Snowshoe Mountain Resort —

Jim Ed Roush


Age: 26
Occupation:  Manager at The Boathouse, Shavers Lake, Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Hometown: Stony Bottom
Education:  Degree in Management, Minors in Economics, Education and History,
West Virginia State University, Charleston
Hobbies: Travel, History, especially West Virginia History
Status: Single
Philosophy of Life: “Treat others how you would like to be treated; take one day at a time.” And I also follow what my father always says, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”



Opportunity and interest collided for Stony Bottom’s Jim Ed Roush. While some young folks might focus on the seeming lack of opportunity in rural Pocahontas County, Roush set his sights on a career full of opportunity that was close to home.

He’s young to be a manager at a major resort, but don’t let the fact he’s young be mistaken for lack of experience in the food and beverage world.

Roush began at Snowshoe in 1999, bussing tables at the Bear’s Den at Silver Creek and other than his college years, he’s been there ever since. He’s worked his way through the ranks and so he knows how things work in the system.

He went from busser to prep cook at the Bear’s Den and then worked as a server at Cheat Mountain Pizza and as a server with Conference and Catering. After college, he supervised Hoot’s, then in the summer, was a supervisor at the Raven. He became manager of The Boathouse in November, 2008, as was interim manager at the Raven this summer until the return of manager Starleen Wooddell in August.

He’s not finished yet. His long-term goal is to be Snowshoe’s Director of Food and Beverage, but he’s willing to work at gaining the experience he needs for that post.

For now he’s happy as a clam at his summer posts at the Raven Golf Club and The Boathouse.

The dual roles afford him unique access to some of Snowshoe’s best summer attractions.

The Gary Player-designed golf course has gorgeous mountain views, challenging holes and a great clubhouse that offers golfers and the general public a hearty meal.

In summertime, the burgers beckon and the Raven’s hand-made patties and hand-cut french fries make the perfect lunchtime choice for a meal on the porch.

Made with 100 percent beef, the hamburgers are large and juicy, served with lettuce, tomato, onion and your choice of three cheeses.


With the generous helping of fries, the lunch requires a pretty large appetite, so hitting the links beforehand is a good idea—and hitting them again afterward to stave off a food coma is also a good idea.

Roush is a happy host at the Raven and hits the couse in a golf cart, pointing out the course’s many stunning views and chatting about sponsored golf tournaments held annually at the Raven.

Shavers Fork Fire Rescue holds a tournament each September as a fundraiser. This year’s tournament will raise funds to help build a new substation to increase service to the community at the base of Snowshoe Mountain.

Roush said groups like Shavers Fork can consult with folks at the Raven to determine what kind of food they’d like to provide, how many tables they’ll need and other planning essentials. Since this is Shavers Fork’s third golf tournament, they’ll likely have the details down pat, Roush said, as it generally takes more than two to decide which foods and elements any group will need.

The Raven is also good for Sunday lunch after church, Roush said. Just because it’s a golf club, doesn’t make it exclusive. In fact, the Raven Golf Club is a great place for public consumption.

Just because Roush is a hometown boy, that doesn’t mean he’s got one foot buried in the ground. He likes to travel and has been to several East Coast states and Texas. He hasn’t yet seen foreign soil, but wants to visit places like Australia, Ireland, Scotland and Peru. He helps on the farm in the winter months and saves his travel time for April before the busy summer season begins.

He bought a house near his parents’ farm in Stony Bottom, because, he said, “There’s nothing like being home.”

Roush has been inducted into the Black Diamond Leadership Program and he’s a recipient of the Core Value Award.

He’s young, he’s dedicated to the great tourist product Snowshoe Mountain has to offer and he’s home.

Jim Ed Roush might not have gone far on the map, but he’s going places on the mountain.