North Carolina Ski Area Instagram Account Hacked

Deborah and David Hatley purchased North Carolina's decaying Wolf Ridge Ski Area in March of 2023. The move was "unexpected", according to Deborah, but the Hatleys are all-in to resurrect the resort which now bares their name.

Hatley Pointe, which has been positioned as a 'boutique mountain resort', did not open last season due to on-going snowmaking upgrades, lift maintenance, and a complete renovation of the base lodge. The process has been slow, but one that the Hatleys have been documenting through daily social media posts to their Instagram page.

The Hatleys and their team grew the ski area's Instagram account to over 100,000 followers, not bad for a fledgling ski area, but announced it was hacked on August 6, 2024. Deborah Hatley shared a short video on August 22, 2024 announcing the hack on Hatley Pointe's newly-created Instagram page. The new account has just 489 followers, a fraction of the old page.

Here are more details about the hack from Hatley Pointe's post on August 22:

"HACKED* Announcement . On August 6th, our Instagram was taken over by a hacker. Since, we have been doing everything in our power to gain back control of it, but we need your help! The hacker managed to change the name and create another fake Hatley Pointe page @hatleypointe and we are asking for you to help us get it reported and taken down. Luckily, our original account is disabled and in IG’s care while they investigate it but our challenge is not knowing when or if it will be resolved. Despite this nightmare, we are still committed to sharing our story and project with our loyal followers, YOU, and are staying optimistic that we be back on our original IG page soon. In the meantime, please follow us here and spread the word to help us report this account have our issue resolved! Thank you for unwavering support and love!"

The hack was certainly a set-back in the Hatley's push to spread the word about their resort, but they're returned to posting content on a regular basis on their new page. A video posted on August 28, 2024 shows crews installing new power lines, renovating the snowmaking system, and more.

Hatley Pointe plans to open this season, and while they haven't officially announced an opening day, the August 28th post reveals that their season will (hopefully) start in just 13 weeks. That's over Thanksgiving Week 2024, for those keeping score at home.

Hatley Pointe Stats/Info:

Vertical: 700 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 54 ac.

Average Snowfall: N/A

Trails: 15

Lifts: 3

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: ?

Mega-Pass: N/A

Related: National Ski Patrol Welcomes More First Responders With Policy Change

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing.

From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed. Submit your best clips for a chance to be featured on POWDER. Tune in and watch handpicked, high-quality ski videos streaming all day long on POWDER TV , and subscribe to our YouTube channel .