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| Veterans Memorial Ski Area |
| Franklin, New Hampshire |
| Status: |
Open
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| First Season: | 1960-61 |
| Vertical Drop: | 230 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | 1 T-Bar, surface lift |
| Past Lifts: | |
| Left: Vet's Trail (2013) |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
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Located west of Franklin off Flag Hole Road, Veterans Memorial Ski Area has provided local residents an affordable place to ski for over half a century.
Early Years of the Franklin Outing Club
The Franklin Outing Club has a long history of winter sports activity, even preceeding the start of lift served skiing. Early winter activities included dog sledding throughout New England, as well as hike-up skiing in nearby Andover.
Meanwhile, in the spring 1932 Mary Aiken Drake donated a large tract of land to the City of Franklin in honor of her late husband, Dr. Ervin T. Drake. Named the Great Gains Forest, the land was to be used for providing heating fuel for city dependents, while also providing work for the unemployed during the Great Depression.
Starting in 1939-40, the Franklin Outing Club operated the Sunny Slopes Ski Area in nearby East Andover. The small rope tow area featured novice and intermediate terrain into the 1950s.
Great Gains Ski Area Opens
Veterans Memorial ski area (2018) |
In 1960, Franklin's City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission worked together to spur the development of a new ski area in the town's Great Gains Forest. Circa December 1960, a rope tow was installed and trails cut. The Franklin Outing Club was reformed the following month to help run the Great Gains Ski Area.
Great Gains Becomes Veterans Memorial Ski Area
The T-Bar (2013) |
During March of 1962, Great Gains Ski Area hosted the first Winter Carnival, as well as its official opening. The City of Franklin approved $4,000 in Veteran's Memorial Funds the following month for development of a base lodge. Great Gains Ski Area became Veterans Memorial Recreation Area starting in 1962-63.
For the 1967-68 season, the recently removed Mt. Sunapee 1953 Summit T-bar was sold to the City of Franklin and the Franklin Outing Club. Lift manufacturer Hopkins (which had recently purchased lift manufacturer Roebling) oversaw the installation of the T-Bar.
The area has generally remained open since the installation of the T-Bar. In the subsequent decades, Veterans Memorial Ski Area has added additional trails and improved its grooming.
In recent years, upgrades have been made to the base lodge, while other activities have been added. The ski area relies upon natural snow and generally operates on weekends and vacation periods.
Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Maps
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 | $30.00 |  | | | | February 3 | February 25 | | | | | 2022-23 | | | | | | January 28 | March 19 | | | | | 2021-22 | | | $175.00 | | | January 22 | March 3 | | | | | 2020-21 | | | | | | February 6 | March 7 | | | | | 2019-20 | | | | | | January 19 | February 23 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | | | | | | January 13 | March 16 | | | | | 2017-18 | $20.00 | | $125.00 | | 6.3 days | January 6 | March 11 | | | | | 2016-17 | $20.00 | | $125.00 | | 6.3 days | January 7 | March 19 | | | | | 2014-15 | $20.00 | | $125.00 | | 6.3 days | January 31 | | | | | | 2012-13 | $15.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2011-12 | $15.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2010-11 | | | $120.00 | | | | | | | | | 2009-10 | | | $120.00 | | | January 2 | | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | | | $105.00 | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $3.00 | | $45.00 | | 15.0 days | | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "1-22-2017 Just skied here today. They are still open to the public and this is still a fun place to ski. The grooming is decent and there is varied terrain to suit all abilities. " | | dave coulter, Jan. 22, 2017 |
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External Links
Franklin Veterans Memorial Ski Area - official site
Veterans Memorial Ski Area - SmallSkiAreas.com
Veteran's Memorial Ski Area - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Sunny Slopes Ski Area - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
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Last updated: January 6, 2018
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