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Located in Southern Vermont, Stratton Mountain is one of the tallest peaks in New England at 3,936 feet in elevation.
Early Attempts
Stratton during the 1961-62 season |
Interest in alpine skiing on Stratton Mountain dates back to at least the mid-1930s, when the Bennington Banner noted that Stratton, Haystack Mountain, and Glastenbury Mountain could "provide opportunity for ski running on a scale big enough to attract but it will take a lot of money to make runs available and the snow can hardly be trusted to last until the end of March, as it is supposed to in a first clas [sic] ski country."
Despite the potential, no proposals were publicized over the next two decades. Meanwhile, ski areas were constructed to the tops of other nearby 3,000 foot peaks, such as Bromley Mountain, Pisgah Mountain, and Ludlow Mountain.
Word of a possible development on Stratton Mountain began to emerge in the spring of 1957. One year later, a group called the Stratton Mountain Development Corp. began publicizing plans for a $4 million development, which would include a 10,000 foot gondola. The proposal reportedly included a mountain-top city to be designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The deal reportedly fell through when the property owner, International Paper Co., was unwilling to agree to a $20,000 per year lease for 4,000 acres of land.
The Stratton Corporation
Elmer Argast, Gerald Morrissey, and Edward Janeway at the base area in 1960 |
A different proposal emerged in late 1959, reportedly including some previous promoters. The $3 million project would include an 8,000 foot double chairlift, a lower mountain chairlift, a 100-room inn, a 38-acre lake, and an 18-hole golf course. In December, selectmen from 8 towns petitioned the state to build a three- to four-mile access road so that construction could start as soon as the spring of 1960.
In January 1960, Robert Wright and Herbert "Tink" Smith presented plans to area groups as they prepared a stock offering. By the point, the scope of the project was 1,200 acres and the lodging facility had been changed to a 400-room hotel. Around this time, Frank Snyder purchased the Lincoln Maples Inn in Bondville, which would soon become the headquarters for the Stratton Corporation.
Progress on the access road was slow. The then-Stratton Mountain Corp. worked to create goodwill by sponsoring the 120th anniversary of Daniel Webster's speech to the Whig Log Cabin Convention in Stratton.
On July 5, 1960, Stratton Corporation was established in the State of Vermont, dropping "Mountain" from the entity name.
Frank Snyder was named president of the new company. A native of Great Neck, New York, Snyder was a Harvard graduate and a World War II veteran, joining his father at Moore and Munger in 1951 and becoming president before the end of the decade. A skier, Snyder was reportedly brought into the Stratton proposal by Robert Wright.
Robert Wright was named vice president of ski operations. A veteran of the 10th Mountain Division during World War II, "Rainbow" Wright had coached and led construction projects at the Norwich University ski area after teaching and coaching at Paul Smith's College.
Herbert "Tink" Smith was named chairman of the board and treasurer. Smith had spent years with his family's lumber business and reportedly obtained the land agreement with International Paper Co.
Elmer Argast was named vice president and comptroller, becoming the first general manager. A native of Newark, New Jersey, Argast had served in the Army during World War II, worked at Reynolds Metals, and operated a general store in South Londonderry.
A. Luke Crispe was named secretary. A native of New York City, Crispe became a lawyer in Vermont in the 1930s and was awarded a Bronze Star during World War II.
Rounding out the initial company leadership were directors Nelson "Dick" Smith and Edward Janeway. Smith was the young brother of Tink Smith while Janeway was a state senator.
Plans for the new area were presented at the Daniel Webster event on July 11. 800 attendees were counted, including Senator George Aiken and Congressman William Meyer. By this point, the planned opening of the three-chairlift-area had been pushed to 1961-62. F. Ellwood Allen and Stewart Allen developed the master plan, while Olympic skier Gene Gillis of Sno Engineering handled the trail layout. Gillis declared, "With its generous shoulders and broad base lap, there is no room to spare on Stratton Mountain for a world of skiing." Sel Hannah of Sno Engineering added, "Stratton will be a sophisticated ski area, but not a forbidding one. Experts will find challenge on the upper mountain. There will be excellent skiing for the intermediate, and we will make sure of slopes for the novice and beginning skier."
Construction
Construction of the base lodge |
Summer 1960 projects included clearing and roughing-in a temporary access road, cutting the main lift line, and awarding construction contract for the Alexander McIlvane-designed, 29,000 square foot base lodge to Gerald E. Morrissey, Inc. of Bennington. Director and manager Elmer Argast declared the construction site "the greatest concentration of machines at a private project in northern New England."
An open house was held at the lodge construction site in October for Stratton and Winhall residents, which was met with "quiet optimism" according to the Brattleboro Reformer. According to the paper, Stratton had a population of 27 at the time while Winhall's was 245. Also in the fall of 1960, Robert Wright departed to become headmaster of the new Stowe Preparatory School.
As December started, workers hurried to clear 10 ski trails before winter. The Brattleboro Reformer referred to Stratton as a "volcano...erupting smoke by day and fire by night" courtesy brush piles being burned with 7,500 used tires.
In January 1961, Stratton launched a naming contest for the 17 trails expected to debut at the end of the year. Winners were to receive a free week of skiing. Later that month, Gene Gillis was hired as ski director, which led to him co-directing the ski school for the debut season with Emo Henrich. In addition to his Stratton duties, Gillis spent the winter of 1960-61 teaching kids from Jamaica, Vermont how to ski on a slope near Ernest Allen's store.
By mid-winter 1961 the "Vermont Tyrolean" themed base lodge was taking shape. The Stratton Corporation reportedly owned 1,025 acres of land and had another 2,800 acres leased from International Paper Co. and Saint Regis Paper Company for 35 years. In addition, the company was reportedly preparing to sign a $355,000 contract for three Heron double chairlifts.
In early March, the Vermont House Highway Committee visited the area to discuss a $290,000 state-funded access road. In April, Governor F. Ray Keyser Jr. and his wife were given a tour of the area by Edward Janeway and his wife, as well as other members of the corporate team and publicist Malvine Cole, also a town official.
The access road bill faced opposition, as some representatives raised concerns about subsidizing corporations and increasing the state's debt. On May 15, the Stratton Corporation announced it was laying off all construction workers and would be reconsidering the project if the access road was not approved. Elmer Argast cautioned, "We are standing pat and waiting for the road decision before we really start any business up here." Governor Keyser announced his support of the bill that day.
Work resumed, but was curtailed. Meanwhile, 27 shareholders purchased land for private ski homes. Frank Snyder told shareholders in June, "What we do this year, we will do well, and at the level of excellence expected of us. But due to the delay we may need to postpone some phases until next year." Later that month, author Pearl Buck publicly opposed the company's sewer lagoon project, sending a message to Governor Keyser to block it. Weeks later, public relations director Malvine Cole resigned citing her concerns with the sewer project as well as discriminatory practices with the land sales along the access road. A few days after that, a group involving Buck called for the formation of a state "Ski and Recreation Commission" to regulate ski areas because of the Stratton situation. The town's bicentennial was then cancelled, with Cole labelling it "another example of Stratton Corp. irresponsibility in matters affecting the local people." Cole then promoted the "SOS - Save our Streams on Stratton Mountain" movement.
Despite the political issues, work was continuing on the slopes. In July, Stratton reported that it had developed a technique to cover the slopes with grass that would never require mowing. Massive amounts of lime and fertilizer were brought in when the soil was tested to have acidity twice the normal level. After smoothing the new slopes, trefoil was planted, which would reportedly grow within 12 days of seeding, maxing out at 6 to 8 inches of height. The plan was developed by the University of Vermont with custom seed developed by Hubbard Hall Chemical Company in Connecticut. Trails were expected to be skiable with 4 to 6 inches of natural snow.
The access road was finally approved by the legislature in July, with the towns sending the $290,000 project to bid soon thereafter. North Haven Construction Company, future developer of Maple Valley, won the contract in August with a stipulation that the road must be passable by December 1 (with paving the following year). Meanwhile, Stratton announced it had hired Minor "Mitch" McLaughlin, Mount Snow's director of information, as its new director of information and hospitality.
As the summer progressed, plans began to gel. Twelve trails and slopes would be ready for the debut season with two additional mountain faces planned for the future. The three double chairlifts would serve a vertical drop of 1,800 feet. The base lodge would have services in the basement and a 700-person cafeteria on the main floor, with future plans for a restaurant and bar on the second floor and offices on the third. Future plans for the summit included a restaurant and pond, while the base area was to eventually have a golf course, a 25-acre lake, horseback riding, a hotel, 300 home sites, and a commercial development.
Circa early September, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved Stratton's financing plan, including $650,000 of convertible notes and $329,000 in common stock. Stratton Corporation president Frank Snyder declared, "Now we are ready to roll."
Lift installation (October 1961) |
Lift towers were installed via helicopter in late October, with Petroleum Helicopters of Louisiana handling the task as its first-ever recreational job. Typically employed at oil fields, the helicopter service cost $750 per day plus $150 per hour. Some 52 towers were installed along with lift terminals over the course of two working days, saving weeks of labor.
As December arrived, the scheduled completion date for the access road came and went. As Christmas neared, trucks were hauling gravel in the snow while crews raced to ready the lifts for inspection. Meanwhile, after submitting letters to newspapers across the state, a group including author Pearl Buck and former Stratton Corporation public relations director Malvine Cole attempted to obtain a temporary injunction to stop the company from tapping into Styles Brook for the area's water supply. The petition for temporary injunction was eventually denied.
Stratton Opens
The Tyrolienne Double just before opening in December 1961 |
Stratton Mountain opened to the public on December 23, 1961 with the two lower mountain lifts operating, reportedly drawing 500 skiers for its second day. The North American chairlift on the upper mountain debuted a few days after Christmas. While the facilities were top notch, the muddy access road was called a 'tank-proving ground' by the press.
The access road received much needed pavement in time for the area's second season.
Stratton's uphill capacity was improved for its third season with the installation of two T-Bars.
The North American double circa the 1960s |
A sizable expansion took place the following season, when 30 acres of terrain, served by a new double chairlift, were opened in the new Snow Bowl.
1966-67 saw an expansion of the base lodge, as well as the installation of another double chairlift. The Grizzly Bear and Polar Bear trails were added for the following season.
A New Base Area
The upper mountain circa the late 1960s |
The Sun Bowl was developed for the 1968-69 season, adding a new base area, 5 miles of trails, and a new double chairlift.
An additional two chairlift expansion was planned for the 1971-72 season, however Stratton became one of the first ski areas in the state to run into trouble with the new Act 250 law, when residents of Winhall forced the ski area to first overhaul its sewer system in advance of potential increases in skier vists.
The Main Line pod was partially developed in the early 1970s, however development was halted prior to the installation of a chairlift.
Main Line (2004) |
In 1972, Warren Hellman and Donald Tarinelli founded the Stratton Mountain School to help their children advance their ski racing careers while not conflicting with their high school education The school continues to operate to this day.
On February 10, 1974, 20 year old James Sunday was paralyzed after a fall while skiing at Stratton. In a landmark decision three years on June 9, 1977, Sunday was awarded $1.5 million by a Vermont jury. The decision resulted in significant price increases throughout the ski industry, due to skyrocketing liability insurance costs.
Snowmaking was expanded to the summit of Stratton for the 1974-75 season, as pipes were installed on North American and Standard.
In 1975, Donald Tarinelli was named General Manager of the ski area following Harvey Clifford's departure to purchase Glen Ellen. In the spring of 1977, the International Paper Company donated 1,023 acres of land on Stratton Mountain, containing the bulk of the ski terrain, to the United States Ski Educational Foundation, to benefit the United States Ski Team. The USSEF then granted the Stratton Corporation a 99 year lease at 2.25 percent of the ski area's gross ticket revenues. Stratton then used the value of the lease to fund the purchase of two new chairlifts. The Stratton Corporation may have later acquired this tract.
New Ownership, Part 1
The base area circa the late 1970s or early 1980s |
Late in 1979, Stratton purchased nearby Bromley and assumed its multi-million dollar debt. Stratton's debt was now reportedly up to $7 million. Moore and Munger, Inc. came to the rescue and purchased Stratton in early 1980.
During during the 1980s, Jake Burton found an ally in Stratton, when it became the first ski area to allow snowboarding. In addition to this, Stratton also became home to the first snowboard school, and would start hosting US Open snowboard races in 1985. Stratton would later become home to the first half pipe and formal terrain park on the east coast.
The US Open snowboard races weren't the only non-skiing event to make a splash at Stratton in 1985. With the Cranmore facility in limbo, the Volvo International Tennis Tournament was moved to Stratton. Tennis star Ivan Lendl became a Stratton skier during 1985-86 ski season, after winning a season pass at the tournament.
In the mid 1980s, in conjunction with the expansion of Stratton Village, the lift network at Stratton was modernized. Four new Poma chairlifts were installed in 1985 and 1986, replacing aging Heron-Pomas.
In the fall of 1987, Moore and Munger, Inc. sold Bromley to the owners of nearby Magic Mountain. The following year, the famous Gondola was installed to the summit of Stratton.
New Ownership, Part 2
In the spring of 1989, Victoria USA, Inc., a Japanese sporting goods company that owned Breckenridge, purchased Stratton. Later that year, the Kidderbrook area debuted. Along with the lift and new trails, a new 12,000 square foot Sun Bowl base lodge, the projects represented a $7 million investment into the resort.
New Ownership, Part 3
The Stratton base area in 2014 |
Intrawest purchased the ski area from Victoria USA, Inc. in 1994 and quickly started another round of new lift installations, eventually rolling out four new high speed six pack chairlifts.
With the installation of these new high speed chairlifts, the fixed grip quads of the area quickly lost popularity. With its parent company facing some tough times, Stratton removed the often-idle Kidderbrook chairlift following the 2006-07 season.
The North American trail was renamed in honor of founder Frank Snyder during the 2007-08 season, becoming Frank's Fall Line.
Intrawest announced $6.5 million of projects for the 2013-2014 season, including new snowcats, improved snowmaking, two new glades, and base resort improvements.
Following a fire, a $9 million base lodge expansion took place in 2015.
In 2017, Stratton's parent company Intrawest was acquired by what would become known as Alterra. Its first major investment was a new high speed detachable quad in the Snow Bowl, which debuted in January of 2019.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| November | 9% (10 reports) |  | | December | 44% (12 reports) | | | January | 71% (5 reports) | | | February | 80% (4 reports) | | | March | 76% (4 reports) | | | April | 5% (1 report) | |
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| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Jan. 13, 2025 by bostonbob
Packed Powder, Loose Granular |
 | Dec. 25, 2024 by rocket21
Loose Granular, Packed Powder |
| Dec. 8, 2024 by indyskier29
Packed Powder, Powder |
| Dec. 7, 2024 by rocket21
Packed Powder, Powder |
 | Mar. 24, 2024 by snowphoenix
Packed Powder, Packed Powder |
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| Stratton Mountain Resort on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com |
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
| Recent Articles |
| Lift Closures Continue to Plague New England Ski Areas - Feb. 19, 2025 | | Two New Chairlifts Open in Southern Vermont - Jan. 5, 2019 | | Leitner-Poma Completes First Brand New Lift of Season - Dec. 11, 2018 | | State Permitting Hampers Vermont Projects - Aug. 20, 2018 | | Initial Lift Construction Continues in Two States - May. 18, 2018 | | Magic to Install Quad Chairlift - May. 9, 2018 | | Stratton Moving Forward with Snow Bowl Lift Replacement - Mar. 11, 2018 | | Stratton Sold to Owners of Aspen, Squaw Valley - Apr. 10, 2017 | | Rumors Continue to Swirl Around Stratton - Mar. 24, 2017 | | Stowe Sets New England Record with $124 Lift Ticket - Oct. 1, 2016 | | Stratton Mountain Resort NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Page |
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.
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2024-25 | $211.86 | | $1449.00 | | 6.8 days | December 1 | | | | | | 2023-24 | $203.30 | | $1309.00 | | 6.4 days | November 22 | April 14 | | | | | 2022-23 | $202.23 | | $1229.00 | | 6.1 days | November 25 | April 16 | | | | | 2021-22 | $180.83 | | $1149.00 | | 6.4 days | November 27 | April 17 | | | | | 2020-21 | $148.73 | | $1149.00 | | 7.7 days | December 10 | April 11 | | | | | 2019-20 | $139.10 | | $1099.00 | | 7.9 days | November 23 | March 14 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $129.00 | | $1049.00 | | 8.1 days | November 21 | April 14 | | | | | 2017-18 | $115.00 | | $1099.00 | | 9.6 days | November 22 | April 15 | | | | | 2016-17 | $105.00 | | $1199.00 | | 11.4 days | November 25 | April 9 | | | | | 2015-16 | $105.00 | | $1119.00 | | 10.7 days | November 28 | April 10 | | | | | 2014-15 | $98.00 | | | | | November 26 | April 12 | | | | | 2013-14 | $92.00 | | $999.00 | | 10.9 days | November 23 | April 13 | | | | | 2012-13 | $87.00 | | $1229.00 | | 14.1 days | November 21 | April 14 | | | | | 2011-12 | $87.00 | | $1229.00 | | 14.1 days | December 4 | March 25 | | | | | 2010-11 | $84.00 | | $1159.00 | | 13.8 days | November 27 | | | | | | 2009-10 | $82.00 | | $1139.00 | | 13.9 days | December 8 | April 11 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $79.00 | | $1109.00 | | 14.0 days | | April 12 | | | | | 2007-08 | $78.00 | | $1059.00 | | 13.6 days | | April 20 | | | | | 2006-07 | $75.00 | | $1059.00 | | 14.1 days | | April 8 | | | | | 2005-06 | $72.00 | | $999.00 | | 13.9 days | November 23 | April 9 | 390,000 | | | | 2004-05 | $72.00 | | | | | | April 10 | 400,000 | | | | 2003-04 | $72.00 | | $1479.00 | | 20.5 days | | April 11 | 368,000 | | | | 2002-03 | $72.00 | | $1449.00 | | 20.1 days | November 23 | | 417,000 | | | | 2001-02 | $62.00 | | $1379.00 | | 22.2 days | | | 387,000 | | | | 2000-01 | $60.00 | | $1260.00 | | 21.0 days | | | | | | | 1999-00 | $59.00 | | $1200.00 | | 20.3 days | | April 9 | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | | | | | | | April 11 | | | | | 1997-98 | $50.00 | | $1150.00 | | 23.0 days | November 15 | | | | | | 1996-97 | $49.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1995-96 | | | | | | November 15 | | | | | | 1994-95 | $43.00 | | | | | November 24 | April 16 | | | | | 1993-94 | $41.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1992-93 | $39.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $39.00 | | | | | November 9 | | | | | | 1990-91 | $38.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $36.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $35.00 | | | | | November 23 | April 16 | | | | | 1987-88 | $34.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $27.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1984-85 | $25.00 | | $725.00 | | 29.0 days | November 22 | April 26 | | | | | 1983-84 | $25.00 | | $725.00 | | 29.0 days | | | | | | | 1982-83 | $24.00 | | $520.00 | | 21.7 days | | | | | | | 1981-82 | $23.00 | | | | | November 25 | | 350,000 | | | | 1980-81 | $20.00 | | | | | | | 310,000 | | | | 1979-80 | $18.00 | | $475.00 | | 26.4 days | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $16.00 | | | | | November 24 | | | | | | 1977-78 | $15.00 | | | | | November 26 | April 9 | | | | | 1976-77 | $14.00 | | $385.00 | | 27.5 days | November 25 | | | | | | 1975-76 | $12.00 | | $350.00 | | 29.2 days | November 27 | | | | | | 1974-75 | $12.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1972-73 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $10.00 | | $250.00 | | 25.0 days | | | | | | | 1970-71 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $9.00 | | | | | November 16 | | | | | | 1967-68 | $8.00 | | | | | December 1 | | | | | | 1966-67 | $8.00 | | | | | | April 10 | | | | | 1965-66 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1963-64 | $7.00 | | | | | December 7 | | | | | | 1962-63 | $6.50 | | | | | December 8 | | | | | | 1961-62 | $6.50 | | | | | December 23 | April 10 | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I remember the beginning. Our family property was one of the first purchased for the access road. I remember the trucks hauling dirt and gravel up and down the road. I finally got to ski the mountain in the early 1970s,all day lift ticket $12.00!" | | Bruce Frazer, Mar. 6, 2021 | | "I am the daughter of Robert Wright I remember the 3 D ski mountain in our dinning room when I was about 2 yo when he was designing Stratton. I loved skiing there as a young child. " | | Valerie Brock, May. 12, 2019 | | "I remember trips up and down the unsaved access road in our Jeep with trash can tied to the back, to carry all the skis....amongst so many other memories!" | | Bubsy Tuttle, Jan. 26, 2019 | | "I began skiing at Stratton in the mid 60s. At age 13, my parents gave me a special gift of spending a week on my own skiing. I took lessons from Emo's terrific staff of instructors and stayed in the bunk room of Birkenhaus. I met many families who invited me to join them for meals. These memories are still vivid 50 years later. I am grateful to my parents for giving me this unique opportunity. " | | Jerry Lucas, Jul. 30, 2017 | | "I was a supervisor in the ski school for a number of years, late 70's early 80's. Those years were spent with folks both co-workers and paying skiers,from the 4 corners of the globe, some of the greatest people I've known in my life. Most fun, morning demo's and doing sync skiing with Hansi B and Alois on N American" | | Jon Person, Jul. 14, 2015 | | "Every year I go with my friend Revel, and we always have the greatest time! I remember when I graduated ski school it was one of the proudest moments of my life! I recommend this to ANYONE! See you on the slopes!" | | Augustus Stimpson, Jan. 29, 2015 | | "I remember going to Stratton for a grooming trade show. I was a groomer at nearby MT Snow at the time. We were able to hop into any machine that was on the snow and running to operate it and get a feel for it. Others would have an operator take you for a ride. The Hagglund was most impressive and fast. I believe this was 1990. Also fond memories of ski trips from school." | | Jim Hall, Feb. 21, 2013 |
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External Links
Stratton Mountain - official site
Stratton Mountain - FranklinSites.com
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Last updated: February 11, 2025
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