Winter’s Here — and So Are We! Winter at The Parberry Coffee & Mercantile
Hey friends — the air’s getting colder, the mountains are frosting over, and we’re settling into our first real winter with The Parberry Coffee & Mercantile open and buzzing. It still feels new and a little surreal, but it’s been fun to see familiar faces (and a few new ones) wander in for coffee, a chat, or just to warm up.
If you’re from White Sulphur Springs, you know everything shifts once the snow hits. We figured it’s a good time to share a few thoughts about winter in White Sulphur Springs, what makes it special, and how The Parberry fits in.
Winter Hits Different in White Sulphur Springs
So much of White Sulphur Springs’ identity is about being rugged yet welcoming. Plenty of people we know here can get loud, but to visitors White Sulphur Springs can seem pretty quiet, in the best sense. And maybe we offer fewer frills, but visitors are generally pleasantly surprised at how much our town offers. There’s a lot of fun to be had along with our land, history, community, and rituals.
When we were spitballing possibilities for The Parberry, we kept in mind what we already offered:
Natural draws and rhythms: White Sulphur Springs sits right along US 12 and US 89, between mountains, with public lands, hot springs, and outdoor options around us.
Hot springs & soak culture: The mineralized springs are part of why this town exists. They bring people in during all seasons, and winter is a special time to soak and warm up.
Showdown Ski Area & ski culture: Showdown is just north of us (in Neihart), with 34 runs over ~640 acres, ~1,400 vertical feet, and mostly natural snow (no artificial snowmaking).
Local trails & snowmobiling: The broader area offers snowmobile trails (Kings Hill snowmobiling system), cross-country ski tracks (Silver Crest), and forest lands to wander when the snow falls.
Tourism ebb and flow: Summer is more obviously busy (festival times, road-trippers), and winter is quieter, but that’s also a charm. People who come in winter tend to be intentional: skiers, nature-lovers, those seeking solace or beauty in the cold.
How Coffee & Mercantile Fits In This Season
We opened the space because we wanted another reason to draw people to town, and we think vintage goods, decor, AND a place to pause and hang out should get the job done! So here are a few things you’ll find or will see us trying this winter:
Hot drinks and comfort: Expect seasonal coffee specials, warm mugs, and things that pair nicely with snow-covered sidewalks.
Gifts & essentials for guests: Tourists, skiers, and locals alike might want to layer on a little flair, local-made scarves or candles… things you can grab when you realize you’re cold or forgot gloves.
Late-morning + afternoon refuge: Showdown opens lifts around 9:30 a.m., and T-Bar Coffee and Top Rock Café have limited hours. So if you’re heading out or coming in, we hope to be a warm pit stop.
Community gathering: On slow winter afternoons, we’d love for conversational corners to happen, for someone to bring a book, or for locals to drop in between chores or errands.
Cross-promotion with lodging & other businesses: Visitors staying in town or up around the Edith Hotel or Spa Hot Springs Motel, as well as our own (coming soon!) Parberry Hotel, will appreciate a stop here.
A Few Local Notes to Watch
Snow timing is unpredictable. Showdown tends to accumulate natural snow and is often most reliable mid- to late-season (February & March). That means early winter may be slower; midwinter it starts getting real.
Hours matter. The ski area is open Wednesday–Sunday (+ holidays) in winter.
Road and access conditions. Highway 89 and routes to Showdown can twist and get snow-covered; arriving early or accounting for slower travel will be important.
Layered visitor types. Some tourists pass through on highway drives, others stay a few nights. According to past data, many visitors in Meagher County spend multiple nights, so there’s opportunity to capture them mid-trip.
Overhead costs, slower traffic. Winter in small towns can stretch local businesses. We’ll have light days, and that’s okay — that’s part of the rhythm. But come out and support! We want to see you.
What We Hope For This Winter (And What You Can Do)
Stop in when you’re running errands or driving through, even just for a shot and warm hands.
If you’re heading up to ski or tour Showdown, start or end your trip here.
Bring friends or family who don’t ski — maybe they wander the vintage section while you head out.
Visiting? Ask us for a local tip! Where to snowshoe, where to soak, what to see when roads are clear…
Share your own winter moments from the Coffee & Mercantile! Photos, feedback, ideas, we want to hear them!
Last Thoughts
For a small business in a small town, less foot traffic, snow, and consistent hours are real things to manage. But winter also makes it all slow down, and slowing down becomes part of the charm.
The Coffee & Mercantile is here for that. A way to welcome locals, visitors, and everyone in between. So as the first flurries fall and daylight pulls back, we hope you’ll see this new space not as a business, but as a neighbor.
Let’s have coffee together this winter!
— The Parberry
