China Peak Mountain Resort temporarily closes due to lack of snow

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Normally the chairlifts are open through Easter, but with the lack of snow the only thing open early Sunday were the bunny lifts, and even those closed later in the day.

You'd think we're at a beach with all the sun chairs, but this is what China Peak Mountain Resort looks like when there's just no snow.

"Yea it's kind of sad. I mean I've never seen it this dry. It's kind of heartbreaking," said Samuel Horton of Atascadero.

Despite a literal zero inches of snowpack, the staff at China Peak Mountain Resort worked tirelessly to pack snow on two bunny hills.

"Definitely slushy, definitely some dirt and rocks coming out of nowhere because the level of snow is so low. I mean it makes for obstacle courses -- natural ones," said Shoshanna Kukulive of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Unfortunately it was just for a final push in sales for President's Day weekend. Using a snow maker can be expensive, and for these machines to work it has to be at least 32 degrees Fahrenheit outside, not like Saturday's high of 55.

"In marginal conditions you put so much energy into so little area that it's just not cost effective," said China Peak Mountain Resort Manager Rich Bailey.

From the looks of the sledders, the final hoorah wasn't so bad because some snow is better than nothing.

Employees there do have hope that the chairlifts will open back up later this year but only if there's more snowfall because the machine-made snow just can't keep up with the demand.