Haystack Mountain Ski Area
Wilmington, VT
1964-2005

History ~ Layout ~  By The Year ~ Memories ~ Recent Photos

Many thanks to Jeremy Clark who wrote up this article!

History

Though perhaps best known as Mt. Snow's sister ski area, Haystack Mountain enjoyed its own rich history.

Haystack Mountain Ski Area announced a December 18, 1964 opening, with the motto of "Ski Haystack Before Everyone Else Does." Designed as an upscale ski area, Haystack was served by the 'Oh No' Mueller double chairlift and three T-Bars during its first season. The original base lodge featured an usual wine and cheese shop, in addition to a cocktail lounge and more traditional offerings. A dramatic summit lodge, featuring French food, was planned for the following season, but was never constructed.

Two more Mueller double chairlifts would be added shortly thereafter - a short one serving the lower mountain's beginner slopes, and transfer lift which ran from the top of the lower mountain chair to the bottom of the upper mountain. There would be no significant trail or lift expansions again until the 1980s.

In addition to a new upper base lodge, multiple new lifts were constructed in the 1980s. In 1985, two Poma triple chairlifts (the 5,556' by 1,179' Barnstormer and the 3,335' by 804' Hayfever) were constructed on the main mountain. Two years later, a new complex was built adjacent to the main mountain. "The Witches" was served by a 2,350' by 685' CTEC triple chairlift.

For a time during the 1980s, the lower mountain was advertised as a free learn to ski area.

In 1994, S-K-I Ltd., owner of Mount Snow, purchased Haystack Mountain. S-K-I Ltd. would later merge with LBO Enterprises, forming the American Skiing Company (ASC) in 1996. While plans were drawn up to connect Haystack and Mount Snow, the two areas were never connected, other than a nordic ski trail running across the ridge.

As the American Skiing Company ran into financial problems, operations at Haystack were scaled back. Starting around 2001, Haystack was open for skiing on weekend and holiday periods, with only the upper mountain operating.

On March 30, 2005, during the second wave of ski area sell-offs, the American Ski Company announced that Haystack would be sold to a group of investors organized as Tyringham Ridge for $5,000,000. Included in the Purchase and Sale Agreement was a first right of refusal for Mt. Snow to reacquire the ski area, as well as the ability to continue to draw from Haystack's water supply for snowmaking.

The initial proposal for the Haystack Club, which limited access to the ski area to only club members and local residents, consisted of only keeping the three triple chairs from the infrastructure. The Witches and Hayfever triple chairlifts were to remain in place, while the Barnstormer triple chairlift was to be moved to the lower mountain, serving the novice slopes and connecting them to the main mountain. A handle tow served tubing area was to be located adjacent to the bottom of the relocated triple chair, while a Magic Carpet was to be built below the former Upper Base Lodge. Tying everything together was a proposed high speed detachable chondola lift (gondola cars and four person chairs on the same haul rope), which was to follow a line similar to that of the Barnstomer triple. The Upper Base Lodge was to be converted to a children's facility, while a new lodge and hotel was to be built near the bottom of the proposed chondola.

By early 2007, the development was expected to cost $450,000,000. In addition to the ski facilities, hundreds of townhouses and condos were to be built, along with a spa, business center, equestrian center, 18 hole golf course, and five star restaurant. The development was formerly placed on hold in March of 2007, in part due to poor sales figures.

While the ski area has yet to reopen after its ASC tenure, some work has been done. The lower base lodge has been demolished, a gatehouse has been constructed at the main entrance, and some initial real estate development has been started. Nonetheless, as of the beginning of the 2008-2009 ski season, there are no imminent plans in place to reopen the ski area in the near future. Its ultimate fate will be up to the Haystack Club. Regardless if it does open, the area will not be open to the general public, making it lost as an accessible ski area.

Layout

By The Year

Additional Historical Photos - Please Click on Each for the Larger Version

The Oh No Double (1960s) (courtesy Hope McLaughlin)

The lower base lodge (1960s)

Ski school line up (1960s)

Memories

Recent Photos -  Please Click on Each for the Larger Version

The Lower Base Lodge

The lower base lodge (2002)

The remains of the lower base lodge (2006)

The Upper Base Lodge

The upper base lodge (2002)

The upper base lodge (2006)

The Barnstormer Triple (1985 Poma)

The bottom terminal (2002)

Looking down the line (2006)

The top terminal (2006)

The Hayfever Triple (1985 Poma)

The bottom terminal (2002)

The top terminal (2006)

The Witches Triple (1987 CTEC)

The bottom terminal (2006)

Looking down the line (2006)

The top terminal (2006)

The Transfer Double (Mueller)

The bottom terminal (2002)

The top terminal (2006)

The Lower Mountain Double (Mueller)

The bottom terminal (2006)

The top terminal (2006)

The top terminal, looking at the remains of the bottom terminal of the Transfer Double (2002)

The Oh No Double (Mueller)

The bottom terminal (2006)	The bridge tower (2002)	The bridge tower (2006)
The line (2006)	The top terminal (2006)

If you have more information on this area, please let us know.

Last updated: November 3, 2008

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