Wildwood Valley
Morgan Center, Vermont
1967-1970
By Jeremy Davis of NELSAP
I know very little about this ski area. Several people from the surrounding are of Morgan Center have helped me research, but there is basically little to know about this area. Mainly because it only operated from 1967 to 1970 (The Colorado Skier, VT Tramway Reports)! There was a lodge which apparently burned. There were two trails or so, served by a 1082' T-bar and 550' rope tow. The T-bar had a capacity of 1200 skiers per hour. |
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I did visit the area in April, 1998, but there is little left. One house that could have been a base lodge still stands. The trails are still clear, and a packer lies across the road. But this is it! The road up to the ski area is long, narrow, and dirt, and is WELL removed from any highways. Apparently this was a local only ski area!
Update: Funny story, apparently the day I was there, John and Linda Osgood were there too! I remember a car pulling out of the lot there that didn't look like owners of the property. Some of the following photos are from John and Linda.
While there, they were able to actually turn the T-bar to make it move! Here's their description of the lift:
"The lift is in excellent condition, no bullet holes, and the running gear and the hangers (T's) are still on the lift, but they are in poor shape. I grabbed hold of the driver clutch and could turn the lift by hand. The engine was a four cylinder, gas job identical to the lift at Oxbow Mtn."
Several recent photos:
One of the trails (in the distance), and the T-bar shack in the middle.
Photo by Jeremy Davis
The T-bar shack, the opposite of above
(pictures taken only an hour apart!).
Photo by John and Linda Osgood
Linda Osgood at the base of the T-bar.
It's still in good shape, even after 30 years!
One of T-bar towers, with the T's still attached, deep in the woods.
Photo by John and Linda Osgood
An e-mail and photo with more info came in from Laurel Sheck of South Salem, NY. in October, 2007.
These comments came in recently from Ann Lachance of Morgan Center:
"Just read your article on lost ski areas of Vermont. I bought the Wildwood Valley Ski Area in 1993, just after the lodge burnt. The house on that property was the caretakers house with 8 bedrooms 3 full baths and sinks in every room, the dining room was where they had a phone system set up for the lodge. The lodge stood empty for many years with an olympic size swimming pool in front. John Stevens, Greenwood & a few others bought this and about 1200 acres and started to clear cut down behind the Toad Pond. Their plan was to build houses on 5 to 10 acres of land. That also fell though and in deer hunting season on 1992 there was a fire. The lodge burnt, the pool was covered over with dirt and looked like nothing was ever there. Now because the lodge and pool were gone, the 40 acres with the house and ski area for sale, they re-did the inside of the house (after so many people living in the house it was a mess). There were so many local people that rented this place over the years. There are so many stories that can be told. I know that when the lodge first started that the Baileys and Grays ran it (the ones that owned Baileys Store in East Burke, VT., a long time ago). I have ran into people that have pictures but still haven't seen them. When I did buy this property I fell in love with it and I now have 180 acres of land. I have talk about clearing and making it good for sliding etc. but need people to help. The cabin on the top is still in good shape the floor is gone but usable for the skiers."
Many, many thanks to Jeremy Davis of New England Lost Ski Areas Project (NELSAP) for his permission to feature his work on the Vermont Northeast Kingdom Guide. If you have any info and/or photos relating to these (or other) ski areas of days gone by please contact us. Your contributions will be most appreciated and you will be credited.
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