Lost ski areas

Murphy , we now know of this ski hill that once operated in Beacon Falls. " The Beacon Outing Club was located on Route 44 in Beacon Falls, Connecticut and we would go there from North Haven to ice skate in the early 70's on a large pond with a warming lodge and refreshments. The club opened two rope tows, one for the smaller hill, and one for a larger hill. The larger hill tow ended near a clump of trees that became a jump of sorts, a trail through the woods, and then down the wide open slope. My son Dan (age 3) used to ride up the smaller tow, ski like blazes down and cut in front of everyon…

Ski Tow (exact name unknown) Berlin 1940's-1950's Thanks to P. Dyer , we now know of this ski hill that once operated in the Kensington section of Berlin. " When I was a teenager growing up in Berlin, CT, I recall my mother telling me about a "ski slope" off of Norton Road in Kensington, CT, behind the current Berlin Lyons Club pool. I'm not sure if the ski slope was operated by the Lyons Club or some other organization. It may have been restricted to town residents or club members.

B esse Park Torrington, CT ?-Early-Mid 1970's A sign for the park, thanks to Jon Regan. History ~ Memories ~ History Major Besse Park had a ski area the operated from probably the 1960's into the early to middle 1970's. It was a typical town slope, with just a rope tow and limited vertical. The area was lots of fun for local kids, who enjoyed building homemade jumps and enjoyed the hot chocolate served.

Tow Bethany Before 1940-Mid 1960s Thanks to Jonathan Whitlock , we first heard of this small ski area that operated in Bethany, Apparently, it was one of the first rope tow areas in the state. The outline of the slopes are still visible, and some of the tow remains on the site. Jonathan's father skied here in the 1930's. " Chrispete6 " also remembers this area: I just found your interesting website and I immediately looked for a childhood memory, the Bethany Ridge. Jonathan Whitlock , (coincidentally, a longtime friend of mine) contributed Bethany Hill, which is certainly the same area I skied…

(Exact name unknown) Bloomfield, CT years operated unknown P.Morrey found this tow on Terraserver: " While scoping some topo maps before a recent mountain bike ride I came across this web page that shows a ski lift in the bottom right corner of the map just below the "LD" in Bloomfield. It appears that it is a single lift with a vertical of about 150'. This map is part of the Avon, CT Quadrangle topo which I also have. I've had this map for years and just noticed the ski lift about 2 weeks ago.

Thanks to Ray Holmstrom, we now know of this area that operated in Bristol. Here are his details: I thought you would like to add to your Conn. list of lost ski areas, there were Two in Bristol before Page Park, the first was the original rope tow which was located off Maple Ave (Nelsons Hill ). The Bristol Ski Club had a warming hut , a rope tow and night skiing. Furniss donated his property off of Stafford Ave, on the Bristol, Burlington line.

Thanks to " TPA44094" , we now know of this lost area in Washington: When I was young back in the 60's we used to ski at Bronson's Hill. Howard Bronson was a farmer in Washington CT (On the Romford Road) and each winter he would hitch his tractor to a rope tow on land that I think he owned. This too was a one trail operation and he continued the area for about 10 years while his kids were growing up. As I recall, it was open on weekends and maybe on a Fri afternoon too.

Houle has some great info on this small area: "The Brooklyn Ski Area was open before 1964. Research from the Windham County Transcript shows it was open in 1964 and possibly earlier. In 1964, this ski facility was listed as having a 1,200 foot open slope and a 1,500 foot trail serviced by a 300 foot novice rope tow. Special features included: ample parking; warming cottage; free ski instruction on Saturdays and Sundays; rentals on boots, skis, and poles; and night skiing.

It was just one slope/trail which is still used for sledding. The area was run by the town of Hamden and had a vertical of maybe 50 feet! There is a website on this park, which is located at http://www.brooksvale.org/ (link sent from Sandy Barker). Woodcore visited the area in May, 2005 and reports the following: I recently visited the remains of the Brooksvale Park Tow in Hamden, CT.

Built after the North Woodstock Tow burned, this area served skiers for several years before the owners concern for not getting sued (an unfortunate by-product of our society) resulted in the area closing. Thanks to GDC , we first heard about this lost ski area that operated between South and East Woodstock. Here are GDC's details: "Butts Hill" was a single rope tow operation on a family farm located between South Woodstock and East Woodstock, Connecticut that apparently ran during the 1960s and/or 1970s (?). Stephen Hicks has some more information on this area: I am friends with the family th…

Thanks to several

The Canton Ski Club operated a ski tow on Sweetheart Hill in Collinsville from 1948-19 75. The land is now owned by the Canton Land Conservation Trust, Inc., and can be explored by anyone. Amy Goedecke Gavalis provided us with this great article about the Ski Club. The article was written by Phil Griggs and appeared in December, 2000 in Canton Life.

Republic is a private non-profit organization dedicated to helping troubled youth become productive members of their communities. They used to run a ski hill on their campus in Litchfield until about the early 1990's. The Connecticut Junior Republic website indicates that their facilities include a ski hill: http://www.ctjuniorrepublic.org/programs_residential.htm , however, the area is not currently open. Tagan: The CT Junior Republic in Litchfield has a hill that I believe still has a tow on it, although I have not seen any activity in the slope in some years.

According to the World Ski Book, there was a 1000 foot tow that served a slope suitable for intermediate and expert skiers in the town of Durham. The area only operated weekends, with weekdays reserved in advance for ski groups.

Rogers , we first heard of this ski tow that once operated in Naugautuck. "There was a tow in Fairchild Park. The years of operation were sometime around 1970, when I was in 6th grade. My recollection is that it was probably 600-800 yards, but that could be way off." Jon March provides a more detailed history of this area. Pictures are from Jon Regan, aka Woodcore, and were taken in January of 2005.

Tagan , and "TPA44094" we now know of this ski hill that once operated in the Town of Morris, CT. "The town of Morris had a rope tow served slope near the landfill that closed in the 70's" - T. Tagan "There is an old ski area (rope tow) in Lakeside CT. (this "town" has a post office 10 years ago--probably gone by now) Lakeside is between Bantam and Washington on route 109. It was operational some 20 plus years ago when there was enough snow. My guess is that the poles and pulleys for the rope tow are still there.

Thanks!** History ~ Memories History The Hartford Ski Club started a small ski area on the west side of Talcott Mountain in 1937. Improvements were made to the area, and a rope tow was added in 1943. More slopes and trails were added to an upper rope tow in 1951. The area was closed in 1959 due to a lack of snow and golf, as a golf course was built at the ski area.

Vernon, CT 1970's-80's

Mostly it was open weekends, but occasionally opened during weekday nights.

Davidson , we now know of this small ski area that operated in Winsted: "One small area not on your list in CT was the Indian Meadow Ski Area. It was on property owned by the Passini family who also ran the ski area and a farm on the site. It had one rope tow, two slopes, I think maybe 500 - 600 feet, and a warming lodge in one part of a barn. I think it operated in the mid sixties for a few years, used mostly by local skiers, the upper tow shack remained for many years." Does anybody else have any more information?

School Lakeville, CT 1960's-1970's Several

Park had a small ski area that operated probably from the 1960's to at least the early 1970's. The jeep would be parked at the bottom of the ski area, and the rope would be run off the rear wheel. Dave Motycka and other Jaycees helped run the area. (Right - Rick Tinson sent us this and the following photo taken in the winter of 70-71. In this shot, you can just barely see the rope tow behind the fence, and a skier at the far left riding it).

Thanks to a few

It was located off Peter Green Road in Tolland, at 41.53.39N and 72.23.35W. Tim Gottier also remembers this area: I only tried skiing one time. The woodline was at the bottom of the hill with very little area to stop. Someone loaned me a pair of very poor wooden skis and I didn't enjoy the feeling of heading toward the woods with no brakes!

However, William O'Meara , a

Thanks to "TPA44094" we know know of this lost area in Lakeside. Here are his details: I am now living in Ohio but grew up in Connecticut. There is an old ski area (rope tow) in Lakeside CT. (this "town" has a post office 10 years ago--probably gone by now) Lakeside is between Bantam and Washington on route 109. It is adjacent to the town "landfill", now an area to recycle.

Thanks to a visit to the New England Ski Museum ,

Dorval , who pointed out this area to

Thanks to Ruth Moynihan , we now know of this small ski area that operated in Meriden. Here are her details: I also remember a small ski slope rope tow that my father took me to frequently when I was an early teenager, on the northeast side of Meriden, right near the place where the present Rte 15 and Rte 91 Branch off from one another. There was a hill just to the east of Rte 15 and it had night skiing several nights a week.

Thanks to Jonathan Whitlock , we now know of this ski area that operated in Cheshire. Here are the details from him: "There was an area in what is now Cheshire, CT called Mixville. The town has taken it over in recent years and it serves as a swimming and outdoor recreation center in the summer, and a sledding hill in the winter. It originally functioned as a 1 rope tow ski area, started by several Yale students." To the right is an aerial shot of the area.

Two

Thanks to Jay Pagluica from Ski Blandford , we now know the complete history of this newly discovered area. Here's the details from him: Operated by the town of Manchester in the 1960's it had two rope tows. The easy tow (about 400ft.) went about two thirds of the way up the hill on the side with an easier pitch. At the base of the south side was a town owned football field that still exists today and has grown to include a rather nice baseball field as well.

In the mid- to late 1960's and maybe into the early '70's, there was a rope tow at NAVA Hill, either off Walnut Hill Road or off Hickory Hill Road (off Route 254 on the way to Northfield/Litchfield) in Thomaston. It wasn't a BIG hill (a la Mohawk Mountain or Ski Sundown), but it was big enough to have a rope tow, be lighted for night skiing, and be steep enough and fast enough so that a high school friend of mine broke her leg on one run down it and had to be brought down off the hill in the basket! Jon Regan: There used to be a small ski tow in Thomaston, CT, run by the Nava ski club. The are…

New Haven Years operational unknown Thanks t o Michael Hennessey, we now know of this small ski area that operated in New Haven. Here is what Michael had to share with us: "When I was a student at Southern Connecticut State College (now SCSU) I used to walk in surrounding areas. Behind the school property near West Rock Park, I found the remnants of a rope tow. I heard from a local that the city (of New Haven or Westville) used to operate the tow when snow covered the area." Michael recently visited this (08/01) area and found out the following: "The site of the tow is now the West Rock Nature…

Memories History We first heard of this area from Keith Gordon, and have recently learned much more from Dick Kenyon . Here's what Dick has to report: I recently reviewed the

Betsy discovered this area while searching through maps and Terraserver. History Jay Pagliuca , from Ski Blandford has some great information about the history of Northview. " Northslope (about 200 vertical drop) was operated from about 1969-1974 by the town of Manchester. Nebo) when Rte 6 (Now I-384) was built and literally cut through the mountain. Northslope was built on the property that used to be a small Nike Missile base. (Nike's were underground siloed small anti-aircraft missiles) scattered around the US in the 50's.

Historical Photos Memories History Ski Ohoho Ski Area was a somewhat major ski area that operated from 1977 to about 1989. It had a 1350' Mueller T-bar, 3 tows (one 1350' parallel to the T-bar, a 1400' one, and a beginners tow), and 10 trails. All trails had a Christmas connotation to them, including the Christmas Tree Lodge. For a great article from January 2007 on this area in the Putnam, CT Traveler, please click here .

Bristol, CT 1960's-1970's History Historical Pictures History Thanks to Mark Renson , we first heard of this area that operated in Bristol. David Marinelli skied here a few times and has some more info: "I skied at the Page Park Hill a few times in the 60's. The entrances are off of Woodland and King streets in Bristol. There was a single gentle slope with a rope tow just south of the existing public pool.

The following history of Ski Rattlesnake was relayed to

According to Bob Sargent , There was a ski area at Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT. It was set up in the mid 60s, but only operated for a few years for the students of the school.

Here are his details: The Rockville Ski Club ran a rope tow on Fox Hill that was active in the late 50's and through the 60's.

Gorman: T here was a little town ski hill with a rope tow right in Salisbury village, but I suspect that one has shut down.

Years operational unknown

Sharon , CT 1950's-1960's M any thanks to Jon Regan , who discovered a postcard of this ski area. Jon posted the card on Snowjournal.com, where other readers had not heard of it. Betsy McDonough then contacted the Sharon, CT Historical Society , asking them if they knew of the area. Liz Shapiro, the director, responded by saying that the area operated in the early 1960's, and was located on Rte 4 across from West Woods Road. (Right - the postcard that Jon found). (Left-the back of the card, stating that there were 4 tows, and wide array of services) Liz was able to scan an image they had at th…

At least 1952 The Silver Streak Ski Area opened in Winsted sometime in the 1940's. It changed its name to Laurel Hill around 1948, give or take a year. Located 1 mile east of Winsted, off Rte. 44, Laurel Hill offered skiing on a 1300 foot rope tow with a 400 foot vertical drop in 1949. Anybody know what happened after that year? (From the World Ski Book and 51/52 Eastern Ski Map) One

Here are his details: My name is Scott Buckley and I grew up in Norwalk Ct. . During the early 1960's, the Silvermine golf course used to run a rope tow on their largest hill. There was one run, the cost was $1.00, and there was an old jeep parked at the top and the rope was run through old wheels attached to trees. It was pretty crude but we spent many days learning how to snowplow and run fast and straight.

This was a relatively small ski area that operated in Simsbury. It was served by a 900 foot rope tow and had a 190 foot vertical drop. The slopes today are very grown in, and houses have been built on the lower portion of the slope. Priscilla Smith (Bourgeois) Scheiner whose family owned the land wrote a great article on the area which describes much of its history.

In 1949, Ski Valley operated a 1000 foot tow on a 1000 foot wide slope. The area was open Friday and Monday afternoons as well as all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Somers, CT Before 1949-1954 In 1949, a 1000 foot long rope tow served two fast trails and a 1/3 mile trail at the Somers Ski Area. Thanks to Deane and Tim Olmstead , we now know a lot more than just those facts from a guidebook. In fact, their Grandfather, Arthur Olmsted, ran and owned this area! Here are Deane's details: It was owned by our Grandfather, Arthur Olmsted.

Senechal , we first heard of this area that operated in Stafford! Here are the details: " In the early fifties, the Stafford Ski Club maintained a rope tow on a slope at the end of Highland Terrace behind what was then the home of Fred Royce. It was adjacent to what was then Stafford High School and is now the Earl M. Witt Intermediate School." Mike Rocchetti has some more info on the location of the area and will try to find out more info: I was fascinated by the little bits of information about the Stafford Ski Club in Stafford CT.

History and Photos Alan Dul has done a lot of research on this lost area, and all of the history below is from his report. In addition, all of the photos are courtesy of Jon Regan , taken in March of 2006. The report below is based on information obtained directly from the New Britain Herald using the dates indicated below. Not all of the information is verbatim, but no changes have been made to the context of the newspaper articles.

sunset ridge Sunset Ridge East Hartford years operated unknown According to A. Passeri, a rope tow was operated in East Hartford's Veteran's Memorial Park.

Thanks to Joe May , we first heard this ski areas that operated in Sherman. Here are his details: There is a large real estate sub division in the south part of Sherman. It was quite elegant in its day and had a small ski hill, horse back riding, red clay tennis courts, and other niceties. He was the announcer and straight man for Gary Moore in the early days of TV.

Uconn Storrs UConn Storrs Tow Horse Barn Hill Husky Hill Mansfield, CT Feb 7, 1967-1978 History Memories Historical Images Current Images History

The Wethersfield Ski Club was a brief ski area that operated in Rocky Hill from the late 1940's to the early 1960's. It was a small ski area, one open slope on a 150 foot drop, served by a rope tow. The founders of the area were likely Brooks Allen and Ed Higgins. The area was abandoned in the early 1950's and has now completely grown over.

Simsbury Westledge School (Now Site of Master's School West Simsbury c1969-c1974 History ~ Memories History The Westledge School was built in the late 1960's, and opened a rope tow around 1969. Abbott de Rham wrote us a very good article about this ski area: The ski area was originally built for Westledge School. The first year of the school was 1968-69 and the main focus was on finishing the primary buildings on campus. I believe trail cutting started the next year in the summer of 1969 and the rope tow installed late in the fall of 1969.

Thanks to

There was an open slope available for beginners, as an active ski school provided lessons. Like many CT rope tow areas of its time, it was only open during weekends. Christian DaBica remembers this ski area: The town I grew up in was Pomfret, where White Mountain was located. We used to go mountain biking there and the last time I went through (again, many years ago) the poles and wheels for the rope tows were still there.

East Hartford and Mancester Jan 31, 1965-At least late 1960's Thanks to a great article about

Thanks to Michael Nelson , we now know of this ski area that operated in Danbury. Here are his details: "I went to high school in Danbury, CT from 1981 to 1985 at the Wooster School. There was a small ski hill with a single rope tow across the street from campus behind one of the faculty homes. I figure this had to be Mad Hatter though I don't recall anyone ever referring to it by that name so perhaps this was another lost ski area.