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| Glen Ellen |
| Warren, Vermont |
| Status: |
Merged
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| First Season: | 1963-64 |
| Last Season: | |
| Vertical Drop: | 2600 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | |
| Past Lifts: | |
| Left: Glen Ellen circa the late 1960s or early 1970s |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
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Located on the highpoint of Lincoln Mountain, between Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak and Mad River Glen, Sugarbush North was originally developed as a standalone area known as Glen Ellen.
Walt Elliott Develops a Ski Area
Walt Elliott showing early Glen Ellen plans |
Born in Port Arthur, Texas in 1928, Walton Sellers Elliott attended school in Yonkers, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut. Elliott also reportedly spent time in London and South Africa. After obtaining an engineering degree from Cornell University, Elliott served as a thermal engineering specialist in the military at the Ordnance Guided Missile Center. Elliott subsequently worked at Armstrong Cork Company and Gustin-Bacon Manufacturing Company. As the story goes, Walt Elliott told his wife Cynthia that he wanted to relocate from Connecticut to Vermont to start a ski area.
Elliott established Glen Ellen Corporation January 25, 1962, naming the project after the shelter near the Long Trail. Options were procured on 1,650 acres of land on the eastern face of 4,083 foot Mt. Ellen.
In February, Elliott announced his plans for Glen Ellen, aiming for a 1962-63 debut. In addition to the privately held land, Elliott hoped to obtain a use permit from the United States Forest Service on high-elevation terrain to give the area a 2,675 foot vertical drop, which would be the largest in New England. Elliott planned to install the longest gondola in the country at 10,000 feet, plus a double chairlift, a T-Bar, and a J-Bar, serving 8 trails of all abilities. The estimated price tag was $920,000. Elliott noted that, "I've been looking at this area, studying its topography. I've skied it and hiked it and I'm convinced, geographically this is what we want. It's in the maximum snow belt area of the state and two ridges form a natural bowl considered ideal for retention of snow. Besides that, the entire area has recently been logged and is virtually free of any exposed rock ledges which will facilitate trail design and construction."
In March, Fayston voters approved a 5-year tax exemption for Glen Ellen.
In April, Glen Ellen acquired 250 acres of land from Ward Lumber Company for $10,000.
In October, Elliott announced that 1,589 acres of land had been purchased and that remaining funds would be focused on construction. A 6,000 foot double chair lift line had been cleared and work on an access road was soon to follow. Meanwhile, plans for the gondola had been abandoned in favor of tiered double chairlifts. With a 1962-63 debut no longer attainable, sights were set on the 1963-64 season.
As the project heated up, its lawyer, recently-elected Governor Philip Hoff, resigned his post with the company to avoid any conflict-of-interest concerns, retaining a small ownership stake. Meanwhile, legislation was moving forward to rebuild German Flats Road and build a new access road to Glen Ellen.
Construction of Glen Ellen (1963) |
With construction paused during the winter of 1962-63, Elliott offered free snowcat-served skiing, telling the Burlington Free Press, "We want as many people as possible to take a look at what we have and what we will have." By this point, Elliott had split construction into three phases - a 1963-64 debut with a 1,565 vertical foot double chairlift and a T-Bar, a double chairlift to the summit and a novice chairlift for the 1964-65 season, and tiered chairlifts to near the summit of General Stark Mountain for the third phase. The base lodge was designed by Lench and Associates to take a barn-like roof design to reflect a Vermont feel, rather than a "transplanted European resort."
In September 1963, word emerged that longtime Bromley ski school director Neil Robinson had resigned his post so that he could start a ski school at Glen Ellen. Initially set to be in the 10th Mountain Division, Robinson broke his ankle filming a ski movie and was subsequently assigned as a surgical technician in the Philippines during World War II. In addition to teaching at Pico and Bromley, Robinson was known for his appearances in John Jay and Warren Miller ski movies.
As calendar fall arrived, trails had been cut and excavated, lift footings had been poured, and the first floor of the Golden Thistle base lodge was being framed. Two double chairlifts and a T-Bar were constructed for the debut season, serving 10 trails and 2 slopes following a Scottish naming theme. The cost of the initial development was reported as $550,000.
Glen Ellen Debuts
A typical Glen Ellen dedication |
A December 14 opening ceremony was advertised with Governor Hoff officiating. To mark the occasion, Glen Ellen offered free skiing and lunch to all Vermont residents. Natural snow arrived two days prior to the scheduled debut, enabling skiing. The area was still very much a work in progress, with Burlington Free Press writer Dave Schaefer noting that the restrooms did not have water or doors until mid-afternoon, "just as the look of panic was beginning to show in the faces of those who had been standing on one foot, then the other." Only the novice chairlift was operational at that point, and the lodge was described as "an attractive unit that undoubtably will prove too small until phase two of the Glen Ellen development expands it."
With the main mountain chairlift finally in operation, Glen Ellen began hosting weekly races in late January. The Glen Ellen Ski Club was formed later that winter to further the development of racing at the area.
Meager snowfall caught the young owner by surprise, as he commented to the New York Times, "We realized that customers wouldn't immediately start breaking down the doors to ride our lifts, but we didn't anticipate lean snow covers, either. The mountains in these parts are supposed to work like magic in attracting flakes." Nevertheless, snow finally arrived, boosting reported base depths to nearly three to four feet by the end of February, and allowing for the season to extend to the second weekend in April. Citing the subpar snowfall, Glen Ellen posted a net loss of $84,700 for its first season.
To The Summit
Upper Glen Ellen |
Glen Ellen finally received the green light to expand to the summit in late July 1964, picking up a 59-acre permit from the United States Forest Service. Plans were quickly announced to take delivery of a new chairlift for the end of the summer and to construct the Glen House near its base. Six new trails were added, boosting the trail count to 19.
Other changes included a sun duck on the base lodge and pavement on the access road. With neighbor Sugarbush advertising "greatest vertical rise in east" courtesy its top to bottom gondola, Glen Ellen carried the "greatest vertical descent in east" slogan with its tiered chairlifts and 2,645 foot vertical drop. Phase III expansion plans were also publicized around this time, to begin in 1965. Two chairlifts approaching General Stark Mountain were announced, serving 8 trails. In concert with the expansion, a 50-acre village of chalets, lodges and inns, restaurants, and shops was planned near the base lodge.
The area picked up eight inches of snow at elevation on Columbus Day weekend, resulting in impromptu snow cat rides for about a dozen skiers. The 1964-65 season launched on a rainy December 12th with free skiing in honor of the new summit chairlift. Flanked by bagpipers, Governor Philip Hoff dedicated the new lift by telling Elliott, "You made this dream come true and I want to congratulate you."
Glen Ellen and other areas in the region struggled with poor snowfall until a storm of substance finally hit later in January. Revenue surpassed the first season's total on February 25, but was still significantly less than expected. Though the season extended into at least mid-April, the area posted a net loss of $88,600 for its sophomore season.
Around this time, plans were publicized for constructing the Inn at Glen Ellen. A $250,000 building was announced, designed by Marcel Beaudin, with 30 rooms to be ready by December 1965. In addition, three new trails and a base lodge expansion were announced. Details about the expansion emerged as the fall arrived, with the new trail count increasing to five, including Lower FIS, High Road, and Royal Tartan. Lift lines toward General Stark Mountain were also reportedly cut, with new chairlifts proposed for 1966. The upper portion of the proposed area would "put Glen Ellen ski terrain back to back with Mad River Glen's Catamount Bowl," according to the Burlington Free Press. Bruno Hennessey, a European lift engineer, was hired to design and supervise the terrain and lift expansion. New wings were added to the base lodge, reportedly doubling dining space and adding a nursery. A dedication ceremony with Governor Hoff was announced for December 18.
The 1965-66 season reportedly started on the weekend before Thanksgiving, thanks to a foot to a foot and a half of early season snow. A photo of a hunter dragging a deer across a slope on opening day made regional newspapers. Governor Hoff dedicated the Royal Tartan trail and $60,000 base lodge addition on December 18, once again flanked by bagpipers. By this point, reported base depths were approaching two to three feet. The area enjoyed a strong start to the Christmas week before warm weather ushered in the New Year. Despite the thaw, revenue was reportedly 110% ahead of the prior season.
A 1966 race diagram |
The first race on the new Lower FIS trail was held in late January, when Dave Irish of St. Michael's College won the Glen Ellen Senior Downhill. The Eastern Amateur Junior Alpine Championship was held one month later, with Duncan Cullman winning the overall race and Marilyn, Barbara, and Bobby Cochran earning slots on the Eastern Junior Alpine team.
Reported base depths peaked at over two to six feet at the end of calendar winter. While neighbor Sugarbush closed in mid-April due to a lack of skiers, Glen Ellen announced plans to continue until May 1, making it possibly only the third area in state history to reach the month.
Meanwhile, Fayston voters refused to extend a tax abatement for the planned lodging facility. Despite the setback, Elliott announced the 42-unit Inn at Glen Ellen would be moving forward in April 1966. Designed by Marcel Beaudin, the $500,0000 inn was to include amenities such a lounge, a ski locker room, a salon, a recreation room, a pool, a tennis court, and a stable. Air conditioning was also included in the design to anticipate hot summer days. Future plans included 24 additional units.
A brush fire broke out while crews were clearing new trails on the mountain in late October 1966, resulting in 30 acres of burned grass and leaves.
A ski patrol building was lifted onto the top of the ski area via helicopter in late November, leading Walt Elliott to pronounce it "the highest building in Vermont."
The 1966-67 season kicked off in early December. A lack of snow hampered skiing leading into Christmas weekend, but two subsequent snowstorms boosted business in advance of New Year's weekend.
Glen Ellen hosted the Eastern Senior Alpine Championship in March. Karen Middleton won the women's title, while future Woodbury owner Rod Taylor won the men's title. Spring came quickly, likely ending the season at the start of April.
As one of a select few ski areas in the Northeast that had adequate vertical, Glen Ellen was considered as a potential venue for a 1976 Olympic bid. Though Waterbury put its hat in the ring, the town subsequently withdrew its bid due to a lack of funds. Walt Elliott turned his attention to seeking to host the FIS championships.
Construction on the long-awaited Inn at Glen Ellen started in June 1967. Now carrying a price tag of $600,000, the facility was slated to open in December. Off-season work on the ski area was focused on removing rocks and stumps from FIS and the new trails in the future Inverness area. Test borings were also reportedly drilled to locate a water supply for a future snowmaking installation due to the "whimsicality of Vermont weather," according to the Rutland Daily Herald.
Nearly two feet of snow fell a few days before Thanksgiving, allowing for Glen Ellen's second November opening in five seasons. Subsequent rain dampened lower mountain skiing, but high elevation trails were described by the resort as "unbelievable." As Christmas week arrived, upper mountain conditions continued to be reported as strong, while the lower mountain dealt with bare spots. Subsequent snow reportedly boosted New Year's business.
Glen Ellen hosted its first annual Eastern Continental Gelandesprung in January 1968, attracting amateur and professional skiers to the jumping competition. The event was won by Rod Taylor.
A warm, wet start to spring likely brought the season to a close after the first weekend of April with skiing on the upper mountain only.
After five seasons of varying lengths, Glen Ellen installed snowmaking in 1968. A 2.5 million gallon pond was constructed near the base lodge, with pipelines installed in the novice chairlift area. Twenty-nine snow guns were purchased for the initial installation. A new upper mountain trail was also reportedly cut that off-season. New chairs were installed on the novice chairlift, while the existing novice chairlift chairs were moved to the Mountain and Summit lifts to boost uphill capacity by 30%. Styrofoam seat pads were added to those chairlifts to make the rides less cold. Former French ski team member Pierre Stamos was named ski school director, while Tommy Baird took over as operations manager. Diversifying its reach, Glen Ellen joined Pico, Magic, and Haystack to offer a joint season pass. Meanwhile, construction on the Inn at Glen Ellen had reportedly ceased, as general contractor Hall Associates filed suit over delinquent payments.
A large, early season snow storm allowed Glen Ellen to open in mid-November 1968. Though early skiing was welcome, the storm delayed the installation of snowmaking. Lower mountain skiing was initially limited, but by mid-January, Glen Ellen was reporting base depths of 4 to 8 feet. A month later, the snow reports exceeded 5 to 9 feet, but the financial situation remained concerning. The Rutland Herald reported rumors that the ski area was for sale due to an accumulated $250,000 in debt, and that Elliott was seeking a $1 million capital infusion.
The deep base depths persisted well into the spring of 1969, allowing Glen Ellen to operate the Summit Chair into the first weekend of May.
Lightning struck the top terminal of the Summit Chair in mid-July 1969. Due to the rugged terrain, staff was unable to get to the scene in time to save the top terminal and lift shack.
Changes for the 1969-70 season included a rebuilt top terminal for the summit chair, possibly completing the novice area snowmaking system, and cutting a new novice trail. The season kicked off on one manmade trail after Thanksgiving. Skiing was limited in December due to a lack of natural snow and the on-going rebuild of the Summit Chair. To mark the reopening of the lift, Glen Ellen offered free skiing on Christmas Day.
Racing at Glen Ellen |
Glen Ellen co-hosted the US National Alpine Championships in March of 1970, where Patty Boydstun won the Womens Slalom title. Mad River Glen hosted the Giant Slalom event.
The Inverness area received its chairlift for the 1971-72 season, dramatically improving access to the terrain in the "West Bowl."
Woes
Glen Ellen circa the early 1970s |
On March 11, 1972, a chairlift rollback occurred, resulting in five injuries. Shortly thereafter, Glen Ellen also hosted the Northern American Alpine Junior Championships, receiving bad ink in publications as far away as The Desert News. A racing division president was quoted as saying, "[i]t was probably one of the sorriest races of the season. The weather, broken chairlifts and snow conditions didn't help any."
In the fall of 1972, real estate agent Gina van Loon and energy consultant Ken Brown purchased the assets of Glen Ellen Corp. for a reported $2 million. Sno Engineering was hired to help fix the problematic lifts.
The energy crisis combined with back to back rough winters resulted in Glen Ellen going bankrupt in 1974. Walt Elliott was then brought in by the banks to operate the area for the 1974-75 season.
Former Stratton General Manager and Canadian Olympian Harvey Clifford took over Glen Ellen in 1975, purchasing it in 1976. Clifford's tenure would be brief, however, as Roy Cohen's Solon Automated Services purchased Sugarbush in November of 1977 and had its eyes set on at least one more ski area.
Glen Ellen Becomes Sugarbush North
On July 10, 1978, Wildcat founder Brooks Dodge ended up in a coma when his Schempp HS-7 glider crashed at a soaring event in Massachusetts. Two days later at the same event, Glen Ellen founder Walt Elliott was killed when his Schempp-Hirth Cirrus glider crashed in Fitchburg. He was 50. Glen Ellen as he knew it would only survive a few months longer.
In the fall 1978, Solon Automated Services acquired Glen Ellen, quickly dropping the original name for Sugarbush North. Initial reports were that the two areas would be connected by trails and lifts, followed by a connection to Mad River Glen. In the end, the two Sugarbush ski areas would only be connected by shuttle service until the installation of the Slide Brook Express chairlift in 1995.
Expansion History
Image Gallery
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. Window price, including RFID fee and taxes when known.
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $13.00 |  | | | | | | | | | | 1977-78 | | | | | | November 27 | | | | | | 1976-77 | $12.00 | | $275.00 | | 22.9 days | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $11.00 | | | | | December 22 | | | | | | 1974-75 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $10.00 | | | | | December 8 | | | | | | 1972-73 | $9.00 | | | | | December 16 | March 25 | | | | | 1971-72 | $9.50 | | | | | November 25 | | | | | | 1970-71 | $9.50 | | $180.00 | | 18.9 days | November 26 | May 23 | | | | | 1969-70 | $9.00 | | $170.00 | | 18.9 days | November 28 | May 5 | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $9.00 | | $150.00 | | 16.7 days | November 16 | May 4 | | | | | 1967-68 | $8.00 | | $135.00 | | 16.9 days | November 23 | April 7 | | | | | 1966-67 | $8.00 | | $135.00 | | 16.9 days | December 3 | April 2 | | | | | 1965-66 | | | | | | November 20 | May 1 | | | | | 1964-65 | $6.50 | | $110.00 | | 16.9 days | December 12 | | | | | | 1963-64 | $6.50 | | | | | December 14 | April 12 | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I grew up on the ski school at Glenn Ellen as the assistant director of the ski school in the early 1970s this was a great time and also where I won the Gelunda sprung championships in 1973. What a thrill. I am visiting this area again now 52 years later and to show My Wife the scene of the crimes. lol." | | R. Scott Cameron, Aug. 22, 2025 | | "had great uncrowded runs on not hard trails." | | Noah Meyers, Feb. 22, 2025 | | "I belonged to the Glen Ellen French Ski School at the end of the 60’s. My friend Pierre Stamos, former French National Team member asked me to come to Glen Ellen to help him running the ski school and organize the racing programs.
I arrived before Thanksgiving as I had to race at the Nastar Pacesetter trials in Waterville Valley. I came by bus from Montreal airport to Burlington where Tony Egan the marketing director of the ski area waited for me at the Greyhound depot.
Pierre and I rented a chalet in Moretown north of Waitsfield.
Walt Elliot wanted people to learn the French alpine skiing method following the success of the French Ski Team (Jean-Claude Killy) at the Grenoble Olympics in 1968. The season 1969-1970 was the beginning of the Nastar program at Glen Ellen. I was the qualified pacesetter with a 4 handicap. Then we organized the North American Alpine Championships in March 1970. We had a downhill and a slalom. I remember setting the slalom course and being one of the downhill forerunners. The GS was set on the slope of Mad River because the Inverness lift had a mechanical failure.
All the French ski instructors were from the same area in Haute-Savoie (Morzine, Les Gets an Chamonix).
We had a great time. The weekend atmosphere at the lodge was quite joyful. We had ski movie presentations( Warren Miller)as well as aerobatic skiing (Tom Leroy and Herman Goellner) as well as the famous Harvey Wallbanger sponsored evenings.
I learned about cold and windy climates , skiing on black ice from the top of Mt. Ellen down to the lodge. Even our ultra-sharp edges could not bite into this “concrete ice, so we would ski down between the trees along the lift line grabbing the branches.
Good memories of Walt Elliott and his wife Cynthia." | | Patrick Wahle, May. 27, 2024 | | "I remember skiing GE between 1967-1969 in my high school years. I do not believe I went back after that. We "stumbled" upon GE while visiting MRG and Sugarbush. I recall the long ride up the first double chair and then the steep rise on the summit chair. FIS always looked intimidating and was usually closed until February-March but was a great run when it finally opened. There was no snowmaking or much grooming in those days. I enjoyed the other runs off the top and the cruisers to the right of the lower double. It was long run top to bottom. Good memories of skiing in the 60's. I still love it and chase my grandkids around now." | | Mark Rice, Dec. 23, 2022 | | "I remember learning to ski there as a teenager. The instructor’s spoke French so I don’t remember if they we from France or French Canadian? I just thought it was cool. I still have the little Glen Ellen pins from the ski school that I got over 50 years ago along with some patches. I loved taking my spring break from school and being able to still go up in the mountains and have snow and an occasional spring storm with fresh power- it was wonderful!" | | Debbie Walters, Dec. 21, 2022 | | "My first ski trip was to Glen Ellen in January, 1972. I was 18. It was $22.50 for 5-1/2 days lift ticket (Sunday afternoon through Friday) and it included a group lesson on each weekday (5 lessons). The normal price was $45.00 at the time, but it was half price in January. Stayed at the Snuggery which was a few miles away." | | Bob Kraft, Dec. 3, 2022 | | "I am the daughter of Walton and Cynthia Elliott. I was privileged to have grown up on Mt. Ellen. My home in the 60s was probably the first ski on/ski off home in the states. My parents' vision is legendary. I love hearing the stories. Keep them coming!!!!!" | | tracie elliott, Aug. 28, 2022 | | "We skied Mad River and one day tried Glen Ellen Went to top, got off lift and was terrified Husband expert'- not me! Took me all day to get down!! Don't remember how many kick turns Unfortunately we never went back! This was 1966-67. " | | Bobbye laubenheimer, Feb. 5, 2022 | | "I started on Glen Ellen volunteer Ski Patrol in the early 60's. Every weekend from Thanksgiving to closing was spent patrolling Glen Ellen. Lots of memories. BUT, the most important: the first Saturday in March 1969 there was a line for the main chairlift when I got to the lift so I called for a single (as we were required to do). The person who responded was Robert Sonderman. March 2019 we hope to return to Glen Ellen with family to celebrate 50 years of our meeting and December 9th last year (2017) we celebrated 45 years of marriage. THANK YOU GLEN ELLEN!!!!!!!!!! from Robert and Linda Sonderman " | | Linda Curtis Sonderman, Jan. 1, 2018 | | "I remember skiing at Glen Ellen on opening day in 1963. It was awesome!
I still ski there most of the time." | | Karl Rinker, Dec. 16, 2017 | | "1967 senior ski trip from North Country School (Lake Placid). Loved it, loved it, loved it." | | david gierlach, Dec. 8, 2017 | | "I loved skiing Glen Ellen (as well as Sugarbush)... The GLADES especially... skiing slowly in between the white birch and fir trees laden with new snow... NO noise - just the skis and bindings squeaking... no wind... just snowing softly - but accumulating quickly on the trees and trails... Oh my... what great memories from the early 1970's... Glen Ellen was wonderful...
" | | Dave Lockwood, Aug. 2, 2017 |
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External Links
Sugarbush Resort - official site
Mt. Ellen - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
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Last updated: September 2, 2025
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