Black Cat Mountain
T1R8 WELS, Maine
Proposed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1980s
Hammond Ridge and Black Cat Mountain
Overview
Located northwest of Millinocket and overlooking Mt. Katahdin on the shore of Millinocket Lake, Black Cat Mountain is an 861 foot peak that was home to a rope tow operate for multiple decades. Hammond Ridge is located to the east, standing at 1,090 feet.
USGS Topographic Map
The ski history of Black Cat Mountain dates back the late 1930s, when the Katahdin Millinocket Outing Club developed a winter sports complex. A rope tow was installed a decade later and operated into the 1960s.
In 1971, Edmond Cyr and Milton "Tim" Murray constructed the Black Cap Mountain Lodge on the shore of Millinocket Lake. The lodging and event facility opened in March 1972. Future plans called for the installation of a ski lift to make it a four-season destination. However, an early morning fire burned the lodge to the ground in January 1974.
In May 1983, Robert S. Robinson Jr., owner of Twin Pine Camps since 1968, presented a resort development proposal to the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission. Named Kataadn Skyline, the proposal called for a 4.5 story, 80-room lodge, a restaurant, a lounge, an indoor pool, sauna facilities, an alpine slide on Black Cat Mountain, a chairlift, and a gondola. Though the project received tentative approval that spring, it did not come to fruition.
In 1993, David Cyr, son of Edmond Cyr, proposed a mountaintop building on Black Cat Mountain, but dismissed prior calls for the development of ski trails on Hammond Ridge, due to the logging and topography. He reportedly suggested that 1,383 foot Trout Mountain on the northwest side of the lake was better suited for skiing. His plans did not come to fruition.
Today
New England Outdoor Center 2022 Trail Map
The New England Outdoor Center is now located just past the former Black Cat base area. The center's nordic ski network includes the Black Cat Peak trail, which approaches the former ski area. There are no known plans to develop a lift served ski area at Black Cat Mountain.
Resources
Black Cat Mountain - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com
New England Outdoor Center
Last updated: June 14, 2022
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