Lost NH Ski Areas

Rattlesnake Gal · 03-05-2010, 03:53 PM

I was just looking around Lost New Hampshire Ski Areas and wondered if anyone here might have any old photographs or information to add.
(I may have left some out that are on the list. I don't have map handy.)

New England Lost Ski Areas Project is doing a great job on their website!

Arlberg Inn - Gilford

Brickyard Mountain - Weirs Beach

Copple Crown - Wolfeboro

Gilford Tow

Gilman Slope Tow - Alton Bay

Kings Grant Inn - Laconia

Mount Rowe/Alpine Ridge Ski Area - Gilford

Mount Whittier Ski Area - West Ossipee

Little Whittier - West Ossipee

Ossipee Mountain - Moultonboro

Ossipee Ski Slopes/Mountainview Ski Slopes - Ossipee

Page Hill - Tamworth

Sanbornton Tow

Steele Hill Resort - Sanbornton

Suissevale Ski Area - Moultonboro

Tilton School

Twin Town Inn Ski Area - Tilton

Red Hill Ski Area - Center Sandwich

Abenaki - Wolfeboro

Veteran's Memorial Ski Area - Franklin

jmen24 · 03-05-2010, 04:55 PM

Veteran's memorial was back up and running as of a few years ago. Completely run by volunteers. The former office manager of my company and her husband were working very hard on this project and I believe I read somewhere that last year they received a donation of a snowmobile for the needs of the hill.

They started this project in the winter of 05-06 or 06-07, can't remember which.

Very small fee to use the hill, nice to hear about the grassroots rebirth first hand.

mcdude · 03-05-2010, 06:51 PM

Well RG, you knew I would have some pics of a few of these!
Here's a thread from about two years ago with a brochure from the KING'S GRANT INN from 1958. Here's a sample...

Here's a postcard from Mt. Rowe posted by Broadhopper

BroadHopper · 03-05-2010, 07:51 PM

There use to be a rope tow at Memorial Park in Laconia. It was in the 50's. Run by the Laconia park dept. Anyone remember that?

Pineedles · 03-05-2010, 08:15 PM

Thanks for the list RG. I have a fraternity brother, (actually my big brother in the frat) who went to Tilton and I nudged him today with your link. Thanks.
I headed up my email to him with the Tilton link.

Hey PREPPY! Remember this?

I still love digging it in to him! Public high schooler myself.

Theta Xi

Billd72 · 03-05-2010, 08:50 PM

The NELSAP (New England Lost Ski Area Project) web site is great, brings back a lot of memories. I remember skiing at Copple Crown as a kid in the late 60's. Burned through a few sets of gloves on the old rope tow. I was really proud of myself when I mustered enough courage to ride the T bar to the "top".

fatlazyless · 03-06-2010, 06:20 AM

Seems like the modern high speed quads have taken some of the fun & friendliness out of ski areas!

Used to be that getting on and off the old two seat lifts was more of a challenge and there were loaders who were positioned to help you on & off the lifts. Now, the modern four-seater quads slow down for getting on and slow down for getting off the lift and no longer need loaders to assist people onto the chair. The new quads can be run by one person sitting inside the nearby control room, at the bottom and top of the lift. Just seems like something is missing now without that friendly loader hovering behind the chair.

And, the old two seaters were pretty much 10-15 minutes of forced confinement with a total stranger which almost always lead to 10-15 minutes of pleasant conversation. With the four seater quads....those dynamics have changed.

Waterville Valley still occaisionally runs the original 1966 two seater, High Country chair, up top the mountain, but frequently it's closed due to winds or due to lack of customers. It is the slowest chairlift ever built, in the history of snow, and I sure would like to see it be replaced with a retro-1950's style rope tow. Powered by an old Model A engine up the top, and running a 1" diameter, brown sisal rope; it could be terrific fun to get pulled up the top, lose your grip, and back down through a five person pile up......that's real skiing...that's what skiing used to be!

Yankee · 03-30-2010, 06:47 PM

Moose Mountain in Wakefield. I learned to ski there and remember that after a huge snowstorm in the 70's that they had to plow out a path through the snow for the chairlift. I also remember that they had night skiing; the last time that I went there was at night and I think it was in '89. They had old school incandescent bulbs whose brightness would vary depending upon on the number of people who were on the chair lift.

Anyone else ever skied there?

riverat · 03-31-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee

Moose Mountain in Wakefield. I learned to ski there and remember that after a huge snowstorm in the 70's that they had to plow out a path through the snow for the chairlift. I also remember that they had night skiing; the last time that I went there was at night and I think it was in '89. They had old school incandescent bulbs whose brightness would vary depending upon on the number of people who were on the chair lift.

Anyone else ever skied there?

Blue Hill Ski Area - Rochester/Milton Line - Tow Rope - closed approx. 1970
http://www.nelsap.org/nh/bluehills.html

SIKSUKR · 03-31-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee

Moose Mountain in Wakefield. I learned to ski there and remember that after a huge snowstorm in the 70's that they had to plow out a path through the snow for the chairlift. I also remember that they had night skiing; the last time that I went there was at night and I think it was in '89. They had old school incandescent bulbs whose brightness would vary depending upon on the number of people who were on the chair lift.

Anyone else ever skied there?

I skied it in the late 70's.NELSAP website says that Moose was located in Brookfield and they believe it closed around 1987.

BroadHopper · 03-31-2010, 10:07 AM

I think Moose mountain reopen for tubing this season.

I am good friend of Mike Hickey, whose father ran the ski school at Moose Mountain in the 60's and 70's. Skied there a few times as well as Mt Whittier and Copple Crown.

eyenotall777 · 04-02-2010, 11:48 AM

Has in fact re-opened. This past winter was the 2nd season open, 1st season of snowtubing. They also serve breakfast on the weekends and lunch Thurs-Sun.

Great location w/ direct access to snowmobile trails as well and very snowmobiler friendly. Been there quite a few times. Nice place to take a break off the trails.

Link below

http://www.moosemountainrecreation.com/home.html

tomboymom · 04-05-2010, 01:11 PM

Abenaki ski area in Wolfeboro is alive and thriving. Snowmaking now (with upgrades planned for next year) means they are open all season, and the ancient Tucker Sno Cat has been replaced with a modern groomer. Credit for keeping this local gem alive goes to the non-profit Friends of Abenaki, and a very dedicated group of workers and volunteers.

03-05-2010, 03:53 PM	#1
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Lost NH Ski Areas I was just looking around Lost New Hampshire Ski Areas and wondered if anyone here might have any old photographs or information to add. (I may have left some out that are on the list. I don't have map handy.) New England Lost Ski Areas Project is doing a great job on their website! Arlberg Inn - Gilford Brickyard Mountain - Weirs Beach Copple Crown - Wolfeboro Gilford Tow Gilman Slope Tow - Alton Bay Kings Grant Inn - Laconia Mount Rowe/Alpine Ridge Ski Area - Gilford Mount Whittier Ski Area - West Ossipee Little Whittier - West Ossipee Ossipee Mountain - Moultonboro Ossipee Ski Slopes/Mountainview Ski Slopes - Ossipee Page Hill - Tamworth Sanbornton Tow Steele Hill Resort - Sanbornton Suissevale Ski Area - Moultonboro Tilton School Twin Town Inn Ski Area - Tilton Red Hill Ski Area - Center Sandwich Abenaki - Wolfeboro Veteran's Memorial Ski Area - Franklin

03-05-2010, 06:51 PM	#3
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,359 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts	Well RG, you knew I would have some pics of a few of these! Here's a thread from about two years ago with a brochure from the KING'S GRANT INN from 1958. Here's a sample... Here's a postcard from Mt. Rowe posted by Broadhopper __________________

03-05-2010, 07:51 PM	#4
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,509 Thanks: 3,116 Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts	Memorial Park There use to be a rope tow at Memorial Park in Laconia. It was in the 50's. Run by the Laconia park dept. Anyone remember that? __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

03-05-2010, 08:50 PM	#6
Billd72 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Stone Ridge, N.Y. Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Lost NH Ski Area The NELSAP (New England Lost Ski Area Project) web site is great, brings back a lot of memories. I remember skiing at Copple Crown as a kid in the late 60's. Burned through a few sets of gloves on the old rope tow. I was really proud of myself when I mustered enough courage to ride the T bar to the "top".

03-06-2010, 06:20 AM	#7
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Seems like the modern high speed quads have taken some of the fun & friendliness out of ski areas! Used to be that getting on and off the old two seat lifts was more of a challenge and there were loaders who were positioned to help you on & off the lifts. Now, the modern four-seater quads slow down for getting on and slow down for getting off the lift and no longer need loaders to assist people onto the chair. The new quads can be run by one person sitting inside the nearby control room, at the bottom and top of the lift. Just seems like something is missing now without that friendly loader hovering behind the chair. And, the old two seaters were pretty much 10-15 minutes of forced confinement with a total stranger which almost always lead to 10-15 minutes of pleasant conversation. With the four seater quads....those dynamics have changed. Waterville Valley still occaisionally runs the original 1966 two seater, High Country chair, up top the mountain, but frequently it's closed due to winds or due to lack of customers. It is the slowest chairlift ever built, in the history of snow, and I sure would like to see it be replaced with a retro-1950's style rope tow. Powered by an old Model A engine up the top, and running a 1" diameter, brown sisal rope; it could be terrific fun to get pulled up the top, lose your grip, and back down through a five person pile up......that's real skiing...that's what skiing used to be! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

03-05-2010, 04:55 PM	#2
jmen24 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,139 Thanks: 223 Thanked 319 Times in 181 Posts	Veteran's memorial was back up and running as of a few years ago. Completely run by volunteers. The former office manager of my company and her husband were working very hard on this project and I believe I read somewhere that last year they received a donation of a snowmobile for the needs of the hill. They started this project in the winter of 05-06 or 06-07, can't remember which. Very small fee to use the hill, nice to hear about the grassroots rebirth first hand.

03-05-2010, 08:15 PM	#5
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,058 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	Thanks for the list RG. I have a fraternity brother, (actually my big brother in the frat) who went to Tilton and I nudged him today with your link. Thanks. I headed up my email to him with the Tilton link. Hey PREPPY! Remember this? I still love digging it in to him! Public high schooler myself. Theta Xi

03-30-2010, 06:47 PM	#8
Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 150 Thanks: 19 Thanked 38 Times in 23 Posts	Other place not on your list! Moose Mountain in Wakefield. I learned to ski there and remember that after a huge snowstorm in the 70's that they had to plow out a path through the snow for the chairlift. I also remember that they had night skiing; the last time that I went there was at night and I think it was in '89. They had old school incandescent bulbs whose brightness would vary depending upon on the number of people who were on the chair lift. Anyone else ever skied there?

03-31-2010, 10:07 AM	#11
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,509 Thanks: 3,116 Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts	Moose Mountain I think Moose mountain reopen for tubing this season. I am good friend of Mike Hickey, whose father ran the ski school at Moose Mountain in the 60's and 70's. Skied there a few times as well as Mt Whittier and Copple Crown. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

04-02-2010, 11:48 AM	#12
eyenotall777 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 151 Thanks: 38 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts	Moose mtn recreation-brookfield Has in fact re-opened. This past winter was the 2nd season open, 1st season of snowtubing. They also serve breakfast on the weekends and lunch Thurs-Sun. Great location w/ direct access to snowmobile trails as well and very snowmobiler friendly. Been there quite a few times. Nice place to take a break off the trails. Link below http://www.moosemountainrecreation.com/home.html

04-05-2010, 01:11 PM	#13
tomboymom Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Abenaki Abenaki ski area in Wolfeboro is alive and thriving. Snowmaking now (with upgrades planned for next year) means they are open all season, and the ancient Tucker Sno Cat has been replaced with a modern groomer. Credit for keeping this local gem alive goes to the non-profit Friends of Abenaki, and a very dedicated group of workers and volunteers.