Before we get into the article, we would like to note that there are not any current plans to reopen these ski areas.
Dutch Hill – Heartwellville, VT
Closed 1985 due to poor attendance and bad winters
Dutch Hill was a strong ski area before it ran into some trouble with slow starts in the 1950s and then later fell behind other ski areas where they only operated surface lifts and relied on natural snow. Ownership and management would then experience a lot of turnover and then the combination of bad winters forced Dutch Hill to close. Dutch Hill is now home to backcountry skiing.
Chances Dutch Hill returns: 20%
Farr’s Hill – Randolph, VT
Closed 1966 due to competition in the area
Farr’s Hill was an interesting startup as there was just a rope tow and a slope that drew big crowds in the beginning. Pinnacle Skiways was created which really put Farr’s Hill out of business but there was a trail to honor the ski area and its effect on teaching people how to ski. Today the slope has been groomed in the winter and used for sledding and the new owners recently purchased a T Bar in hopes to offer a cheap option for local skiing.
Chances Farr’s Hill returns: 95%
Hogback Mountain – Marlboro, VT
Closed 1986 due to bad winters
Hogback was arguably the best ski area in Vermont during the 60s but a lot of bad winters in a row with little snowmaking capacity led to the mountain closing. Currently the land is being conserved as a part of the Vermont Land Trust and certain aspects of the mountain like the gift shop remain. Backcountry skiing and hiking are both still offered.
Chances Hogback Mountain returns: 30%
Maple Valley – Dummerston, VT
Closed 2000 due to financial reasons
Maple Valley was a destination in New England for ski jumping and all-around skiing before running into financial issues which would cause for the eventual shutdown. Maple Valley was sold to Sugar Mountain Holdings in 2018 with the focus of making a brewery but there is a more long-term plan to bring back skiing. One interesting idea could be a year round brewery that also operates as a ski area in the winters.
Chances Maple Valley returns: 50%
Mt. Aeolus – Dorset, VT
Closed 1940s due to World War II starting.
This ski area could just not get started as it faced a lot of adversity in its short existence as it had competition with Bromley, low snowfall winters, and World War II started which would eventually be it for the small ski area.
Chances Mt. Aeolus returns: 0%
Mount Tom – Woodstock, VT
Closed 1978 due to competition with Suicide Six
Mount Tom used to be partners with Suicide Six (Now Saskadena Six) and offered skiing nearby Woodstock but the similarities between the two ski areas led to Mount Tom closing after Suicide Six received upgrades. There is not lifts remaining but in the winter people still use the slope for sledding.
Chances Mount Tom returns: 7%
Norwich University Ski Area – Northfield, VT
Closed 1992 due to it not being able to generate money.
Norwich was never really able to attract crowds and relied heavily of natural snow which would lead to its downfall. Fun fact: the double chairlift that was the main chairlift at Norwich is now the Vortex Double at Pats Peak in New Hampshire. The area is currently used as the John Shaw Outdoor Center.
Chances Norwich returns: 1%
Plymouth Notch – Plymouth, VT
Closed 2018 due to financial reasons
Plymouth Notch had a tough start as Round Top but that era came to an end when the owner was arrested for felony theft in multiple states. It made a comeback as Bear Creek but that did not work out before a final return as Plymouth Notch. Plymouth Notch operated as a private ski area that had public access but could not stay afloat and is currently on the market.
Chances Plymouth Notch returns: 60%
Prospect Mountain – Woodford, VT
Closed 1991 due to financial reasons
Prospect kept trying to get going but ultimately being outdated led skiers to go to the nearby Stratton and Mount Snow. Currently there is cross-country skiing offered at Prospect but there is no longer an alpine skiing aspect.
Chances Prospect returns: 10%
Snow Valley – Winhall, VT
Closed 1984 due to poor attendance
Snow Valley was a major Vermont ski area before other nearby mountains developed and took the skiers away such as Bromley. The access road was very difficult to drive on and the poor winters played a role in this as Snow Valley was behind other ski areas in terms of equipment. Snow Valley did catch a break and hosted the 1984 National Snowboarding Championships, but it was too little too late. Snow Valley LLC had a permit to get the ski area back, but it kept getting held up and the base lodge burnt to the ground.
Chances Snow Valley returns: 32%
Sonnenberg – Barnard, VT
Closed 2000s due to new ownership
Sonnenberg was a small ski area that was shut down after new owners took over and wanted to develop Twin Farms luxury resort. Now here’s the weird thing – there is no chairlift, but the trails are still kept and groomed with natural snow so you can still ski there but you just need a way of getting to the top.
Chances Sonnenberg returns: 49%
Timber Ridge – Windham, VT
Closed 1991 due to poor winters
Originally starting out as Glebe Mountain, Timber Ridge got hit hard by bad winters which led to multiple closures before becoming connected with Magic Mountain. Both mountains closed and Smuggler’s Notch received Timber Ridge’s chairlift while Magic Mountain reopened. Most of Timber Ridge’s trails have been kept so there is still a chance a lift is installed.
Chances Timber Ridge returns: 50%
Winhall Ski Bowl – Winhall, VT
Closed 1950s due to poor attendance
Another mountain in the Stratton/Bromley area this one and never really got off the ground. There was an attempt to bring it back but that did not have any good results as the base lodge would burn in the following years.
Chances Winhall Ski Bowl returns: 0%
Photo from NewEnglandSkiHistory.com
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