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Cochran's Ski Area
Cochran's Ski Area
Richmond, Vermont
Status: Open
First Season:1960-61
Vertical Drop:500 feet
Standing Lifts:Surface lifts
Past Lifts:
Left: Cochran's Ski Area
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Located southeast of Burlington, Cochran's ski area has been the launching pad for numerous young skiers for over half a century.

Start as Private Family Ski Area

The Cochran family in 1966
The Cochran family in 1966

Gordon "Mickey" Cochran initially landed in Vermont as a student at the University of Vermont, where he eventually became a ski coach. Marrying Virginia "Ginny" Davis, Cochran soon became a teacher at Windsor High School. Cochran also briefly managed nearby Ascutney ski area briefly during the 1950s, where his four children grew up skiing.

Circa 1960, Cochran purchased a farmhouse on 190 acres located between Montpelier and Burlington in the small town of Richmond. Leaving teaching for a career as a mechanical engineer with General Electric, Cochran leveraged his skills to construct a rope tow adjacent to the house.

The small ski area opened in early 1961, serving the family and local children. With no lodge, the house served as the warming hut and first aid center.

Circa 1965, the Cochrans purchased a 140 acre lot adjacent to their home and expanded the ski area uphill the following year.

Medals

Over the next half decade, all four of the Cochran children were named to the United States Ski Team. Numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals were won by the family in a variety of events, such as the World Cup, World Championships, and, Olympics in the late 1960s and 1970s, giving the small ski area quite a name. The Cochran children were invited to the White House to meet President Nixon in the spring of 1971.

Mickey constructed a new warming hut at the base of the ski area during the summer of 1971, providing a new snack bar and taking pressure off the Cochran's house.

Mickey took a leave of absence from General Electric so that he could serve as coach of the U.S. Ski Team from 1973 to 1974, whilst his wife Ginny continued to manage the ski area.

A handle tow was installed for the 1975-76, improving the learn to ski program headed by Ginny.

Giant slalom at Cochran's (2014)
Giant slalom at Cochran's (2014)

Uphill transportation was upgraded in 1979, when a used 1,600 foot long T-Bar was installed. Around this time, Mickey designed a small snowmaking system

Snowmaking was expanded to cover 70% of the ski area for the 1982-83 season.

A new lodge was constructed circa 1984, located in the vicinity of the T-Bar and Mighty Mite lifts.

Non Profit Formed

Mickey Cochran passed away in 1998, triggering changes at the ski area. Following his death, the non-profit Cochran's Ski Area, Inc. was formed, procuring a 49 year lease to operate the ski area. Ginny Cochran passed away in 2005.

After nearly a decade of planning, a new $400,000 snowmaking system was constructed in 2007. Pumping from the Winooski River, the new system allowed the area to cover both the T-Bar and Mighty Mite areas.

The base area in 2020
The base area in 2020

New night skiing lighting was added for the winter of 2010-11.

Cochran's Ski Area continues to operate to this day with the Cochran children and grandchildren still playing an active role.

Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Standing Lifts
Installed
The T-Bar in 2014
T-Bar
Hall
T-Bar
1979-80

Past Lifts
Seasons


Maps
2016-17 Cochrans Trail Map
1973-74 Cochran's Ski Area Trail Map1983-84 Cochran's Ski Area Trail Map2013-14 Cochran's Ski Area Trail Map2015-16 Cochrans Trail Map2016-17 Cochrans Trail Map
View All Cochran's Ski Area 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$19.002023-24 Ticket Price Graph$195.002023-24 Season Pass Price Graph10.3 daysDecember 16March 242023-24 Skier Visit Graph
2022-23$19.002022-23 Ticket Price Graph$195.002022-23 Season Pass Price Graph10.3 daysDecember 18March 262022-23 Skier Visit Graph
2021-22$19.002021-22 Ticket Price Graph$195.002021-22 Season Pass Price Graph10.3 daysDecember 18March 262021-22 Skier Visit Graph
2020-21$19.002020-21 Ticket Price Graph$195.002020-21 Season Pass Price Graph10.3 daysDecember 19March 282020-21 Skier Visit Graph
2019-20$19.002019-20 Ticket Price Graph$195.002019-20 Season Pass Price Graph10.3 daysDecember 7March 142019-20 Skier Visit Graph
2010s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2018-19$25.002018-19 Ticket Price Graph$195.002018-19 Season Pass Price Graph7.8 daysDecember 15March 312018-19 Skier Visit Graph
2017-182017-18 Ticket Price Graph2017-18 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 16April 12017-18 Skier Visit Graph
2016-172016-17 Ticket Price Graph2016-17 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 17April 22016-17 Skier Visit Graph
2015-162015-16 Ticket Price Graph2015-16 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 272015-16 Skier Visit Graph
2014-15$20.002014-15 Ticket Price Graph2014-15 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 19March 222014-15 Skier Visit Graph
2013-14$20.002013-14 Ticket Price Graph2013-14 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 202013-14 Skier Visit Graph
2012-13$20.002012-13 Ticket Price Graph2012-13 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 262012-13 Skier Visit Graph
2011-12$20.002011-12 Ticket Price Graph2011-12 Season Pass Price Graph2011-12 Skier Visit Graph
2010-11$20.002010-11 Ticket Price Graph2010-11 Season Pass Price Graph2010-11 Skier Visit Graph
2000s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2008-09$20.002008-09 Ticket Price Graph2008-09 Season Pass Price Graph2008-09 Skier Visit Graph
2007-08$18.002007-08 Ticket Price Graph2007-08 Season Pass Price Graph2007-08 Skier Visit Graph
2006-07$18.002006-07 Ticket Price Graph2006-07 Season Pass Price Graph2006-07 Skier Visit Graph
2005-06$18.002005-06 Ticket Price Graph2005-06 Season Pass Price Graph2005-06 Skier Visit Graph
2004-05$15.002004-05 Ticket Price Graph2004-05 Season Pass Price Graph2004-05 Skier Visit Graph
2003-04$15.002003-04 Ticket Price Graph2003-04 Season Pass Price Graph2003-04 Skier Visit Graph
2002-03$15.002002-03 Ticket Price Graph2002-03 Season Pass Price Graph2002-03 Skier Visit Graph
2001-02$12.002001-02 Ticket Price Graph2001-02 Season Pass Price Graph2001-02 Skier Visit Graph
2000-01$12.002000-01 Ticket Price Graph2000-01 Season Pass Price Graph2000-01 Skier Visit Graph
1999-00$12.001999-00 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$12.001998-99 Ticket Price Graph1998-99 Season Pass Price Graph1998-99 Skier Visit Graph
1993-94$10.001993-94 Ticket Price Graph1993-94 Season Pass Price Graph1993-94 Skier Visit Graph
1980s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1983-84$8.001983-84 Ticket Price Graph1983-84 Season Pass Price Graph1983-84 Skier Visit Graph
1970s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1976-771976-77 Ticket Price Graph$45.001976-77 Season Pass Price Graph1976-77 Skier Visit Graph
1975-76$3.001975-76 Ticket Price Graph1975-76 Season Pass Price Graph1975-76 Skier Visit Graph
1973-74$2.001973-74 Ticket Price Graph1973-74 Season Pass Price Graph1973-74 Skier Visit Graph
1971-72$2.001971-72 Ticket Price Graph1971-72 Season Pass Price Graph1971-72 Skier Visit Graph


Visitor Memories
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External Links
  • Cochran's Ski Area - official site
  • Cochran's Ski Area - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
  • Last updated: January 10, 2020

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