 10,000 ft. The entire staff was super friendly. I will definitely be bringing some coworkers up there as well as checking it out for some skiing and boarding! read more

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Had a great experience from start to finish! We skied and then did the zip-line. The mountain views were incredible. Special shout out to our zip-line guides Wyn and Tamaya for making the trip extra special read more

Ski Apache - Recreation Centers Near Me - Alto, New Mexico

My husband and I did the zipline and it was totally awesome! From the beginning, the staff is very friendly and helpful in getting the equipment on and properly adjusted. They show a informative video, teach the proper ways to use the equipment and practice a short zipline so that rides are more than confident to zip! After a scenic gondola ride up to the peak of the mountain, we were all set for the first out of three zipline legs. The first one, which is over a mile long, was our favorite. The views were beautiful and it was exhilarating to zip down the mountain at speeds of 65 mph. After two shorter, but steeper legs, we were back on solid ground. Within our group of eight, ages ranged from 10 to 60s. Great adrenaline filled fun for all! Special shout out to our amazing guides, Kai and Darian! read more

Even during the summer, it's a long drive up the side of Sierra Blanca to get to Ski Apache. But it is definitely worth the winding drive. First of all, service: We received excellent customer service, whether at the snack bar, the zip line, or the gift shop. Some of the staff were not very talkative, but all made sure we were taken care of. As for the negative reviews, perhaps if the reviewers treated staff with more respect, they'd get more respect back. Because we visited during the summer, obviously there were limited activities available. The gondola took us to the top of the peak, with great views of the surrounding area. We didn't try the mountain biking, but I really wish we had set aside more time for this. Take the gondola up the peak with your bike and then ride down. The trails looked to be of moderate difficulty (we even saw an 8 year old riding ) and a lot of fun. Of course, we came for the zip line. It's a 3 stage ride. The first stage is a mile long and is absolutely amazing - just long enough so you have time to realize the sheer foolhardiness of plummeting down New Mexico's most famous mountain 50 or more feet in the air. The 2nd and 3rd stages are steeper and shorter, and just as fun. Ski Apache is a fun summer destination as well as a winter one. Get your nerve up and do the zip line. read more

My best friend and I had the best zip lining experience here! We had to drive into Ruidoso a day later than expected, so we had to reschedule our tour. The manager, Rufus, was incredibly accommodating, and he made us feel like we were valued customers. He was able to work with us to let us ride on a different day. We had the best time and the view was breathtaking. The tour itself took about 2 hours and you start off 11,500 feet high. It was unforgettable. The staff members at Ski Apache are super sweet and very personable. Our tour guides, Kylen (KyDawg) and Owen, were absolutely the best. I cannot thank them enough for making our first experience here memorable. They were funny, efficient, and kind. Not to mention, they spent our entire tour trying to learn our names and calling us by our names, which meant the world to us. I'll be back, and I'll be taking my friends here too! read more

Ski Apache - Recreation Centers Near Me - Alto, New Mexico

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I brought 3 teen girls to ski for spring break. Snow was mediocre and one lift was closed. Causing large crowds and long lines. Day one we purchased ski school, lift tickets and equipment rental and one additional helmet. When we went to pick up equipment I'm told there are " no adults helmets." I was first in line for the day. I was never given a reimbursement. The following day we rented equipment, 3 tickets and no helmet and no ski school. The difference between the cost for day one and day 2 was $15. I asked why and explained that " I don't understand why its basically the same price for no school and no helmet." The man at the ticket counter did not give and explanation that anyone could understand and when I said " I don't understand" he said to his manager in front of myself and my kiddos " Im not going to continue to give her and explanation when she won't listen. She can F*** off." I was shocked. Paid because the kids had their hearts set on the day and walked away. Don't go here! Drive the extra 3 hrs to Colorado for better snow and a honest resort. Awful! read more

Ski Apache is 13 miles from Ruidoso and if you get stuck behind a slow car, it could take you over 30 minutes to get to the top. The mountain is on reservation land and run by locals. The lift tickets are cheaper than other larger resorts and the slopes feature long runs that give you a good chance to practice your techniques. Watch out for newbies who like to sit or lay in the middle of a run and runway snow boards. The burger shack near chair #1 is super slow and not worth waiting for. If you're hungry go to the cafe at the base of the mountain or bring your own food. read more

Figured I'd throw my 2 cents in on this one seeing as I went skiing here Feb 2009. This place wasn't so bad but for the price I guess you get what you pay for. When I went here the lifts were about 40% open which really didn't offer much in skiing/snowboarding, what made it worse is that once the lifts closed there really wasn't much left to do.... UNTILL I discovered this little gem called Mountain Gods Resort & CASINO!!!!! chips n drinks man!!!! there's gambling allowed in them thare hills. Casinos in Indian territories? who knew? hahahaha I would recomend this place to any young couple looking for a nice (1st time) inexpensive ski/gambling getaway for a couple of days. Depending on when you go you might be able to catch a good show at the Resort's, Club 49. read more

The only possible explanation that I can derive as to all of these negative reviews is that people neglect the golden rule of traveling to vacation destinations: Just because you are on vacation, doesn't mean that the employees are on vacation too. You can't view the lift operators, bartenders or parking lot attendants as puppets who are there simply to improve your vacation! These are working people, locals at that, who are just trying to live their everyday lives! They aren't there to ensure that your precious little vacation goes EXACTLY as you had hoped. Cut them some slack and give them a smile! After reading these ridiculous reviews, I made a point to talk to every single liftie working on Jan 23 and Jan 24 of this year. Every single one said "what's up" back to me and gave me a smile. I may have a special place in my heart for lift operators and mountain employees because I've worked in the field, but none of these guys knew that. I was just a normal guy offering a smile and a "thank you" and I received the same in return, 100% of the time for 2 days straight from every single employee. Go to Ski Apache. Meet the people, talk to them, enjoy the snow and the beautiful views and have some fun. Don't believe the negative hype. read more

When evaluating this mountain you have to realize that it is the most southern major ski resort in the US. So, it's really a miracle that they get any snow at all in the winter, and sometimes they don't. There is really no comparison to the conditions that you will find on this mountain. The staff for the most part are Apache Indians that could care less about you or your well-being and it shows. I can't recall even a smile from a lift operator. The equipment is all outdated and the facilities are tiny. Why? you ask do I give them 4 stars. Well it is a great getaway for southern New Mexicans and those damn West Texans (I can only say that because I used to be both). Aside from a few local crazies, the locals are some of the nicest people and the town is really quite for the most part. I used to live relatively close to Ruidoso and frequented the area. It really is a hidden gem of a ski town, when they have snow. If you are lucky enough to be there when they get dumped on the Bowl is some of the best boarding and skiing around, the mountain has to have over 100 in for the season for it to be good. read more

Place is beautiful, staff is not very friendly. Had a good time regardless of bad costumer service...

Okay so I don't ski. But I do appreciate beautiful mountainous scenery. If you go during the summer to hike, picnic, or take pictures, bring a hanky cuz you will be weaping. It's a mighty drive up from the nestling Ruidoso village, but it is well worth the drive. I try to spend days up here, sipping on moonshine and getting in touch with my inner animal spirit. Seriously though, if you need some time to clear your mind, this place is amazing. You can feel the Native American spirituality seeping through every tree and every crack in the ground. Also.. smoke it if you got it! read more

Ski Apache - Recreation Centers Near Me - Alto, New Mexico

Not a bad spot to get to the pretzel and a soda before or after skiing and playing in the snow. read more

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This was my first time at ski Apache and my first time in New Mexico. I couldn't believe how beautiful the resort was. Very simple and comfortable. The architecture hasn't changed from the photos that are on the walls from years back, and we loved the nostalgia. We had the lifts all to ourselves. The lift operators at Ski Apache were so wonderful and friendly. It was a fantastic experience. I want to give this place 5 stars, but the only thing from doing that is the trash that was all around and under the lodge and lifts. Easily fixable. Other than that, we hope to come back again next year and we are bringing our ski crew with us to enjoy the sites and runs of Ski Apache. Next time, definitely doing the zip line! read more

Smaller and less crowded than Colorado. Ski Apache had fake, slushy snow when we went for spring break. Not good for snowboarders. The locals in town actually said they were embarrased of the snow they had. We saw lots of accidents and our group of really experienced snowboarders actually had injuries. Lifts had short lines. Cafes were overpriced and tasted worse than cafeteria food. Take a cooler and leave it in your car or in a locker. Lockers are 50 cents to rent. read more

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Warning!!!! Do NOT buy advanced lift tickets for your kids if you plan on ski school!!!!! I bought advanced tickets and when I got there they said I would be refunded if I also bought ski school (which include cost of lift ticket). They LIED. I'm out $100. their customer service is BAD. They say skiapache.com and ski Apache are differenr companies. What?!??! Also, buy ski school in advance. I arrived at 8:28 am for an 8:30 opening, was 4th in line and they were sold out of group lessons. Make a reservation. Their website says you don't need one. Another LIE. Instructors were really good. Would recommend them. Go early so you don't waste the whole day and don't get to ski with your kids. The drive up the mountain is SKETCHY. Insufficient railings make it dangerous. I found the whole experience at ski Apache just kind of meh. Would recommend pretty much any other mountain I've been to more. Taos, etc. read more

Not a bad ski spot, especially considering it's a lot less expensive than CO or Utah or Whistler, etc. We were here on a weekday, so some of the lifts were closed, but the staff at the ski rental and on the mountain were really helpful in getting us to where we wanted to ski. There was a TON of snow, so much so that they extended their spring ski season! It wasn't busy or crowded and there was a lot of powder. The town itself is small, but has everything you need. We really liked the condos where we stayed and were glad to stay in town where we could walk most anywhere we needed. The drive to the ski resort isn't far from mid-town, maybe 20 minutes. People were really friendly and not fussy in the least. Overall, I'd definitely come back b/c a) you won't break the bank b) it's drive-able from Tejas and c) should we add to our family, we STILL wouldn't break the bank! read more

We had a family of 5 skiing for the first time today. Parents took a group class while kids (7, 4, 4) took private lessons and we thought their instructors were perfect. The ski lift operators helped us quite a bit with learning the ropes and helping with kids. We were able to rent equipment. They have lockers (and were helpful when we forgot a bag overnight in one). Staff were a mix of very friendly and so-so but did not encounter any that were rude or not helpful. Overall we had a great time and plan on coming back. read more

By no means am I a good skier, but the last two years around Christmas we have come to Ruidoso, and Ski Apache. We have enjoyed the lifts, and the people are very nice. We will be back. read more

Absolutely amazing! I loved every bit it was fun for the whole family from the gondola to the zip line. I was amazed by the zip line so fun! My mind was blown away . Totally recommend to anybody you will not be disappointed. read more

Went to Ski Apache to do the zip line as part of our family reunion. The family had a great time. I would have rated Ski Apache five stars, but we made reservation for 1:00 p.m. and there was an issue that caused them to run an hour and 15 minutes behind. Our guides Mathew and Josh made up for this set back by taking great care of us. The zip line itself was pretty awesome. The first run really sets the tone. The line is the longest span in the lower 48 states. The views are fantastic. Even though the zip line only last about two minutes you feel as if you have time to look around. read more

I don't think there was anything Ski Apache could do better when it comes to their zip line tour. From the breathtaking views on top of the mountain to the adrenaline rush when you're zipping down, it was amazing. Our tour guides were amazing and were definitely the cherry on top of an already great day. Nick and Ky really know how to put first time zippers at ease and keep a smile on everyone's face. Would recommend!!! :) read more

This was such a fantastic adventure! We loved our guides Wyn and David. They were very knowledgeable and great at what they do. The helped us feel very safe and secure on our tour. The views are amazing and each of the zip lines was so fun! I can't wait to come back and do this again. It was the highlight of our trip to Ruidoso. Thank you so much Ski Apache for the great time! read more

Ski Apache - Beautiful view from the top of the world!! - Recreation Centers Near Me - Alto, New Mexico

This review is in reference to the ski season. Disappointing. Mediocre facilities, sub-par service for the most part, cramped rental shop. The skis and boots that I rented didn't feel like they had been properly maintained. The only trails that they bothered to groom were the beginner level ones. The higher level trails (black diamond) were rough and uneven at best. I can't comment on any of their moderate level trails because the sole lift that services them (aside from the gondola, which costs extra) was shut down. Overall, I didn't feel like I got much out of my investment in time and money, and ended up feeling like it was a waste. I won't be going back to ski. On the brighter side, the zip line seems like a great activity for warmer weather. read more

Had a lot of fun seeing the Mountains and riding the gondola. The food was good and the employees very courteous

The worlds highest ZIPLINE! Man this place was so much fun. You get to ride 3 zip lines total all the way down a huge mountain side. You start at 11,500ft and gradually decend your way down. Gradually.. What am I saying. You FLY down that cable. And if you do what I did and curl up into a ball you go even quicker. We went during the winter, and I tell you I thought I was prepared for the cold but when you get on that mountain if you don't have layers and layers you're gonna freeze real quick. Anyways this was an awesome experience. The complaints I do have are that the restaurant wasn't open on a Saturday.. Which is really odd so you should definitely pack snacks and lunches. Also the staff is really unorganized in the beginning. But the ones that harness you up and send you down are firing on all cylinders. Awesome experience that all thrill seekers or people in general should try. read more

Ski Apache - Recreation Centers Near Me - Alto, New Mexico

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Terrible customer service rude people lazy employees most of them some are nice and helpful.

I can only rate this place as a novice skier. Currently I barely make blue runs. In my opinion it is a nice area to go to if you are new to skiing; however, it doesn't take long to see the whole mountain if you are more advanced. It's a nice hideaway spot with low crowds and very short lines (no lines if you ski blues/blacks) and just an overall good place to start out your skiing career. The "lodge" and food is lackluster at best. They clearly are not in any hurry to update the buildings to be even slightly up to date. (This year they put in a 3 tiered zip line that will be over charged to ride instead of updating their lodge). As other reviews have stated I would suggest bringing a cooler with food and drinks instead of eating the overpriced microwave food they serve at the cafeteria. read more