Woodlin
Club
Glenville, NY
1961-1970's
History
~ Memories
|
History
Woodlin Club
is a facility in Glenville, New York that includes a banquet hall, swimming
pool, tennis courts, and more. In the past, it also had a private ski area for
members, though it appears that the general public was also allowed to ski here
for a fee. The Schenectady Gazette reported on January 2, 1962 that the Woodlin
Club was another addition to local skiing, and had an electric rope tow near the
swimming pool, with a less than 1 minute ride to the summit. We assume then the
area opened near December 1961. On January 6, 1969 the Gazette also reported
that membership was open to those over age 18 and that "In addition to free ski
lessons, club members also enjoy day and weekend trips to northeastern ski
centers, and in the summer, receive free water ski lessons on Ballston Lake and
visit various other lakes."
According to John Ripley, the area eventually
became operated by a group of families, which took turns operating the rope tow.
It is believed the area operated into the 1970's,
and likely closed due to competition and a lack of snow. The Woodlin Club
remains open to this day.
Right - An aerial view of the area from 1995. The
former ski area has grown in considerably. The vertical drop of the area was
approximately 90 feet. |
 |
Memories:
Tim Shaer: I
started skiing at Woodlin Club in Scotia ( North on Rte. 50 from Scotia, right
on Glenridge Rd, Left on St. Anthony Lane to the end). They had a rope tow going
down into a gulley next to the clubhouse. My dad got me the wooden skis as long
as my arm over my head with the leather lace boots and cable bindings (bear
trap?). Gave me a push and said "don't forget to stop at the bottom or you'll
end up in the creek".
John Ripley: There
was a rope tow slope located on the Woodlin Club property in Glenville NY during
the 1960's. Originally it was operated by the Woodlin Club which was and still
is a swimming club with a
reception hall. Eventually it became a group operation run by several local
families. Parents were trained to run the rope tow and if you had 2 adults, you
could open the place up…day or night. One adult would stay at the top where the
generator was that powered the tow. The other could take a run with the kids.
If somebody tripped the safety shut-off, the guy on top would wait for the
all-clear to be shouted from down-slope. ( Liability wasn't invented until years
later.) I think eventually the place shut down due to a combination of lack of
snow as well as competition from the big areas in the Adirondacks and Vermont.
I still have great memories of learning how to ski there and even opening the
place on an Easter Sunday
one year when we had gotten a late snow! It was nothing major, but back in
the day you would sometimes get a good size crowd there, upwards of a hundred
people even! We used to keep all of our lift tickets ($1.00) stapled in a chain
attached to our coat, I guess it was sort of a "status" thing at the time!
Kurt Concilla: I
grew up on the Woodlin Club ski hill in
Glenville, NY near
Schenectady, Just a rope tow and $10 per family for the year each family
had to run the rope tow for 3 - 3 hours shifts over the winter with two other
families probably a 100-150 vertical feet.
David Plumley:
Woodlin Club operated in the 1960's -
1970's and had a rope tow. The Hill is to the right of the
swimming pools - current condition unknown, but the website does not
mention the skiing hill.
Source for above newspaper info:
Fulton History.
If you have more
information on this area just let us know.
Last updated: January 25, 2011
Head
back to Lost New York Ski Areas
Head
back to the Main Page