Our best information about this ski area comes from the following passage which is from Jim Clarke who wrote his Master's Thesis on the Economic and Social History of Skiing in New England, 1920-1980.
When it opened during the winter of 1967-1968, Tyrol Ski Area was a relative newcomer to the popular skiing region centered around the town of Jackson, NH. Following World War II, Hannes Schneider's ski area at Mt. Cranmore (built in 1938) established itself as the top facility in the Jackson/North Conway region, entertaining thousands of skiers each winter. The oldest mid-size facility in the heart of Jackson was Black Mountain (1935). Like Cranmore but on a smaller scale, Black Mountain remained economically viable by maintaining a strong local following and orienting its outside market appeal towards intermediate level skiers and families.
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By the time Tyrol
opened in 1967-1968, the newer and larger facilities at Wildcat (1957)
and Attitash (1965) were gaining in popularity. By appealing to all
levels of skiers through a diversity of terrain, vertical drops over 1500
feet and expansive facilities, both resorts became premier destinations
among the ski areas in NH's White Mountains. Additionally troublesome
to Tyrol's success both were within a short drive of Jackson.
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| While Tyrol had a substantial vertical drop of 1000 feet and a variety of terrain consisting of 4 novice trails, 6 intermediate trails, and 4 expert trails, Tyrol's location proved to be its downfall. According to Tim and John Bailey, former owners and operators, factors such as the area's distance from the highway, and the steep entrance road were detriments that likely led some patrons to favor nearby Black and Cranmore Mountain. Critical to Tyrol's failure was its lack of access to a suitable and stable water supply for snowmaking. Tyrol's lack of snowmaking proved a devastating liability during the 73-74 gas crisis and snow drought, allowing it to open for only a few days. It seems Tyrol's reputation suffered immeasurably during the mid-1970's. An article in Skiing Magazine kindly illustrates Tyrol's plight and demonstartes its desperate attempt to draw skiers with a variety of activities. "Tyrol has the least vertical of any area in the Valley (1000 ft.) but it comes miles ahead in the category of ski area happenings, events, processions, festivals, contests, barbecues, and general madness." Faced with mounting debts Tyrol closed for good following the winter of 1980-1981. |
The long, 1000 ft vertical double from Tyrol. Image courtesy of the New England Ski Museum. |
Here's a few snippets from several guidebooks, and a general history.
1966
(America's
Ski Book)
Tyrol, located in
Jackson, NH had a T-bar, poma, and a vertical drop of 700' with no snowmaking.
| Early
1970's
(Dave Hilton) This was an ad that appeared in the early 1970's (probably 1972). It shows the trail map and other vital stats. By this time a new double chair extended the vertical several hundred feet lower. |
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Here's something you don't see everyday, a check for the restaurant at Tyrol! Look at the prices, wouldn't it be great to buy a cheeseburger for just 60 cents? Thanks to Dan Houde, Visual Communications, Attitash Bear Peak for providing this to NELSAP! |
| Early
1970's
(Ad from Brian O'Malley) Here's a great ad, with plenty of info and the trail map from that time. |
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1977-1978
(Ski the White Mtns. Brochure, courtesy of Jim Clarke) Additional info: Trail mileage: 10.5 42 acres of skiing Here's the ad that appeared in that year's brochure. Sounds like a fun place! |
| Today
These photos are from Feb, 1999. We visited this area on our way back from Black. Not too much to see as everything is blocked off. Here's Tyrol as it appeared in February of 1999. Most of the trails are grown in as you can see. The T-bar lift line is barely visible on the far left. The long double chair is not visible. |
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The base lodge, now a home. |