Hiram, Maine

May Mountain is a recent lost area, having closed in the mid 1990's. It was a classic community type area for Maine - just big enough to be interesting, but otherwise small and relatively isolated. It has spectacular views of nearby Lake Mattawaumkeag.

According to First Tracks, by Glenn Parkinson, the area opened in the late 1960's by two doctors who learned how to ski. The area had a 2800' long T-bar, and served about a half dozen trails. There was a steep headwall, then the trails flattened out.

During the late 1980's, the area was run down and neglected, and was possible closed. The area was bought in 1992 by locals, who likely operated the area for a few years. May Mountain closed sometime during the mid 1990's.

Losses like this for communities are tough - this area served as safe place for kids to learn to ski, and for locals to make some runs in at night and on the weekends.

Since the area hasn't been totally vandalized or destroyed there is always the chance it will reopen.

To the right is a Terraserver map of the area. Note the fall line trails, some wide and some narrow. The longest trail was 3/4 mile, the shortest about 2800'.

Year	Lifts	Trails	Other Info	Source
Late 1960's	T-bar	Unknown	Year opens	First Tracks by Glenn Parkinson
Early 1970's	2800' T-bar	360' vertical	Ski school, lodge, lunch counter, rentals	Ski Maine Brochure
1973	1 T-bar, 1000/hr capacity	5 trails on 427' drop	East exposure, Open Wed-Sat nights, weekends, holiday, school vacation weeks. Snack bar, rentals, warming huts, parking for 100 cars. No snowmaking or ski school. Rates: $3.50 adult, $2.50 junior. Season: $40 adults and juniors.	Ski Guide to the Northeast
1977	Same	6 trails on 75 acres	Ski school, rentals, snowmaking, low rates, night skiing	Skiing USA
1982	1 T-bar, 700 skiers per hour	Beginner to Advanced on 520' drop. Longest run: 3/4 mile	Open Fridays and weekends.	Billy Kidd's American Ski Guide
Late 1980's	Same	Unknown	Area is run down, neglected. Owners try to sell mountain	First Tracks
1992	Same	Unknown	Area is bought by locals	First Tracks
Mid 1990's	Same	Unknown	Area last operates during this time	First Tracks, but also based on tree growth

Note how the vertical "grew" during the years - the 427' reference is likely correct.

Art D visited the area during the summer of 2005, and took some great photos. Here's what he found, and his photos of the area:

"The former May Mountain Ski Area on Route 2 just northeast of Island Pond, Maine is on the east side of a mountain known as both May and Robinson. The ski area has a fantastic view of Lake Mattawaumkeag across Route 2. There is a 47 foot fire tower still standing on the 1025 foot summit. It appears to have about 400 foot vertical with wide open fields at the base and lights for night skiing. Above the fields are several trails that are growing in. The T-bar and Lodge still exist, although the T’s have been removed from the cable."