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Bellows Falls Ski Tow Rockingham, Vermont Status: Open First Season: 1952-53 Vertical Drop: 200 feet Standing Lifts: Surface lift Past Lifts: Left: Looking down the Bellows Falls rope tow (February 2026) Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News: 2/13/2019: Bellows Falls Ski Tow to Remain Closed T... Located on the southwestern side of the village of Bellows Falls in Rockingham, the Bellows Falls Ski Tow has been in and out of operation for over half a century. The new Bellows Falls ski area (January 1953) The Bellows Falls Ski Club was organized in 1947 to advance skiing and other winter sports, with Kenneth Hemingway serving as the first president. Other original directors included John L. Bronk, Joseph Harty, and Leonard "Lolick-Lenny" Lisai. In February 1950, Ski Bowl, Inc. in nearby Saxton's River cancelled its season due to a lack of snow, a situation compounded by only three weekends of operation during the previous winter. The company disbanded in 1951 and the underlying land was sold, resulting in the Ski Bowl offering its ski assets, including the rope tow and first aid hut, to Bellows Falls for $300. The village trustees and selectmen approved the purchase, agreeing to split the cost. A location was found between a spring and the town's former ski jump to clear a slope and install the lift, with municipal manager Cecil Bissonette, Donald Thomas, and Kenneth Cota marking out an 800 foot long by 200 foot wide area to be cleared. With the goal of opening the new Bellows Falls area for the winter of 1951-52, fifty volunteers participated in a slope clearing day in late September, completing a significant portion of the project. Clearing was completed by late October, but conditions were too wet to get a bulldozer onto the slopes a few weeks later. The town's bulldozer broke down on the slope in July 1952, further delaying the project. Work nevertheless continued, with twenty-one 150-watt lights installed and the 1,200 foot tow rope spliced before Christmas. The new Bellows Falls ski area (January 1953) Following a six-inch snowstorm, the Bellows Falls Community Ski Area debuted on January 4, 1953 with 100 skiers, 90% of which were children. Children who helped pack the slope were given half an hour of free rope tow usage in lieu of the normal 10 cent student lift ticket price. Cecil Bissonnette initially handled rope tow operations and ticket sales. Races were planned for Washington's birthday weekend, however rain likely washed out the season before the arrival of the holiday. 1953 off-season plans included seeding the slope to prevent erosion and upgrading the rope tow from gas to electric. A warming hut was proposed but not constructed due to a lack of funds. Winter was slow to arrive that year, with no skiing until mid-January. It is not known if skiing continued beyond mid-February. The rope tow (January 1954) With the rope fraying, plans were made to replace it for the 1954-55 season, possibly extending the lift from 650 feet to 900 feet long. The lift may have ended up closer to 700 feet long by the time it was spliced in early January 1955. Construction of a warming hut was reportedly completed by the end of the month. Natural snow was lacking, resulting in ski season not arriving until the second half of February, with the tow recording 50 and 60 skiers during its first Saturday and Sunday of operation. Rain subsequently ended February skiing a few days later, but March snow briefly reopened the area for what was reported as the best conditions of the season. The Bellows Falls Times noted, "Many people wonder today if Bellows Falls has not, in some mysterious way, slipped out of the snow area. Although the season of 1954-55 saw immense returns at ski areas in the state, the municipal tow at Bellows Falls was able to operate only a couple of week-ends." The 1955-56 season was also slow to arrive, with operations not starting until early February. By this point, the area was often run by John and Thelma Bronk and Albert White. The season extended into early April, but reportedly only totaled eight days of operation. A new rope was installed for the 1956-57 season, as the area enjoyed its first December opening and a solid Christmas week. The area was forced to close in February 1959 due to issues with the rope tow. A new rope was installed the following month. New poles and larger wheels were installed for the 1959-60 season with help from the New England Power Company. The area enjoyed its earliest opening to-date in 1964, when a five-inch snowstorm allowed 25 people to enjoy the tow on the first Sunday of December. The 1966-67 season was a struggle, as opening day was delayed due to issues with a transformer and safety gate. January operations were limited due to a lack of snow, while late February operations were plagued by mechanical failures. The 1967-68 season opening was delayed by a few days due to vandalism. The rope tow (December 1970) Plans for a beginner area emerged circa 1971, initially slated to be located below the main rope tow. A proposal was made to install a 150-foot beginner rope tow in 1974. It is possible that the eight-day 1973-74 season slowed momentum. The 1976-77 season was expected to start in mid-January, however an electrical failure postponed opening. After repairs, the tow managed to operate for 26 sessions that winter, averaging 40 skiers. The area enjoyed a strong 1977-78 season, operating on a regular basis from mid-January until mid-March rains eroded snowpack and visitation. Leonard Lisai took over as director of the ski area for the 1978-79 season. A lack of snow prevented the ski area from operating during the 1979-80 season. The 1980-81 season had a late start, in part due to vandals cutting the rope on New Year's Day. Nevertheless, repairs were made and the first skiing of the 1980s took place about a week later. Poor snowfall took its toll, as the area only recorded $16 in revenue during 1982-83 and $183 in 1983-84. Facing skyrocketing insurance costs (following the Sunday vs. Stratton lawsuit), Rockingham selectmen debated closing the ski area, noting the cost to operate could fund ski trips elsewhere. Once again dealing with a lack of snow, the area only operated 7 days during the winter of 1984-85. The ski area circa the mid-1980s Following the 1984-85 season, word emerged that Okemo had offered to donate a Pomalift to the town. The offer was ultimately turned down due to the estimated cost to install and maintain the lift. With insurance costs soaring, selectmen agreed to fund the area on a trial basis for one last season in 1985-86. However, when liability insurance bill reached $4,000, selectmen announced its imminent closure. The season was rescued when the George Bascomb Trust donated $500 to fund the insurance overage. Following a successful 1987-88 season which ran from January to March, the area was devastated by vandals. At some point during the fall, the rope was cut, three lights smashed, and the electric meter broken. Damage may have been repaired during subsequent work days, but it is not known if the tow operated during the winter of 1988-89 due to lack of snow. The ski tow was not operated during the early 1990s. The 1992-93 season was cancelled due to poles supporting lights and the tow needing to be replaced. A new initiative was started during the summer of 1994 to repair and reopen the ski area. Though progress was made, a lack of snow kept the area closed during the winter of 1994-95. A community garden was developed near the base of the ski area in 1995. The base area (February 2026) Dave DeCamp, Denny Harty, and Mike Malick invested significant time in getting the area ready for the 1995-96 season. The ski area opened just before Christmas, regularly drawing 30 skiers and snowboarders per day of operation. The 1996-97 season likely didn't start until the second half of February. It is not known if the ski tow operated during the winters of 1997-98 or 1998-99. Longtime ski area volunteer John Bronk passed away on January 18, 1999 at the age of 83. When he and his wife Thelma were named Citizens of the Year a few years prior, she remarked, "I really think working with the kids was the most important thing." Preparations were made in the fall of 1999 for operations that winter. The season was reportedly underway by February 2000, but without the warming hut, as it had been deemed unsafe. The warming hut was replaced during the 2000 off-season, thanks in part to a Ben & Jerry's Community Action Team. The rope tow (February 2026) The tow was again vandalized in the fall of 2002, but managed to open in February. Vandals struck again in mid-March, resulting in the installation of security lights. The season likely came to a close around the end of calendar winter. It is not known if the rope tow operated during the winters of 2003-04, 2004-05, or 2005-06. The 2006-07 season saw one day of operation. The 2018-19 season was cancelled due to mechanical and rope problems. The Rockingham Recreation Department continues to operate the rope tow when natural snow conditions allow. The area features one slope and one trail. NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports Month Average Percent of Terrain Open February 100%    (1 report) Recent Conditions Reports Feb. 13, 2026 by rocket21 Powder, Powder Bellows Falls Ski Tow on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Recent Articles Bellows Falls Ski Tow to Remain Closed This Season - Feb. 13, 2019 Bellows Falls Ski Tow NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Page Year by Year History Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass. Window price, including RFID fee and taxes when known. 2020s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 2025-26 $0.00 January 30 2024-25 February 22 2020-21 December 18 2019-20 December 7 2010s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 2013-14 $3.00 2000s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 2008-09 $3.00 2007-08 $2.00 December 22 2002-03 $2.00 February 8 1990s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 1996-97 $1.50 1995-96 $1.50 $15.00 10.0 days 1980s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 1987-88 $1.00 1,200 1986-87 $1.00 January 7 1985-86 $1.00 January 1 865 1984-85 $1.00 1983-84 $1.00 January 14 1982-83 $1.00 February 10 1981-82 $1.00 1980-81 $1.00 January 8 1970s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 1978-79 December 27 1977-78 $1.00 March 19 1975-76 $1.00 January 1 1974-75 January 15 March 16 1973-74 January 12 1972-73 December 31 1971-72 $0.50 1970-71 $0.50 December 26 1969-70 $0.50 December 27 1960s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 1967-68 December 30 1966-67 December 29 1965-66 January 8 1964-65 December 6 1963-64 December 29 1962-63 December 30 1961-62 December 29 1950s Ticket Price Season Pass Price Pass Payback Opening Day Closing Day Skier Visits 1958-59 December 16 1957-58 January 9 1956-57 December 16 1955-56 February 2 1954-55 February 17 March 30 1953-54 January 13 1952-53 $0.75 January 4 Visitor Memories Add a memory of Bellows Falls Ski Tow First Name: Last Name: E-Mail Address: Comments: External Links Bellows Falls Village Area/Rockingham Recreation - New England Lost Ski Areas Project Last updated: March 28, 2026

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