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Located on the west face of 1,748 foot Mars Hill, Big Rock is the northernmost chairlift served ski area in New England.
Mars Hill Ski Trail
USGS topographic map prior to ski development |
Skiing on Mars Hill dates back to at least early 1937, when a trail was cut from the south peak. The Bangor Daily News announced, "in our own State of Maine there is the real test of a true skier in the Mars Hill Mountain ski trail." The trail was described as being 2.5 miles long, dropping from the headwall of Boynton Basin to Mountain Road.
The first ski race on Mars Hill was held in late February 1937, with Harold Townsend descending the icy trail in five minutes.
It is not known if the trail was used thereafter, but it is possible there was skiing on Mars Hill in the mid-1950s.
Mars Hill Ski Tow
A ski tow was likely constructed for the winter of 1953-54, reportedly located on the slope of the southern part of Mars Hill. Opening in February, the tow quickly ran into controversy, as there was talk of the town banning Sunday operations. The tow remained open on Sundays, operating into April during the inaugural season.
Mars Hill Skiway
An undated photo of Mars Hill |
As the 1960s arrived, development of a ski area on Mars Hill gained traction. The Mars Hill Jaycees, whose president was Wendell Pierce, formed a group called Mars Hill Mountain Development Corporation. State representative Walter Tweedie served as president of the company. To generate publicity for the project, a mountain top flag raising was planned for the morning of July 4, 1960, when the first rays of sun hit Mars Hill and the United States of America.
In June 1960, Elaine Oxnard donated 225 acres of land on Mars Hill to the group in honor of her father, Vinal B. Wilson. Additional land was obtained from the Graves family.
At daybreak on July 4, 1960, Maine Governor John Reed and Congressional Medal of Honor holder Edward Dalgren raised the United States flag atop Mars Hill.
By December 1960, trails had been cut and a 2,500 foot long, 615 vertical foot Pomalift was on order. Pouring of footings for lift towers started in mid-December, but was slowed by icy conditions. A mid-January opening was planned.
In mid-January 1961, the Mars Hill Jaycees announced $2,000 had been raised for the development. Construction of the warming hut was reported to be nearing completion.
The ski area was still not ready to open as January came to an end, as bad weather and a lack of funds had slowed progress.
Dedication of Mars Hill (March 5, 1961) |
After many delays, construction was reportedly completed in late February or early March. The area likely opened on March 4, 1961 with the Aroostook Central Institute's winter carnival. Mars Hill's official opening took place the following day, with Walter Tweedie, Vincent Graves, and Donald Graves cutting the ribbon.
The inaugural season likely extended into April for a total of four weekends of operation. The season reportedly came to a close due to the access road not being passable. Future plans included a second Pomalift to the top of the mountain and a third Pomalift for an additional complex.
A ski patrol building was constructed for the 1961-62 season. The Aroostook Ski Patrol was formed with John Hawksley of Mars Hill as leader. Affiliated with the National Ski Patrol, the group aspired to work together and pool ideas for ski areas in the region.
In December 1961, the ski area received publicity from the New York Times when it was noted the hilltop was the first place in the country to receive sunrays from the rising sun for much of the year. In January, the Bangor Daily News proclaimed that, "Mars Hill Mountain Skiway is growing so rapidly and offers such excellent facilities it has become one of the major ski areas in the state." Unfortunately, Mars Hill was in a snow drought. In late January 1962, the Portland Press Herald reported, "Even the old timers are hard put to recall when the rolling hillsides of Potatoland have been so brown and bare at this time of year," adding that Mars Hill "is closed. And the bills are piling up."
A 1962 rendering of Mars Hill |
By early February, the area had tallied only three days of operation. A "succession of relatively minor snowfalls" enabled the area to open for Washington's Birthday week. Walter Tweedie told the Portland Press Herald, "there hasn't been a season like this for 100 years." It's not known when the season came to an end, but in early April the Portland Press Herald reported that Mars Hill was only open for 21 days that season, while some rope tow areas in Maine never operated.
The 1962-63 season had a stronger start, with base depths reported as two to three feet in early January before decreasing to one to two feet later in the month. The area operated Tuesday through Friday afternoons, as well as full days on weekends. Lewis Jones served as manager.
In stark contrast to the previous winter, the 1962-63 season saw significant snowfall with base depths growing to four to five feet by the end of calendar winter. The season likely extended through the second weekend of April.
Proposed improvements for the 1963-64 season included a new beginners area and a 20 meter ski jump. It is not known if construction started for either project at this time.
The Pierce Family Purchases Mars Hill
Mars Hill in the 1960s |
On July 23, 1965, Wendell Pierce acquired a portion of the ski area from the Mars Hill Mountain Development Corporation, with the company issuing Pierce a mortgage. An additional transaction took place the following spring.
Improvements for the 1965-66 season included a remodeled and expanded warming hut and a 2,000 foot novice slope was constructed, augmented with lights for night skiing. The operating schedule was Tuesday through Sunday, plus night skiing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
A ski jump and beginner rope tow were reportedly constructed for the 1966-67 season. In March, Mars Hill hosted its first annual Albert P. Putnam Memorial Cup, named after a local judge who had passed away unexpectedly the previous spring. The giant slalom race was sanctioned by the United States Eastern Amateur Ski Association, with Jon LeBrun of Limestone defeating about 60 competitors.
Following the season, Mars Hill announced plans to extend the main slope by 1,000 feet. It is not known if the clearing took place at this time.
The North Star Double in 2010 |
Wendell and Marie Pierce's Ski Way of Aroostook, Inc. was registered as a Maine corporation in October of 1967. By this point, the area was known as Mars Hill Mountain Skiway or Mars Hill Skiway.
Two new trails were cut for the 1969-70 season, increasing skiable terrain to five trails and two slopes. Plans for an upper mountain expansion were again discussed. The area maintained a seven day per week operating schedule with night skiing three evenings per week.
Mars Hill Skiway Becomes Big Rock
The Mars Hill Skiway was renamed Big Rock for the 1971-72 season.
The upper mountain of the ski area may have become lift served with the installation of a Poma lift in 1978. Around this time, the Pierce family acquired Burnt Meadow Mountain in western Maine, operating it for a few seasons before it closed.
After decades of surface lift service, Big Rock installed a Mueller double chairlift from Evergreen Valley, ME as its summit lift for the 1993-94 season, making it the northernmost chairlift served ski area in New England. The new chairlift provided service to nearly 1,000 continuous vertical feet.
Maine Winter Sports Center Purchases Big Rock
The base area (2017) |
After over a quarter of a century of ownership, the Pierces looked to sell Big Rock. In the fall of 2000, Maine Winter Sports Center purchased the 290 acre Big Rock Ski Area, thanks in large part to a $1.5 million grant from the Libra Foundation. Immediate improvements included more parking, a better access road, and a new 1.5 mile trail.
Both snowmaking capabilities and night skiing terrain were expanded for the 2002-03 season.
An additional $1.2 million from the Libra Foundation was invested in Big Rock for the 2004-2005 season, headlined by the installation of a new beginner Doppelmayr triple chairlift and a Magic Carpet surface lift.
A $40,000 tubing park was opened for the 2006-07 season. The 5 acre slope was served by a handle tow. Meanwhile, the $55 million Mars Hill Wind Project constructed on the summit ridge of Mars Hill, beginning operation in 2007.
Big Rock After Maine Winter Sports Center
A North Ridge trail (March 2020) |
In June of 2013, Maine Winter Sports Center announced its intentions to close Big Rock and Black Mountain and thus exit the alpine ski business. Black Mountain was subsequently transferred to a local non-profit, thereby avoiding closure. Meanwhile, fundraising efforts began during the summer of 2013 with the hopes of generating enough money to keep Big Rock open. That fall, Maine Winter Sports Center transferred the ski area to a local non-profit organization, which was able to keep the mountain open.
Big Rock has remained in operation since the sale, providing one of the most consistent ski seasons in New England.
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Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2023-24 | $60.00 |  | $520.00 | | 8.7 days | December 26 | March 9 | | | | | 2022-23 | $55.00 | | $495.00 | | 9.0 days | December 27 | April 8 | | | | | 2021-22 | $45.00 | | $435.00 | | 9.7 days | December 26 | April 3 | | | | | 2020-21 | $40.00 | | $420.00 | | 10.5 days | January 1 | March 21 | | | | | 2019-20 | $40.00 | | $420.00 | | 10.5 days | December 7 | March 15 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $40.00 | | $395.00 | | 9.9 days | December 1 | April 14 | | | | | 2017-18 | $38.00 | | $385.00 | | 10.1 days | December 16 | April 22 | | | | | 2016-17 | $38.00 | | $385.00 | | 10.1 days | December 10 | April 9 | | | | | 2015-16 | $38.00 | | $385.00 | | 10.1 days | December 28 | April 10 | | | | | 2014-15 | $38.00 | | $385.00 | | 10.1 days | December 13 | April 12 | | | | | 2013-14 | $35.00 | | $350.00 | | 10.0 days | December 14 | April 13 | | | | | 2012-13 | $15.00 | | $150.00 | | 10.0 days | December 15 | April 6 | | | | | 2011-12 | $30.00 | | $300.00 | | 10.0 days | December 23 | March 24 | | | | | 2010-11 | $30.00 | | $275.00 | | 9.2 days | December 11 | April 3 | | | | | 2009-10 | $30.00 | | $275.00 | | 9.2 days | | March 27 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $30.00 | | $275.00 | | 9.2 days | December 6 | | | | | | 2007-08 | $28.00 | | $250.00 | | 8.9 days | | April 13 | | | | | 2006-07 | $25.00 | | $325.00 | | 13.0 days | December 16 | April 1 | | | | | 2005-06 | $25.00 | | $325.00 | | 13.0 days | December 10 | | | | | | 2004-05 | $20.00 | | $325.00 | | 16.3 days | December 11 | | | | | | 2003-04 | $20.00 | | $325.00 | | 16.3 days | | | 16,000 | | | | 2002-03 | | | | | | | April 13 | 22,000 | | | | 2001-02 | | | | | | December 26 | April 7 | 15,000 | | | | 2000-01 | | | | | | | | 11,000 | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1985-86 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1961-62 | | | | | | December 25 | | | | | | 1960-61 | | | | | | March 4 | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I learned to ski here in the mid 70’s with my buddies Chris Thompson and Marc Putnam of Houlton. I have many fond memories of skiing at Mars Hill and credit it with beginning a life long passion!" | | Dean Brown, Apr. 20, 2021 | | "The area is still very much alive and operating." | | Eric Hendrickson, Mar. 13, 2014 |
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External Links
Big Rock Ski Area - official site
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Last updated: June 25, 2024
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