Ski areas that aren't there anymore.

[ski diva]

Face it -- there aren't as many ski areas around as there used to be. The New England Lost Ski Area Project reports 581 lost ski areas in the region, as well as 67 elsewhere.

So where have you skied that isn't around anymore?

For me, it'd be Hogback in Vermont and Snow Bowl in New Jersey (yes, NJ has a few ski areas, in the northwestern corner of the state). Snow Bowl closed in the mid-seventies, and Hogback closed in 1986, though I hadn't been there since the 70's.

What about you?

 

[RachelV]

I learned to ski at Powder Ridge in CT, which didn't open this past season and is on the NELSAP website. It's supposed to re-open next year, though. I hope they do -- I'd love to go back and check it out. We skiied one morning at Mt. Southington this past season and I think it was actually smaller than I remember. I'm spoiled!

 

[Jilly]

Well I don't see Ontario Canada on the list, but I've a few ski hills that don't exist anymore. Dacre Highlands or Candiac Ski Hill, Bethany Ski Club, Oak Hills Ski Club, Mountainview Ski Hill, Nacona Ski Hill and this year Big Ben. The problem with most of these hills was height - 200-300 ft, private ownership and no snow making. Most went down in the 70's or 80's. Dacre lost their chalet in a fire and closed up just a few years ago. Big Ben was part of the slag heap that Domtar produces in Cornwall. The city set up a ski slope for at least 10 years, but the property was sold last summer, so they didn't open this winter. At one time we had 8 hills within a 1 1/2 drive. Now there are only 3.

 

[ISki]

Fahenstock in New York. It was a tiny local hill with a rope tow, a poma, and maybe a T-bar. We would go on weekends. My mother says they offered free ski lessons, so she would bring the neighborhood kids as well.

I can still smell their delicious french fries.

Then the weather changed. The snow stopped falling. It closed.

I'd love to see an old trail map, ticket stub, or jacket patch, just for the memories. I wish I'd saved mine! I do have a beautiful medal from a ski race. I still have it in a shadowbox in my hallway.

 

[Sheena]

Here is a listing and description of some lost ski areas from the mid-atlantic area (PA, VA, WV, and NC)

https://www.dcski.com/lostareas/index.php

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I learned to ski at Berthoud Pass in Colorado.....now extinct. :(

 

[lisaski]

fahenstock - I remember!

Fahenstock in New York. It was a tiny local hill with a rope tow, a poma, and maybe a T-bar. We would go on weekends. My mother says they offered free ski lessons, so she would bring the neighborhood kids as well.

I can still smell their delicious french fries.

Then the weather changed. The snow stopped falling. It closed.

I'd love to see an old trail map, ticket stub, or jacket patch, just for the memories. I wish I'd saved mine! I do have a beautiful medal from a ski race. I still have it in a shadowbox in my hallway.

'

I also remember Fahenstock! I skied there twice. They had night skiing and my older brother's friend and his sister were going, so they invited me one time. Then, when I was old enough to drive, I went by myself.

I also skied at Dutchess ski area on Mt Beacon. That's another one that closed in the 70's in the New York Hudson Valley area.

 

[ISki]

Lisaski, welcome to Ski Diva!

 

[lisaski]

Thanks ISki! It's nice to be here.

 

[playoutside]

Learned at Craigmeur as a 5 year old in NJ. Rope tows that ripped through gloves, t-bars that were too tall for little kids (sometimes they let us hug the tee instead of resting it against the middle of our backs). I was in middle school before they got a double chair. Sadly Craigmeur closed in 1998 -- I hadn't skied there since the late 70s!