Cowboy Peak Ski Area

By Bill Fetcher

Years of operation, c. 1967 to 1985

Cowboy Peak, also known as Cowboy Hill, is north of Oak Creek just over the city line on the
ranch owned by Charles and Betty Sweetland. The hill itself was on the west portion of their land
opposite their homestead, reached via Grant Avenue. (Note: private property.) In the mid-'60s
the rope tow on Capitol Hill was moved there. The facility was sponsored by the Lyons Club of
Oak Creek, which leased the property from the Sweetlands for $1.00 a year. As with Capitol Hill,
no admission was charged. Night skiing was now featured. The floodlights, like the tow, were
turned on and off as needed. By this time ski hills open to the public were expected to carry liability
insurance, which the Lyons Club underwrote. When the club folded, the City of Oak Creek took
on these responsibilities, including the $1.00 a year lease. There was also a barbed-wire fence near
the bottom of the hill (see photograph) that had to be taken down (for obvious safety reasons) and
put up each spring. The tow's drive terminal was at the center of my photo. The tow extended to
the left of center along the line of brush. (What might be mistaken for a rope tow tension terminal at
bottom left is actually an overshot stacker for loose hay.)

For a number of years Oak Creek put on a Winter Festival in March, with many competitive
events both in town and on Cowboy Peak; not too different from Steamboat Springs' Winter
Carnival though on a smaller scale.

All went well till the early '80s when difficulties arose between the town and the Sweetlands
regarding replacing the fence each spring and late payment of the $1.00 lease fee. In the winter of
1985 an incident involving their dog prompted them to close the hill. The dog, a large basset hound,
was picked up by Oak Creek's animal control officer for running loose in violation of the town's
leash law. The Sweetlands gladly paid the $20.00 fine to get their pet back but were not happy
with the town's decision to stiff them for $5.00 in court fees. For nearly 20 years they had given the
townspeople of Oak Creek free skiing on their pasture, asking little in return. Rather than pay the
court fee, in March 1985 they "pulled the plug" on Cowboy Peak. The story made the papers
throughout the state. Thus ends what has to be one of the more unusual reasons for closing a ski
area.

My thanks to Chuck and Betty Sweetland for giving permission to photograph, and for sharing their
stories, clippings and memories.