South Royalton Ski Area
Royalton, Vermont
Proposed in the 1960s
South Royalton
Overview
Now bisected by Interstate 89 in South Royalton, an area reportedly known as the Carpenter Slope was once considered for a chairlift or platter-pull development.
Central Vermont Ski Association
The Central Vermont Ski Association was formed circa January 1948 at the Terrace Lodge in Sharon with ski instructor and columnist Eben Brown serving as its chairman. Composed of rope tow operators and skiers, the initial aim of the group was to promote skiing in the region and to provide instruction for locals.
Not deterred by an inaugural year with poor snowfall, a brochure was published for the 1948-49 season listing areas such as Savage Tow in East Randolph, Fun Valley and Corwin's Tows in South Royalton, Whirl-A-Way in Chelsea, and the Varney's tow in Strafford.
Carpenter Farm
By April 1950, Eben Brown was discussing a possible chairlift development in South Royalton. To be located on the "Julian Carpenter farm" (likely near present day Carpenter Field off North Windsor Street), the proposal reportedly had outside support, though the Central Vermont Ski Association hoped to obtain local funding. A key point to the development was the train and bus accessibility from Boston and New York, as well as an eastern exposure for snow retention.
By September the plan had evolved from a chairlift to a platter-pull with hopes of being in operation in time for the 1950-51 season. The development had an estimated price tag of $25,000. A representative from the Bridger Lift company may have presented to the group later that month. Bridger had lifts going in at High Pond and Red Hill that year.
In October, the group announced that the project had been postponed, but would resume in the spring. There is no known record of further planning. Later that decade, the White River Valley Herald referred in the past tense to "talk of making a big development on the Carpenter slope, considered by experts to be an ideal location for a tow."
In October 1969, the 9.1 mile Sharon-Royalton-Bethel segment of Interstate 89 officially opened, bisecting the slope above North Windsor Street.
Had the area been constructed, it could have featured a vertical drop of nearly 600 feet. Further south, Kents Ledge could have provided additional vertical.
South Royalton topographic map
Today
There are no known remains of the South Royalton ski area proposal.
Last updated: April 15, 2025
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