Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre
Background: Founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell in 1971, Liberty University is the world's largest Christian University and the largest private university in Virginia. The Snowflex Centre was completed in August 2009, the result of the University's desire to make a recreational space that utilized its 5000-acre mountain property.
Why It's Unique: Snowflex is the first snow-free ski park in North America. The name "Snowflex" refers to a terrain technology akin to white Astroturf: a monofilament fiber stitched into a carrier layer resting atop a foam shock pad. A sprinkler system sprays the material with friction-reducing Britonmist, produced by Snowflex manufacturer Briton Engineering Developments. The park hosts 500-foot runs, open to students and the public for year-round skiing.
(Photo from flickr/wondersighting)