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The base area (2014)
Mt. Southington
Southington, Connecticut
Status: Open
First Season:1964-65
Vertical Drop:425 feet
Standing Lifts:2 triples, 3 doubles, surface lifts
Past Lifts:Surface lifts
Left: The base area (2014)
Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
3/4/2024: Lost Valley to Install Third Chairlift
12/24/2023: December 2023 Lift Construction Roundup
11/11/2023: Mid-November 2023 Lift Construction Roun...
5/23/2023: Mt. Southington to Install New Partek Ch...
SkiNewEngland.net Profile
Located between Bristol, Waterbury, and New Britain, Mt. Southington is a popular local ski area.

Early Surface Lift Years

A March 1964 public hearing for the proposed ski area
A March 1964 public hearing for the proposed ski area

Circa the early 1960s, Dr. Harold Richman and his wife were inspired to start a local ski area after a trip to Vermont. A native of New Britain, Richman served in the Navy during World War II, graduated Trinity College and Tufts Dental School, and opened an orthodontics practice in the area.

In the fall of 1963, Richman attempted to open a roller skating rink on Center Street in Southington, but was denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Meanwhile, Richman sought out real estate agents to find a potential site for a ski area as Interstate 84 came to fruition. After a few false starts, Richman enlisted broker Anthony Mastrianni Jr., who quickly locked up a dairy farm for the location. Mastrianni, who would become part of the ownership group, acquired options from 14 property owners. Two of the parcels had been previously slated for a large home development. William and James Palmisano, as well as Richman's brother George, were also investors in the ski area project.

Plans for Mt. Southington emerged in March 1964, which were to include three surface lifts and a chairlift, serving terrain of all abilities. The 1964-65 season was to feature a beginner slope and temporary base lodge, with the rest of the proposed facilities to follow for the sophomore season. Snowmaking and night skiing were included in the plans and the ski season was projected to last from December through February.

Opening work for Mt. Southington (1964)
Opening work for Mt. Southington (1964)

Construction was underway in June 1964. In July, Richman announced a Doppelmayr T-Bar would be installed in time for the 1964-65 season and that the former Simons' cow barn would be renovated into a base lodge with a cafeteria, restrooms, and a ski shop, while the farm house would become the office and nursery. Two corporations were formed to own and operate the ski area: Mount Southington Associates and Mount Southington Ski Area. Walter S. Ayre Jr. was named general manager, James D'Anconia operations manager, and Jim Day ski school director.

Further details emerged in November, as Ayre announced that the area would have two Doppelmayr T-Bars and three rope tows serving three trails and five slopes and 300 vertical feet. Ayre added that "personalized service and attention to individual needs will be a goal of the entire Mount Southington staff."

Construction of the $200,000 project was considered largely complete as December arrived. A light snow fall resulted in a press party being held on December 6, 1964 and opening day being planned for December 12, but a subsequent arrival of warm weather postponed the debut. Snowmaking allowed a rope tow-served slope to likely open on Decemeber 20.

A third T-Bar was added for the 1965-66 season.

Upper Mountain Expansion

Mt. Southington circa the 1970s
Mt. Southington circa the 1970s

After three years of operating with the lower slopes, Southington began its expansion upward in 1967 by cutting five new trails. While a chairlift line was surveyed at the time, the upper mountain was served by a rope tow for the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons. In order to develop more skiers, Southington had special programs such as Ladies Day, in which free babysitting was offered.

The Avalanche double chairlift was installed for the 1969-70 season, giving the mountain its first top to bottom lift.

The base area (1970s)
The base area (1970s)

NASTAR racing was added circa 1973-74, reportedly claiming the second highest participation rate in New England.

Southington's next expansion build up took place in the late 1970s, starting with the installation of a J-Bar for the 1977-78 season. The following year, Mt. Southington's first triple chairlift, Stardust, was installed, giving the mountain its second top to bottom lift.

Growth continued in the 1980s, including the night skiing business when a liquor license was procured at the start of the decade. Trails were improved, as were snowmaking capabilities. The expert Tester trail had lights and snowmaking infrastructure installed for the 1982-83 season.

Night skiing at Mt. Southington circa the mid 2010s
Night skiing at Mt. Southington circa the mid 2010s

Lift improvements resumed in the 2000s, as the Avalanche double was rebuilt and the Northstar double chairlift and Thunderbolt double chairlift were installed.

By the mid 2010s, all of Mt. Southington's trails were lit for night skiing, while the area also featured 100% snowmaking with a 1,800 gallon per minute system served by a million gallon reservoir.

NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
Month Average Percent of Terrain Open
December50%    (1 report)50 Open
Recent Conditions Reports
Dec. 13, 2014 by rocket21
Spring Snow, Spring Snow
Mt. Southington on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com


NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
Recent Articles
Lost Valley to Install Third Chairlift - Mar. 4, 2024
December 2023 Lift Construction Roundup - Dec. 24, 2023
Mid-November 2023 Lift Construction Roundup - Nov. 11, 2023
Mt. Southington to Install New Partek Chairlift - May. 23, 2023
Multiple Ski Areas Now 100% Open - Jan. 19, 2016
Mt. Southington's General Manager Retires - Jul. 11, 2014
Mt. Southington NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Page


Image Gallery
December 7, 1964 Meriden JournalDecember 1, 1965 Meriden Morning RecordNovember 15, 1966 Meriden Morning Journal1967-68 Eastern Ski Map1971-72 Eastern Ski MapDecember 16, 1982 Norwalk Hour
View All Images in Mt. Southington Image Gallery




Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Standing Lifts
Installed
The base terminal (December 2021)
Avalanche Double
Partek
Chairlift - Double - Fixed
2021-22
Northstar
Partek
Chairlift - Triple - Fixed
2023-24
The bottom terminal (2014)
Stardust Triple
Borvig-Partek
Chairlift - Triple - Fixed
1978-79
The Thunderbolt Triple circa 2009
Thunderbolt Triple
Partek
Chairlift - Triple - Fixed
2009-10

Past Lifts
Seasons
The #1 T-Bar (left) circa 1967
#1 T-Bar
Doppelmayr
T-Bar
1964-65
-
1990s
The lift line circa the 1970s
#4 T-Bar
Doppelmayr
T-Bar
1964-65
-
2008-09
The #5 T-Bar (right) in 2003
#5 T-Bar
Doppelmayr
T-Bar
1965-66
-
2008-09
The lift line circa the 1970s
Avalanche Double
Hall-Partek
Chairlift - Double - Fixed
1969-70
-
2020-21
J-Bar

J-Bar
1977-78
-
2000-01
The bottom terminal (2014)
Northstar Double
Hall
Chairlift - Double - Fixed
2001-02
-
2022-23


Maps
2023-24 Mt. Southington Trail Map
1968-69 Mt. Southington Trail Map1970-71 Mt. Southington Trail Map1974-75 Mt. Southington trail map1979-80 Mt. Southington trail map1989-90 Mt. Southington Trail Map1999-00 Mt. Southington Trail Map
View All Mt. Southington Trail 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$70.002023-24 Ticket Price Graph$750.002023-24 Season Pass Price Graph10.7 daysDecember 23March 102023-24 Skier Visit Graph
2022-23$68.002022-23 Ticket Price Graph$725.002022-23 Season Pass Price Graph10.7 daysDecember 17March 192022-23 Skier Visit Graph
2021-22$64.002021-22 Ticket Price Graph$675.002021-22 Season Pass Price Graph10.5 daysDecember 26March 202021-22 Skier Visit Graph
2020-21$62.002020-21 Ticket Price Graph$650.002020-21 Season Pass Price Graph10.5 daysDecember 18March 272020-21 Skier Visit Graph
2019-20$62.002019-20 Ticket Price Graph2019-20 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 12March 82019-20 Skier Visit Graph
2010s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2018-19$60.002018-19 Ticket Price Graph$660.002018-19 Season Pass Price Graph11.0 daysDecember 1March 242018-19 Skier Visit Graph
2017-18$59.002017-18 Ticket Price Graph$580.002017-18 Season Pass Price Graph9.8 daysDecember 16March 252017-18 Skier Visit Graph
2016-17$58.002016-17 Ticket Price Graph$560.002016-17 Season Pass Price Graph9.7 daysDecember 17March 262016-17 Skier Visit Graph
2015-16$58.002015-16 Ticket Price Graph$560.002015-16 Season Pass Price Graph9.7 daysJanuary 5March 112015-16 Skier Visit Graph
2014-15$56.002014-15 Ticket Price Graph$550.002014-15 Season Pass Price Graph9.8 daysDecember 7March 292014-15 Skier Visit Graph
2013-14$55.002013-14 Ticket Price Graph$550.002013-14 Season Pass Price Graph10.0 daysDecember 1March 292013-14 Skier Visit Graph
2012-13$54.002012-13 Ticket Price Graph$540.002012-13 Season Pass Price Graph10.0 daysDecember 30March 302012-13 Skier Visit Graph
2011-12$53.002011-12 Ticket Price Graph$540.002011-12 Season Pass Price Graph10.2 daysDecember 20March 112011-12 Skier Visit Graph
2010-11$52.002010-11 Ticket Price Graph$535.002010-11 Season Pass Price Graph10.3 days2010-11 Skier Visit Graph
2009-10$50.002009-10 Ticket Price Graph$535.002009-10 Season Pass Price Graph10.7 days2009-10 Skier Visit Graph
2000s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2008-09$48.002008-09 Ticket Price Graph$535.002008-09 Season Pass Price Graph11.1 days2008-09 Skier Visit Graph
2007-08$44.002007-08 Ticket Price Graph$524.002007-08 Season Pass Price Graph11.9 days2007-08 Skier Visit Graph
2006-07$42.002006-07 Ticket Price Graph$499.002006-07 Season Pass Price Graph11.9 days2006-07 Skier Visit Graph
2005-06$37.002005-06 Ticket Price Graph$469.002005-06 Season Pass Price Graph12.7 days2005-06 Skier Visit Graph
2004-05$35.002004-05 Ticket Price Graph$459.002004-05 Season Pass Price Graph13.1 days2004-05 Skier Visit Graph
2003-04$32.002003-04 Ticket Price Graph$449.002003-04 Season Pass Price Graph14.0 days2003-04 Skier Visit Graph
2002-03$30.002002-03 Ticket Price Graph$439.002002-03 Season Pass Price Graph14.6 days2002-03 Skier Visit Graph
2001-02$30.002001-02 Ticket Price Graph$429.002001-02 Season Pass Price Graph14.3 days2001-02 Skier Visit Graph
2000-01$30.002000-01 Ticket Price Graph$389.002000-01 Season Pass Price Graph13.0 days2000-01 Skier Visit Graph
1999-00$29.001999-00 Ticket Price Graph1999-00 Season Pass Price Graph1999-00 Skier Visit Graph
1990s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1998-99$28.001998-99 Ticket Price Graph1998-99 Season Pass Price Graph1998-99 Skier Visit Graph
1995-961995-96 Ticket Price Graph1995-96 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 91995-96 Skier Visit Graph
1994-951994-95 Ticket Price Graph1994-95 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 171994-95 Skier Visit Graph
1992-93$26.001992-93 Ticket Price Graph1992-93 Season Pass Price Graph1992-93 Skier Visit Graph
1991-92$26.001991-92 Ticket Price Graph1991-92 Season Pass Price Graph1991-92 Skier Visit Graph
1989-90$24.001989-90 Ticket Price Graph$440.001989-90 Season Pass Price Graph18.3 days1989-90 Skier Visit Graph
1980s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1988-89$23.001988-89 Ticket Price Graph1988-89 Season Pass Price Graph1988-89 Skier Visit Graph
1987-88$22.001987-88 Ticket Price Graph1987-88 Season Pass Price Graph100,0001987-88 Skier Visit Graph
1986-87$20.001986-87 Ticket Price Graph$357.501986-87 Season Pass Price Graph17.9 days1986-87 Skier Visit Graph
1985-86$19.001985-86 Ticket Price Graph1985-86 Season Pass Price Graph1985-86 Skier Visit Graph
1984-85$17.001984-85 Ticket Price Graph1984-85 Season Pass Price Graph1984-85 Skier Visit Graph
1982-83$15.001982-83 Ticket Price Graph1982-83 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 161982-83 Skier Visit Graph
1980-81$12.001980-81 Ticket Price Graph1980-81 Season Pass Price GraphFebruary 181980-81 Skier Visit Graph
1979-80$12.001979-80 Ticket Price Graph1979-80 Season Pass Price Graph1979-80 Skier Visit Graph
1970s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1978-79$10.501978-79 Ticket Price Graph1978-79 Season Pass Price Graph1978-79 Skier Visit Graph
1977-78$9.501977-78 Ticket Price Graph1977-78 Season Pass Price Graph1977-78 Skier Visit Graph
1976-77$9.001976-77 Ticket Price Graph$160.001976-77 Season Pass Price Graph17.8 days1976-77 Skier Visit Graph
1975-76$8.751975-76 Ticket Price Graph$165.001975-76 Season Pass Price Graph18.9 days1975-76 Skier Visit Graph
1974-75$8.501974-75 Ticket Price Graph1974-75 Season Pass Price GraphNovember 271974-75 Skier Visit Graph
1973-74$8.001973-74 Ticket Price Graph1973-74 Season Pass Price Graph1973-74 Skier Visit Graph
1972-73$7.501972-73 Ticket Price Graph1972-73 Season Pass Price GraphNovember 181972-73 Skier Visit Graph
1971-72$7.501971-72 Ticket Price Graph$140.001971-72 Season Pass Price Graph18.7 days1971-72 Skier Visit Graph
1970-71$6.501970-71 Ticket Price Graph1970-71 Season Pass Price GraphMarch 211970-71 Skier Visit Graph
1969-70$6.501969-70 Ticket Price Graph1969-70 Season Pass Price Graph29,0001969-70 Skier Visit Graph
1960s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1968-69$4.001968-69 Ticket Price Graph1968-69 Season Pass Price Graph1968-69 Skier Visit Graph
1967-68$4.501967-68 Ticket Price Graph1967-68 Season Pass Price Graph1967-68 Skier Visit Graph
1966-67$4.501966-67 Ticket Price Graph1966-67 Season Pass Price Graph21,8711966-67 Skier Visit Graph
1965-661965-66 Ticket Price Graph1965-66 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 221965-66 Skier Visit Graph
1964-651964-65 Ticket Price Graph1964-65 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 2018,0001964-65 Skier Visit Graph


Visitor Memories
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External Links
  • Mount Southington - official site
  • Last updated: April 18, 2023

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