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Located in southern Rhode Island, Yawgoo Valley is Rhode Island's only operating alpine ski area.
Early Years
The idea for Yawgoo Valley reportedly dates back to the early 1960s, when Richard Downs was working on his parents' summer camp property and sought to develop a winter business. At the suggestion of a neighbor, Downs acquired property on the 295 foot southeast peak of Yorker Hill and, circa mid 1964, commenced cutting ski trails. A University of Rhode Island student named Maxwell de Wardener was part of the construction crew.
Yawgoo Valley likely opened as a small rope tow served area for the 1964-65 season. One year later, a new Hall double chairlift was installed, making Yawgoo Valley Rhode Island's first chairlift served ski area. The complex included two slopes off the main lift, the beginner rope tow and slope, night skiing and snowmaking, and a skating rink. Press accounts at the time suggested the facility could eventually encompass 100 acres.
The though the 1966-67 season was very profitable for some areas, a warm January hurt business at Yawgoo Valley, resulting in a break even season. By the start of the 1967-68 season, the ski area sported three trails and two slopes.
Yawgoo Valley made national headlines during the summer of 1970, as Quonset Point Naval Air Station faced a housing crisis. As a result, self-called "Navy Gypsies" set up camp at Yawgoo Valley in Navy issued tents while waiting for base houses or apartments to become available.
The early 1970s were tough at Yawgoo Valley, as the 1971-72 season had minimal December skiing and 1972-73 saw 58 days of operation, the majority of which were considered bad.
Seeking to develop a summer business, Downs and Steven Ellis constructed a $10,000 skateboard park in the spring of 1976. By the summer of 1977, an estimated 10,000 skateboarders had visited the park.
Max de Wardener Purchases Yawgoo Valley
Yawgoo Valley circa the mid 1990s |
After graduating from college and becoming a business teacher at Coventry High School, Max de Wardener took over management of the Yawgoo Valley ski school circa 1968. After operating the ski school for over a decade, de Wardener learned the ski area was for sale. Concerned that he could lose his lucrative business, de Wardener's Ski Pro, Inc. purchased Yawgoo Valley from Richard Downs for $300,000 in December of 1980.
A construction crew dumped many loads of fill atop the ski area in the early 1980s, which, when coupled with a rope tow above the chairlift, resulted in an increase in the ski area's vertical drop. Meanwhile, Rhode Island's other ski areas were on the verge of closing. With the closing of Ski Valley after the 1984-85 season, Yawgoo Valley became the state's only ski area.
A second double chairlift, named Conan, was installed for the 1989-90 season.
Outback in 2014 |
Seeking to diversify, Yawgoo Valley added a water park and a 9 hole pitch and putt golf course in the 1990s. In addition, investments have been made in snowmaking infrastructure and snow tubing, further protecting and diversifying winter revenue.
Yawgoo Valley continues to be owned and operated by the de Wardener family to this day, as Max and Patti's daughter Tracy Hartman has taken over as General Manager.
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
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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 | $59.00 |  | $569.00 | | 9.6 days | December 26 | March 3 | | | | | 2022-23 | $59.00 | | | | | December 27 | March 12 | | | | | 2021-22 | $55.00 | | | | | December 27 | March 13 | | | | | 2020-21 | | | | | | December 19 | March 14 | | | | | 2019-20 | $50.00 | | $449.00 | | 9.0 days | December 15 | March 8 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $48.00 | | $475.00 | | 9.9 days | December 8 | March 17 | | | | | 2017-18 | $47.00 | | | | | December 16 | March 14 | | | | | 2016-17 | $49.00 | | $475.00 | | 9.7 days | December 11 | March 19 | | | | | 2015-16 | $47.00 | | $425.00 | | 9.0 days | January 2 | March 6 | | | | | 2014-15 | $47.00 | | $425.00 | | 9.0 days | December 13 | March 22 | | | | | 2013-14 | $45.00 | | $425.00 | | 9.4 days | November 30 | March 16 | | | | | 2012-13 | $42.00 | | $425.00 | | 10.1 days | December 24 | | | | | | 2011-12 | $42.00 | | $425.00 | | 10.1 days | December 11 | March 4 | | | | | 2010-11 | $42.00 | | $425.00 | | 10.1 days | | | | | | | 2009-10 | $42.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $40.00 | | $400.00 | | 10.0 days | | | | | | | 2007-08 | $38.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2006-07 | $37.00 | | $370.00 | | 10.0 days | | | | | | | 2005-06 | $37.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2004-05 | $35.00 | | $360.00 | | 10.3 days | | March 19 | | | | | 2003-04 | $34.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2002-03 | $32.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2001-02 | $30.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2000-01 | | | | | | December 8 | | 50,000 | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | | | | | | December 12 | | | | | | 1996-97 | | | | | | November 30 | | | | | | 1995-96 | | | | | | | | 40,000 | | | | 1993-94 | | | | | | November 27 | | | | | | 1992-93 | | | | | | | | 25,000 | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1984-85 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1983-84 | $10.00 | | | | | December 24 | | | | | | 1982-83 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1981-82 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1975-76 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1967-68 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "Bill Gardiner also had major influence in construction of Yawgoo. Bill also was the general manager in the early years.
There was a campground in the summer. And a boys and girls camp. Run by Bob Joy and Marsha Miller. I grew up at Yawgoo and loved every part of it.
" | | Steve Hathaway , Jan. 29, 2024 | | "Does anyone know what happened to Sven the instructor in 1977-78" | | Janet M, Aug. 28, 2023 | | "Stuart, you are correct about the addition to the vertical but NOT about the fill that was used. The material was boulders, stone, and gravel from the construction of Mill Pond Rd. which was built due to the closing of the Amtrak rail across Yawgoo Valley Rd. Mill Pond Rd., connected to Liberty Rd. and a bridge over the tracks was constructed so residents in the area would not be trapped by a forest fire. The trail that resulted is called North Forte (not forty) the company that constructed the road and dumped the material." | | Pati deWardener, May. 19, 2015 | | "It should be noted that Yawgoo is one of a very few ski areas that increased its vertical in the late 70's with the establishment of a landfill (garbage dump) on the summit. I believe it brought their vertical to just over 200 ft, from 175. I started teaching there in 1974, for 2 years, moving on to Sugarbush and then Utah." | | Stuart Cole , May. 12, 2015 |
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External Links
Yawgoo Valley - official site
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Last updated: November 5, 2019
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