Lost Areas #13 - Published 2 Feb 1994
LOST "COLORADO" SKI AREAS - EDITION 13
Greetings from THE COLORADO SKIER Researching "lost" Colorado ski areas is the hobby of THE COLORADO
SKIER. But now we have run out of lost areas in Colorado. So we
have started on another region of the country, namely the southern
Mid-Atlantic states. This is another transition issue, with a few
Colorado areas and a few more from the Mid-Atlantic region.
For more info on skiing and ski areas, check out our separately posted
companion articles entitled: "THE COLORADO SKIER - TRIVIA" (with
skiing trivia questions), "THE COLORADO SKIER - SKI NEWS" (current
ski area news), and our latest effort "THE TCS LISTS" which contains
statistics on ski areas (and other related subjects).
LOST "COLORADO" SKI AREAS - EDITION #13
EDITOR'S REMARKS:
A. We can't seem to let go of Colorado. In this issue (and next)
we'll talk about PLANNED Colorado ski areas along with some more
lost Mid-Atlantic areas. (Hang in there, New Hampshire is next.)
B. Semi-instant trivia: Where is the very old but little known
UNDINE FALLS ski area? Answer later.
1. MORE ON LOST COLORADO SKI AREAS
{Copyright 1994, The Colorado Skier. All rights reserved.}
Here is our "take" on the four currently viable PLANNED areas:
LAKE CATAMOUNT (Steamboat Springs), [planned], Located just south
and west of Rabbit Ears Pass. Spectacular setting overlooking the
Yampa Valley and "Lake Catamount". Planned to be a very large
destination resort with 3000 feet of vertical, many chairlifts, and
a huge base village. Original planning started in the early 70's
and the lake was actually built, by damming the Yampa River. The
original investment group folded. The former owners of STEAMBOAT
(now owned by Japanese interests) took over and are currently
proceeding thru the permit process. (still active, 1993)
Opinion: The most likely to succeed. "Steamboat" wants this area.
The SKI AREA needs a second major ski area in the vicinity to build
a destination complex to compete with the Summit County, Vail/Beaver
Creek, and the Aspen group. The TOWN needs it for the business.
There is a small group of no-growthers and some environmental outcry
but there doesn't seem to be a Snail Darter or Spotted Owl lurking
about. The usual elk grazing of course. The U.S. Forest Service
has given preliminary approval. We think it will make it.
ADAM'S RIB (Eagle), [planned], To be located ten miles south of
Eagle on Adam Mtn and Mt Eve (cute name!). Intended to be a very
large destination resort with 17 chairlifts and 2 gondolas. Has
been in the planning and permit process since 1970. Won Forest
Service approval in 1982. Currently seeking County approval, and a
wetlands disturbance permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Opinion: Vail doesn't want this new competition (they already have
Beaver Creek and Arrowhead). The Eagle River Valley is already too
crowded. The town of Eagle is against it. There is a wetlands
disturbance problem with the access road and the golf course.
However the developers have been very persistent and do have State
and Forest Service approval. Now they have to satisfy the County
and the Corps of Engineers. It has been a long process and one
wonders how deep are the pockets of the builders (HBE Corp).
EAST FORK (Wolf Creek Pass), [planned], A planned major area on the
west side of Wolf Creek Pass up the East Fork road. Now in the
permit process with stiff opposition from environmental groups.
This is a separate area from "Wolf Creek Valley", also planned (and
now dormant) for the same vicinity. (still active, 1992)
Opinion: Nobody needs this area. It could be the best terrain and
the best snow in the state, but - It is far from any population
center, really far from an airport, and has virtually no local
support (because there are no locals except a few ranchers). There
is environmental outcry altho no specific issues. The developer,
American Express, has big bucks, but seems to be listening to the
anti-factions. We don't think it will fly.
SEVEN UTES (Walden), [planned], A California developer wants to
build a major ski area up near Cameron Pass (on Hiway 14 west of
Fort Collins, CO). It would be called "7 Utes Resort" and would be
located below Seven Utes Peak (just west of the pass) and extend
into the Ranger Lakes area a few miles east of Gould. There would
be a major hotel, skating rink, golf course, spa, tennis, etc. This
ski area would be located on Colorado State Forest land, therefore
the U.S. Forest Service isn't involved. So far the local residents
are against it even tho the region is sparsely populated and barely
survives on hunting and fishing (and ranching).
Opinion: The locals are against this one even tho there is no winter
business in the region. The area would be quite a way from
population centers: Fort Collins 90 miles, and Denver 155 miles,
both over a two-lane pass. Recently the State Forest "land board"
rejected the proposal, so the project may be dead.
2. THE LOST SKI AREAS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES
[Note: TCS defines "Mid-Atlantic" as Delaware, Maryland, D.C.,
Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.]
2A. Here are ten "lost" areas from the last issue:
BALD NOB (Beckley, WV), [obscure], Located 20 miles south of
Beckley. Only appears in a 1968 reference.
Vertical Drop: 300 ft Top: Base:
Lifts: 2 rope tows
BLOWING ROCK (Blowing Rock, NC), [name change], Former name for
APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN until 1969.
Vertical Drop: 350 ft Top: 4000 Base: 3635
Lifts: 1 T-bar, 2 rope tows
CHEROKEE (Linden, VA), [closed], Located on VA 55 in Linden, just
off I-66. Relatively new area. Opened for the 1990/91 season,
then was closed in 1991. Tried to reopen in 1992 but failed and
the equipment was reclaimed by creditors.
Vertical Drop: 1053 ft Top: 2178 Base: 1125
Lifts: 2 quad chairs, 1 triple chair
CHESTNUT RIDGE (Morgantown, WV), [closed 1980], Located 12 miles
east of Morgantown in the Cooper's Rock State Forest on WV 73 off
US 48 (now I-68). Operated from 1966 to 1980. Some sources in
the early seventies show more vertical and more rope tows.
Vertical Drop: 170 ft Top: 2270 Base: 2100
Lifts: 1 rope tow
DEEP CREEK LAKE (Cumberland, MD), [name change], Probably an
early name for WISP until 1968. Actually located nowhere near
Cumberland, but near Deep Creek Lake, at McHenry, according to the
1972 Rand-McNally atlas. WISP overlooks "Deep Creek Lake" near
the town of McHenry. [see Section 3]
Vertical Drop: 500 ft
Lifts: 1 Poma, 2 rope tows
GOLD MTN ENTERPRISES (Franklin, NC), [very obscure], The only
reference was in 1966. Franklin is very near the location of the
current SAPPHIRE ski area (open 1968) but the other facts don't
jibe.
Vertical Drop: 797 ft
Lifts: 1 chairlift
HIGH MEADOWS (Roaring Gap, NC), [closed 1980], Located on US 21,
9 miles south of Sparta. Operated from 1968 to 1980.
Vertical Drop: 80 ft Top: 3280 Base: 3200
Lifts: 2 rope tows 100% snowmaking
MATTAPONI (Croom, MD), [obscure], Croom is a little town on hiway
382 (off US 301) about 20 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. We
only found one reference, in 1968.
Vertical Drop: 67 ft
Lifts: 2 rope tows
MOUNTAIN RUN (New Market, VA), [closed 1979], Located north of
New Market, off I-81. Opened in 1972.
Vertical Drop: 250 ft Top: 1800 Base: 1550
Lifts: 1 chairlift
MOUNTAINTOP (Terra Alta, WV), [name change], Located on WV 46, 3
miles east of Terra Alta. Probably former name for ALPINE LAKE.
Operated in the mid-seventies. [see Section 3]
Vertical Drop: 450 ft Top: 3000 Base: 2600
Lifts: 2 Pomas
2B. Who remembers THESE lost ski areas?
Oregon Ridge Ski Way
Rapahannock Skyline
Snaggy Mountain Strudel Run
Shawnee-Land Tory Mountain
Sheepback Mountain Weiss Knob
2C. Comments from faithful readers:
1) CAROL (VA) was kind enough to write and tell us about BRADDOCK
HEIGHTS SKI WAY, MD. The lifts (T-bar, ropes) are still visible.
The region was originally quite countryish and sort of a weekend
retreat/summer colony for D.C. However the creeping suburbs have
attacked and now the ski area is just another city park.
2) AMIE (SC) wondered about some other obscure areas which, as it
turns out, are still open. Here is a quick rundown of areas
still open in NORTH CAROLINA (we will cover the other states next
time): APPALACHIAN, BEECH, CATALOOCHEE, HAWKSNEST, HOUND EARS
CLUB, SAPPHIRE VALLEY, SCALY MTN, SUGAR MTN, and WOLF LAUREL.
(Note: MILL RIDGE apparently just closed last year and will be
added to our "lost" list.)
3. THE CARE AND FEEDING OF LOST SKI AREAS (OR LOST IS A FOUR LETTER
WORD)
When we start researching a new state for lost ski areas, some
facts are easy to
