Scoping for slopes

Indoor skiing could slalom into Dallas with massive snow sports resort

Local snow lovers could soon hit the slopes without leaving town.

In the not-too-distant future, snow sports enthusiasts in Dallas should be able to skip the slopes in Colorado and New Mexico, and trade those locales for winter-style activities right here in Texas.

Alpine-X, a company backed by former alpine ski racer Bode Miller, plans to open Alpine-X Indoor Snowsports resorts in yet-to-be-determined sites in Texas. The company confirms it’s eyeing the Dallas and Austin markets.

Alpine-X hopes to make its Texas debut by early 2026, it says. It plans to initially open two resorts in the state.

Each resort will feature an indoor snow area with dedicated areas for skiing, snowboarding, lessons, and “snow play,” as well as a hotel, food and beverage options, and an indoor adventure area.

“We look forward to providing the Alpine-X experience to communities in Texas — locations typically without snow or convenient, year-round access to snow sports,” the company says in a statement. “Our resorts will be designed for the entire community and offer experiences for everyone, inside and outside the snow dome, regardless of skill level.”

Alpine-X currently is seeking investors for the resort concept, which the company envisions encompassing more than 20 locations in North American metro areas. As of March 7, more than 1,000 investors had chipped in nearly $966,000 toward a maximum goal of $5 million.

The McLean, Virginia-based company says its first resort, called Fairfax Peak, will be a more than $200 million project in Lorton, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. It’s supposed to open in 2025. According to Ski magazine, Fairfax Peak will feature a 400,000-square-foot snow dome and a 200-room hotel, along with restaurants, a mountain coaster, a tubing hill, zip lines, and a “snow play” attraction.

The two top executives at Alpine-X previously worked at Great Wolf Resorts, which operates a chain of indoor water parks. John Emery was CEO of Great Wolf and holds the same position at Alpine-X, while Jim Calder was chief financial officer at Great Wolf and holds the same position at Alpine-X.

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RIP Joe

Texas country music singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer, and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

According to a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife Sharon, and daughter Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings."

Read the full story at KVUE.com.

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