Many years ago it was common for towns to have small ski hills for their local community. Rope tows, T-bars and small lifts would carry people up the hills, schools often provided the equipment and kids often skied for free. Grooming was done by locals who would side step up the mountain and the snowmakers were nothing more than mother nature.
607 ski resorts throughout New England have closed over the years and most have been dismantled with their trails overgrown and all but forgotten. However, at Hogback Mountain in Marlboro, Vermont, remnants of the lifts and buildings can still be found. A big thanks to the volunteers at the Hogback Mountain Conservation Association for maintaining the hiking trails and allowing for the public to access this beautiful property today. Let’s take a look at what can still be found while exploring this abandoned Ski Resort in VT.
An aerial view of Hogback Mountain.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area
Flickr/Rudi Riet Hogback Mountain Ski Area, with 12 trails and 4 lifts closed in 1984.
Flickr/Rudi Riet The buildings still stand and remind us of the small ski resorts of days gone by.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area This particular building is called the Castle. It’s at the top of one of the two parallel T-bar lifts.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area It was used by the Mountain as a lookout to stop the lift if someone fell off the T-bar.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area A toboggan was always waiting for ski patrollers to jump on and provide first aid if needed. First aid was located at the bottom of the Great White Way.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area Where was the Great White Way? You can still see it on aerial photos, but it’s harder to see on the ground.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area Hogback was featured in a documentary called “United We Ski” about small VT ski areas. Check out this two minute video here – it’s awesome!
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area A look back to Hogback Ski area circa 1948.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area A great find! An old pass to Hogback Mountain.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area Along with lifts and buildings, you’ll also find other places that nature is reclaiming such as this old cellar hole.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area Pictures say a thousand words, but the public is welcome to explore Hogback Mountain Ski Area and look for examples of early lift technology. It’s like an open air museum!
If you enjoy exploring abandoned places, take this road trip to see some of Vermont’s abandoned places.
Facebook/Hogback Mountain Conservation Area
Flickr/Rudi Riet
Hogback Mountain Ski Area, with 12 trails and 4 lifts closed in 1984.
The buildings still stand and remind us of the small ski resorts of days gone by.
This particular building is called the Castle. It’s at the top of one of the two parallel T-bar lifts.
It was used by the Mountain as a lookout to stop the lift if someone fell off the T-bar.
A toboggan was always waiting for ski patrollers to jump on and provide first aid if needed. First aid was located at the bottom of the Great White Way.
Where was the Great White Way? You can still see it on aerial photos, but it’s harder to see on the ground.
Hogback was featured in a documentary called “United We Ski” about small VT ski areas. Check out this two minute video here – it’s awesome!
A look back to Hogback Ski area circa 1948.
A great find! An old pass to Hogback Mountain.
Along with lifts and buildings, you’ll also find other places that nature is reclaiming such as this old cellar hole.
Pictures say a thousand words, but the public is welcome to explore Hogback Mountain Ski Area and look for examples of early lift technology. It’s like an open air museum!
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