Uconn Storrs

NELSAP first learned of this small, university owned ski area from "mstrain". Several other readers have contacted us with even more info.

Mark Vining tells us about the history of the area: The ski area on campus at the University of Connecticut was operated as part of the University's athletic department. I am able to provide you with this information because my father was Ski Patrol Director during the area's operation. I grew up skiing there and became a member of the National Ski Patrol (as a UConn student in 1977) at that area.

I don't know that the area ever had an official name, but some locals referred to it as "Husky Hill". As correctly depicted by the topographical map on your website, the area was off of Horsebarn Hill Road. You drove on an access road between a polo arena and a sheep barn down a small hill where the the road opened up into a large parking area. Skiers skied down hill from the top and took one of two rope tows back up. There were two slopes (one beginner and one main expert) each serviced by it's own rope tow. There were also three trails through the woods to the bottom of the main slope.

There was no snowmaking, but there were lights for night skiing. Cost for any member of the general public was $1.00 per session. UConn students showed their ID and skied for free. A "season pass" cost $5.00. Rentals were available: poles-.50; boots-1.00; skiis-1.50 per session.

A topographic map of the ski area (found by Betsy McDonough on Terraserver). The vertical is no more than 150 feet. Also, the ski area was an upside down one, where you would start at the top and ski down.

Here's a view of the slope. You can see the two rope tow lines in the woods. Image from Terraserver, found by Betsy McDonough.

The area had a snowcat vehicle as well as a 15ft. wide snow packer. The area operated from somewhere in the mid 60's through the 1977-1978 ski season (only 8 days that season). The area closed due to lack of natural snow as well as financial straits in other areas of the athletic department.

The slope was way down behind the cow barns, on the very edge of the campus. You would never know it was there, unless you knew it was there! It was owned and managed by UConn. In good snow winters, my brothers and I would go there every afternoon after school. It never had snowmaking.

Erik Fey: Looking over the CT lost ski areas, something triggered a memory and in popped "Horse Barn Hill" at the University of CT. On a trip up to see my sister at college when I was 12, my mom brought me over to the University ski hill on the back side of, what I believe was called, "Horse Barn Hill" which was basically on the Agriculture College grounds. That would have been in 1977. The ski area, as my memory recalls, had one, possibly two rope tows with a vertical of perhaps 100 feet. The University could give you more info on its details. I do recall how hard it was holding on to that slippery hemp rope, and I believe I burned a nice hole in some leather mittens that day.

Matthew DeAngelis: I grew up in CT and went to school at UCONN in the early 90's. Although the UCONN slope was no longer active it was a hot spot for sledding and mountain bike riding for the residents of Towers and the AG. dorms. I have fond memories of ridding my bike on and around the ski slope in the muddy spring season. It is really out of the way from campus and as some of
those who previously wrote you would never know it was there unless you knew it was there. Now it takes some effort to get to. The road on the map is now really a trail and it is about a 3 minute walk from the paved road. Great Mountain biking spot!

Dave Urban: I went to UConn from 71-75. Husky Hill, as we called it, was open a total of about 10 days during my school career. It was free for students. Not bad for a few quick runs. In my engineering class, I remember one of my classmates did an economic analysis of a snowmaking system for the slope. I guess it didn't look too promising!

Karen Houle gave us a link to a UCONN history page showing two great historical shots of the area. For the original page, click here. Here's the description of this shot:

On an October day in 1966 President Homer Babbidge (center) visited the site of the planned ski slope. Showing Babbidge the site at left is Lloyd Duff, director of recreation. With them at right is Lee Greif, then-president of the Associated Student Government ('67 B.A. and '71 J.D.).

A University ski slope, now in disuse, was opened in the 1960s behind the sheep barn east of Horsebarn Hill. There were two top tows, one for beginners and another for experienced skiers. One of the tows is seen here at the far right in this photograph, which was taken on opening day, February 7, 1967.