The staff at Sunrise had asked me not to run the Opening Day date on the November front cover because they were struggling with the weather forecast, particularly the temperatures. The new snow making machines needed temperatures to drop below 29º and the snow they had already made was melting. Through the years, I have grown accustomed to phrases such as “tentatively opening” or “based on weather conditions.” I wrote back to them: “Now that I have removed the date from the front cover, you will get a blizzard.” Famous last words.

Sunrise Park Resort’s opening day happened on November 23rd, as scheduled, and everything went like clockwork. The White Mountain Apache Tribe’s Chairwoman, Gwendena Lee-Gatewood, was on site to give the opening prayer and to cheer on the first-chair skiers and snowboarders; the Crown Dancers performed their magic and Sunrise was blessed for another great season. Since the opening day, Sunrise has been dumped on by tons of snow.

“Sunrise has been in operation since the 1970s and we’ve been blessed by the Creator giving us snow and a four-season destination. We are honored and humbled by the people that come to our land and we appreciate them. We provide them with our natural resources; we open our doors and we want them to enjoy “family” time here. Because the White Mountain Apache Tribe is one big family, we want others to feel a part of the family environment and gain understanding of each other’s cultural heritages. Many of the people who come here are often not tribal members but we welcome them and we want them to learn about our culture, heritage, customs and language so they will walk away having a better understanding and a better appreciation. That is how we strengthen our nation. We are going to get stronger and our prayers get stronger…for Sunrise, it only is going to get better and better. We have new lift tickets that you can have for the rest of your life, just upload them and get your meals, ski school, lift passes, no more waiting in long lines — and that’s a good thing. We’ve got new lockers and we are making improvements. Because we want you, the customer, to come and enjoy yourselves and bring your families and come take part in this family environment. We are so blessed. I am so very thankful for the vision of my late mentor, Former Tribal Chairman Ronnie Lupe. He left us this year, God rest his soul, but he had a vision for Sunrise Park Resort — and what a magnificent vision that was and he accomplished that and now it is up to us, here, to carry on that vision and broaden our future with everyone who comes here! I am so very thankful to everyone, first and foremost to God for all that he has blessed us with and may we all take up our blessings and move forward, especially in November, in the month of Thanksgiving — and November happens to be National American Indian Heritage Month and that focuses on the contributions that Native Americans have made to the United States of America. And, you know, we are all one big family here in these United States. It’s wonderful! Welcome and please come again!”