|
| Stowe Mountain Resort |
| Stowe, Vermont |
| Status: |
Open
|
| First Season: | 1936-37 |
| Vertical Drop: | 2160 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | 2 gondolas, 3 high speed quads, 1 quad, 2 triples, 2 doubles, surface lifts |
| Past Lifts: | 1 gondola, 1 high speed quad, 5 doubles, 1 single, surface lifts |
| Left: The Stowe base area (likely early 1940s) |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
|
| 6/1/2023: Plans Emerge for Smugglers Notch to Stow... | | 11/6/2022: Mid-Fall Lift Construction Continues | | 10/16/2021: Sugarbush Sets New England Record with $... | | 9/24/2021: Vail Announces Four New Lifts for 2022 |
 |
|
Located on the eastern shoulder of the tallest mountain Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort has long been known as a premiere New England ski destination.
CCC Days
Stowe's focus on winter sports dates back to at least 1921, when forester and landowner Craig Burt helped to organize the first Winter Carnival with a goal of boosting the town's economy during the long winter months. A dozen years later, the Bruce Trail was cut leading to the Ranch Camp, which had been recently renovated by Burt and his sons. The new trail was the site of the first Mt. Mansfield ski race in February of 1934. Construction of the Barnes Trail started soon thereafter, later becoming better known as the Nose Dive Trail.
Lift serviced skiing at present day Stowe started when Burt, the Mt. Mansfield Ski Club, and Sepp Ruschp opened a rope tow on the Toll House slope on February 7, 1937. Skiing at Mt. Mansfield was billed as "the best skiing in the East" that season, according to The Boston Globe. Facilities were improved and a rope tow was installed at the State Shelter for the following season.
More trails were cut throughout the late 1930s, including Lord and Rim Rock. Meanwhile, on May 31, 1939, a group including Ruschp, Perry Merrill, and Charlie Lord scouted a potential chairlift installation with the goal of establishing Stowe as a world class winter destination.
A Chairlift Is Built
The single chairlift circa the 1940s |
On November 17, 1940, Ruschp, Lowell Thomas, and Roland Palmedo's Mt. Mansfield Lift, Inc. made national headlines when it opened what was billed as the longest and highest chairlift in the world, at 6,330 feet in length and 2,030 feet in vertical. Though it broke down on its first day operation (with dozens of reporters on board), the single chairlift would remain a fixture at the mountain for nearly half a century.
While many ski areas closed during World War II, Stowe remained a winter destination, with skiers relying upon trains and busses for travel. According to Charlie Lord, the chairlift could not be operated more than 6 hours per day or 6 days per week, due to fuel rationing. New trails were still added, including the Skimeister Trail circa the winter of 1941-42.
The Mt. Mansfield T-Bar circa the 1950s |
Meanwhile, American International Group (AIG) founder Cornelius Van der "C.V." Starr visited Stowe and quickly fell in love with the area while establishing a close business relationship with Ruschp. Starr's long history of financing and owning the ski area started circa 1946, when the Mt. Mansfield T-Bar opened, thanks in large part to his funds. Around that time, five separate companies owned the various aspects of the ski area. Starr acquired thousands of acres of land and gradually purchased majority shares in the companies, rolling them into Mt. Mansfield Co. by the time 1950 drew to a close.
Development of Spruce Peak (1956) |
Spruce Peak debuted for the 1949-50 season, initially served by rope tows. While a chairlift was originally planned for the following season, only a T-Bar would be constructed. The Spruce Peak double chairlift was eventually installed for the 1954-55 season.
Many changes were made for the 1956-57 season, led by a new T-Bar on expanded Toll House terrain. The Spruce Peak T-Bar, Spruce Peak Double, and Mt. Mansfield Single were modified to improve capacity and/or reliability, while a new base building opened at the base of Spruce.
A second chairlift was added to the top of the main mountain for the 1960-61 season, easing demand on the aging single chairlift. Three years later, a chairlift was added on the lower half of Spruce Peak to augment the T-Bar and existing chairlift.
The 1964-65 season got off to a bad start throughout New England, with rainy, 60 degree weather arriving at Christmas. Many areas were placed rough financial shape, including Stowe. Sepp Ruschp estimated Stowe's losses at $700,000. With snowmaking quickly becoming the norm, Stowe risked being left behind.
Stowe pioneer Craig Burt passed away on April 14, 1965 at the age of 82.
Though Stowe was primarily known for skiing, Mt. Mansfield was a popular summer destination. In June 1967, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson visited the area and took a ride on the Mt. Mansfield Double Chairlift, accompanied by a Secret Service agent. The occasion was later covered in Sports Illustrated.
Snowmaking arrived at Stowe for the 1967-68 season, initially covering 30 acres on the West and East slopes of Spruce Peak. Featuring roughly 30 guns, the $350,000 installation reached halfway up the Little Spruce Double.
A Gondola Is Built
The gondola circa the late 1960s |
Stowe's largest expansion to date took place starting in the late 1960s, as new terrain was developed between the existing chairlift pods. A gondola was selected for the uphill transportation, reportedly because it could get skiers up the mountain 50% faster than a chairlift, while also being designed to minimize wind exposure. The gondola on the new Chin area started operating in either November or December of 1968, adding "a completely new dimension to skiing at Stowe," according to Sepp Ruschp. Also included in the $2 million development were base and summit lodges as well as five trails. Sadly, just as the new dimension was about to start, C.V. Starr passed away on December 20 at the age of 76.
The 1970s
The Toll House T-Bar (1971) |
Growth in the 1970s was stifled by the horrible 1973-74 season, during which the Associated Press quipped that Stowe's motto, "There's always snow at Stowe," was "barely given truth to the adage." A 38% drop in revenue reportedly required Sepp Ruschp to borrow $1.5 million to keep the ski area going. For the 1974-75 season, Stowe's capital outlays were limited to lift and slope maintenance. The 1975-76 season didn't move the area forward financially, as heavy rains resulted in an earlier than expected closing in which the area just barely covered its costs. Ruschp retired from day to day operations following the 1976-77 season, with former RockResorts executive Vern Johnson replacing him as president of Mt. Mansfield Company.
As the late 1970s arrived, the Vermont ski industry was growing. Killington was rapidly expanding its resort, while also acquiring Mt. Snow. Meanwhile, Sugarbush acquired Glen Ellen and marketed it as one large ski area.
As Vern Johnson took the reins at Stowe, a new cross country ski center was created. Meanwhile, in late 1977 Johnson announced a planning effort for a larger expansion, which initially considered upgrading the single chairlift to a double and improving the snowmaking system (since it was still limited to lower mountain novice slopes). Months later, plans solidified into a three year, $10 million project that included snowmaking (to expand the season from mid-November to late April), a new lift, lodge improvements, and an alpine slide. The alpine slide proposal drew local opposition, as locals feared it would attract "an undesirable element" and harm property values. Vern Johnson vowed to remove the slide if it "in any way depreciates land value."
Though Stowe had hoped to obtain state financing to advance the plan, a bill known as the "Stowe Relief Act" was tabled that spring amidst rumors that the resort was being sold. Nevertheless, the first phase of the expansion moved forward, as the $400,000 alpine slide debuted on July 12, 1979. The 2,300 foot long, 380 foot vertical twin slides were expected to bring 150,000 people to Stowe each year.
In addition to the alpine slide, $4 million was invested into other improvements in 1979, including expanding snowmaking to 70 acres on Mt. Mansfield, installing a new Riblet double chairlift to increase uphill capacity, and cutting two new trails.
Snowmaking improvements and trail widening continued for the 1981-82 season, as the Perry Merrill, Gondoller, and Lord Trails were reworked. Around this time, Dick Tanch was named Mountain Manager, replacing the retiring Harry Simoneau.
Circa 1982, Vern Johnson departed and Dick Tanch took over as general manager. Spruce saw a $2.2 million upgrade for the 1982-83 season, when side by side double chairlifts were installed in conjunction with an expanded base lodge.
Stowe in the 1980s |
Terrain expansion was again eyed for the early to mid 1980s, this time focusing on the Saddle area between the main mountain and gondola complexes. For unknown reasons, this was not constructed. Instead, the static trail footprint and aging infrastructure were contrasting starkly with the huge growth of Stowe's competitors. Taking the helm of the Mt. Mansfield Company in 1989, Gary Kiedaisch later reflected, "This was a gem with a very, very strong brand name, but it was tarnished. It was a Ferrari race car with flat tires and they kept running it around the track. Meanwhile, all these Pintos were passing it."
An mid 1990s Stowe advertisement |
The aging infrastructure was addressed starting in 1986, when the original single chairlift and parallel double chairlift were replaced with the Forerunner Quad, the first high speed detachable quad in New England. Five years later, the famous Stowe gondola was replaced with a new Poma gondola. Lights were installed in conjunction with the new lift, making Stowe one of the few big mountain night skiing areas in the state.
Sepp Ruschp passed away on June 8, 1990 at the age of 81.
Significant snowmaking improvements were made for the 1994-95 season, as new tower guns and pipe were installed on Life Line, Perry Merrill, Lord, Sunrise, and Standard. Following the 1996-97 season, Gary Kiedaisch departed for Bolle, while former Killington President Hank Lunde took over the Mt. Mansfield Company. Citing a loss of nearly 50% of its market share over the past two decades, Lunde began a push for a new snowmaking pipeline and real estate development.
2000s Modernization
The Fourrunner Quad (2011) |
The core of the real estate development was at the base of Spruce Peak, which was improved with two new high speed quads and eventually tied to the rest of the ski area with the installation of the Over Easy Gondola for the 2006-07 season. Following that season, Lunde stepped away from day to day management, as luxury resort executive Robert McEleney was hired as President to unify the company's diverse operations. Meanwhile, in the midst of a major redevelopment of Spruce Peak, Stowe was eventually affected by the financial problems plaguing owner AIG. As a result, AIG spun off Stowe to a new subsidiary company called Chartis at the end of 2009.
After sticking to its conservative trail count for years, Stowe gave into the industry trend of counting uppers and lowers starting with the 2007-08 season. Using the new methodology, Stowe's trail count grew from 48 to 116. Citing lack of skier visits Stowe discontinued night skiing following the 2007-08 season.
For the 2011-12 season, the original Forerunner Quad was replaced with a new high speed quad, named the Fourrunner. Meanwhile, Chartis was rebranded back to AIG in late 2012.
After nearly a quarter of a century of operation, Stowe's alpine slide closed following the 2013 off season. The Little Spruce area was then revitalized following the 2013-14 season, as the Alpine and Easy Street doubles were removed and replaced with a new fixed grip quad.
Stowe President and CEO Robert McEleney retired in the fall of 2016, with Chief Operating Officer Barry Pius being promoted to take his place. McEleney passed away on May 15, 2019 at the age of 70.
In June 2017, Vail Resorts acquired Stowe for $41 million, ending the roughly 70 year AIG-related ownership of the ski area. Bobby Murphy was named General Manager, taking over for Barry Pius. Initial capital investments focused on expanding parking at the ski area.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| January | 95% (1 report) |  | | February | 99% (2 reports) | | | March | 97% (2 reports) | |
|
| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Mar. 22, 2024 by kbgkgould
Packed Powder, Powder |
 | Mar. 13, 2024 by tuckers
Spring Snow, Wet Powder |
| Feb. 7, 2021 by nhalex
Packed Powder, Frozen Granular |
| Feb. 6, 2021 by nhalex
Powder, Packed Powder |
| Jan. 5, 2017 by nordicgal
Packed Powder, Frozen Granular |
|
|
| Stowe Mountain Resort on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com |
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
| Recent Articles |
| Plans Emerge for Smugglers Notch to Stowe Lift - Jun. 1, 2023 | | Mid-Fall Lift Construction Continues - Nov. 6, 2022 | | Sugarbush Sets New England Record with $170 Lift Ticket - Oct. 16, 2021 | | Vail Announces Four New Lifts for 2022 - Sep. 24, 2021 | | Vail Releases Information About 2020-21 Operations - Aug. 27, 2020 | | Stowe Sets New England Record with $147 Lift Ticket - Dec. 19, 2018 | | Vermont Lift Ticket Prices Up 8% - Nov. 27, 2017 | | Vail Proposes Additional Parking Expansion at Stowe - Sep. 23, 2017 | | Vail Completes Stowe Transaction, Plans Parking Expansion - Jun. 9, 2017 | | Vail Resorts Announces Purchase of Stowe - Feb. 21, 2017 | | Stowe Mountain Resort NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Page |
CCC Trails
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
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2023-24 | $223.63 | | $1025.00 | | 4.6 days | November 17 | April 21 | | | | | 2022-23 | $200.34 | | $949.00 | | 4.7 days | November 19 | April 16 | | | | | 2021-22 | $173.84 | | $819.00 | | 4.7 days | November 26 | April 17 | | | | | 2020-21 | $147.34 | | $1099.00 | | 7.5 days | November 25 | April 18 | | | | | 2019-20 | $147.34 | | $989.00 | | 6.7 days | November 22 | March 14 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $147.34 | | $949.00 | | 6.4 days | November 16 | April 21 | | | | | 2017-18 | $131.00 | | $899.00 | | 6.9 days | November 17 | April 15 | | | | | 2016-17 | $124.00 | | $2313.00 | | 18.7 days | November 23 | April 23 | | | | | 2015-16 | $115.00 | | $2224.00 | | 19.3 days | November 25 | April 24 | | | | | 2014-15 | $108.00 | | $2138.00 | | 19.8 days | November 15 | April 19 | | | | | 2013-14 | $98.00 | | $2138.00 | | 21.8 days | November 16 | April 20 | | | | | 2012-13 | $92.00 | | $2056.00 | | 22.3 days | November 17 | April 21 | | | | | 2011-12 | $92.00 | | $1996.00 | | 21.7 days | November 23 | April 1 | | | | | 2010-11 | $89.00 | | $1879.00 | | 21.1 days | November 24 | April 17 | 330,000 | | | | 2009-10 | $89.00 | | $1815.00 | | 20.4 days | December 6 | April 11 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $89.00 | | $1766.00 | | 19.8 days | November 16 | April 19 | | | | | 2007-08 | $84.00 | | $1635.00 | | 19.5 days | | April 20 | | | | | 2006-07 | $76.00 | | $1570.00 | | 20.7 days | | April 29 | | | | | 2005-06 | $76.00 | | $1507.00 | | 19.8 days | | April 22 | | | | | 2004-05 | $65.00 | | $1435.00 | | 22.1 days | November 19 | April 22 | | | | | 2003-04 | $62.00 | | $1415.00 | | 22.8 days | November 22 | April 18 | | | | | 2002-03 | $60.00 | | $1380.00 | | 23.0 days | November 20 | | | | | | 2001-02 | $58.00 | | $1350.00 | | 23.3 days | November 16 | | | | | | 2000-01 | $56.00 | | $1290.00 | | 23.0 days | November 18 | | | | | | 1999-00 | | | $1290.00 | | | | | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | | | | | | | April 18 | | | | | 1997-98 | $50.00 | | $1230.00 | | 24.6 days | November 15 | | | | | | 1995-96 | $48.00 | | | | | November 17 | | 371,000 | | | | 1994-95 | $43.00 | | | | | | April 16 | | | | | 1992-93 | $39.00 | | | | | November 13 | | | | | | 1991-92 | $39.00 | | | | | November 28 | | | | | | 1990-91 | $38.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $36.00 | | $950.00 | | 26.4 days | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $35.00 | | | | | November 24 | May 4 | | | | | 1987-88 | $33.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $29.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1984-85 | $26.00 | | $700.00 | | 26.9 days | November 21 | | | | | | 1983-84 | $24.00 | | $700.00 | | 29.2 days | | | | | | | 1982-83 | $23.00 | | $615.00 | | 26.7 days | | April 18 | | | | | 1981-82 | $21.00 | | | | | November 25 | | | | | | 1980-81 | $19.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1979-80 | $16.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $15.00 | | | | | November 24 | March 24 | | | | | 1977-78 | $15.00 | | | | | November 27 | April 23 | | | | | 1976-77 | $14.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $12.00 | | | | | | April 4 | | | | | 1974-75 | $12.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $10.00 | | | | | November 27 | | | | | | 1970-71 | $10.00 | | | | | November 26 | | | | | | 1969-70 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1967-68 | | | | | | November 23 | | | | | | 1966-67 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1965-66 | | | | | | November 20 | | | | | | 1963-64 | $6.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $6.50 | | | | | December 10 | | | | | | 1961-62 | $6.50 | | | | | December 15 | April 15 | | | | | 1960-61 | $6.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1959-60 | $6.50 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1950s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1957-58 | | | | | | | | 140,000 | | | | 1955-56 | | | | | | October 26 | | | | | | 1952-53 | | | | | | December 13 | | | | | | 1949-50 | | | | | | November 26 | April 23 | | | |
| 1940s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1945-46 | | | | | | | April 1 | | | |
| 1930s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1936-37 | $1.00 | | $5.00 | | 5.0 days | February 7 | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I've skied there from I was ye young
I love riding the lookout double so
I also liked the other lifts but that one is my favorite
lift of all
" | | Eli mccreight, Apr. 5, 2023 | | "Reading these comments bring back memories of the old Stowe. An annual trip with my father, we stayed at Andersen's. Knut Andersen was a great cook, I remember. The book of tickets, I remember those as well. And the Mt. Mansfield Tbar, the single chair, and the heavy blankets." | | Richard Payer, Nov. 11, 2021 | | "My family and I went to Stowe in the summer of 1954, when I was 8. My uncle was a chef at The Lodge. We rode the chairlift and visited the Trapp Family Lodge. I remember meeting Maria, who would eventually become famous when The Sound of Music was made. It was a wonderful visit. Lots of memories." | | Antoinette Punzavitz, Jul. 5, 2021 | | "As a 4th grade student from NJ, my parents took my brother and I to Stowe in 1964. Your photos in the older lifts portion were a trip down memory lane. I remember the toll house t-bar , riding the single chair and skiing the toll road trail as a 9yr old. Thank-you NewEnglandSkiHistory.com . " | | Mark Schaefer, Jan. 7, 2019 | | "My father, Clem Curtis, was recruited by Sepp Ruschp in the 1930's as one of the first certified ski instructors. He was also an exhibition ski jumper, and he taught skiing to the troops as a 10th Mountain Division member. He later helped lay out lift lines and cut ski trails for The Mountain Company, and managed the Summit House on Mt. Mansfield from 1948-1956. He was given a lifetime pass when he left the Mountain Company to start a construction company. He built and operated the original Stowe Motel, and also built a vacation home in Stowe for Tom Watson, from IBM. " | | Mary Curtis Skelton, Mar. 9, 2017 | | "Left Boston in 1990 to become a ski bum at Stowe. Worked at the muffin ski shop where I rented skis and delivered the fresh tune skis to every inn on the access road. This was when AIG was leaning on all the small inns and right before some modifications to the resort I rember some inns still having the sixties and seventies feel and feeling the mountain was not keeping up... boy was I wrong it really is a true New England resort, especially since I live in California and have not seen the resort in several years after skiing the sierras for many years I understand why the east produces great skiers a lot of them from Stowe I will never forget the steeple or the folks I met there....... " | | Paul Lahaye, Feb. 15, 2015 | | "We used to go up a lot Once was when shuttle did not make it 29 years agoMy ski mister said they used to get coupon books to ride single I rember the wool blankets on cold days to ride up withLastly we went Stowe for Easter spring skiing them head up to Jay for winter skiing on Sunday" | | Stanley shepard, Jan. 29, 2015 | | "Climbed the mountain from the west several times while a student at Middlebury. My wife, Milly, and I spent our honeymoon at Stowe in 1957. Then you bought coupons for rides on the chairlift. Still have a book of them. I think that it cost .90 per ride or ten rides for 8.00." | | Matt Baker, Oct. 18, 2014 | | "I remember the day tickets starting at $16 in the late 70's. The tickets themselves were shaped liked the Gondola. In the early 70's, Stowe was using coupon books." | | Peter Benoliel, Mar. 26, 2014 | | "My Father's 1st trip to Stowe (Mt. Mansfield) was in 1939 an he stayed at Barnes Camp Inn that was owned by Chelsea Lyons. My 1st trip there was in March 1944, just after my 12th birthday. We returned almost every spring (from Buffalo, N.Y.) until we bought land and moved to Waitsfield, Vt. (Mad River Glen) to build and operate the first ski lodge in Waitsfield in 1949. (Ski Center Lodge) My memories of Stowe and many of the local people there then will be in my mind forever." | | Anders, jr Hengsteler, Oct. 7, 2013 |
|
External Links
Stowe Mountain Resort - official site
Mt. Mansfield - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
|
Last updated: October 26, 2021
|
