The Lost Resorts videos explore lost ski areas across North America. Each episode delves into the full history of every mountain, analyzing significant events leading up to the closure.
The Lost Resorts also examines how each ski area would have skied. Facilities (e.g. day lodges, parking lots), lifts and ski runs are all examined.
Officially opened in 1974 on Vancouver Island, Mt. Arrowsmith served Port Alberni until it's permanent closure in 1999.
Snoasis was a ski resort near Regina, Saskatchewan, operating from 1973 until 1978 (re-opened as Hidden Valley in 1980, final closure in 1984). The resort had 2 Doppelmayr triple chairlifts, and closed after it was unable to secure funding for a permanent water pipeline.
Opening in 1964, Mt. Agassiz was a prominent ski resort in Manitoba, operating in Riding Mountain National Park. It ultimately closed in 2000, due to challenging weather, increased competition and ageing facilities. The remains were completely removed by Parks Canada in 2015.
Originally founded as Lyon Mountain in 1985, Wintergreen was a family-friendly ski resort located 30 minutes west of Calgary, AB. Following many years of financial difficulties, the resort was purchased by RCR, then perminantly closed in 2003.
Akloo Park was a small, community ski hill in Cranbrook, BC. It operated between 1972 and 1978, closing due to poor snow conditions, lack of terrain, and proximity to Kimberly.
Drumheller Valley was a small, community ski hill, operating between 1993 and 2010. The hill struggled for years to attract enough skiers, and eventually defaulted on various loans, causing the closure in 2010.
Opening in 1963, Talisman was a premier ski destination in Ontario. It experienced significant growth before financial struggles and increased competition led to the mountain's closure in 2011.
Eden Lake was a small ski area west of Edmonton, originally developed from a fur farm in 1972. It operated for two decades before suffering from financial mismanagement and neglect, officially closing in 1992.
Grandview Ski Acres operated from 1967 to 1995 as a family-oriented ski hill near Kamloops. After being sold in 1995, and experiencing a low snow year, Grandview perminantly closed.
Berthoud Pass was a pioneer of the Colorado ski industry, operating from 1937 until 2001. The resort boasted the first double chairlift in the US. Unfortuinately, multiple owners, financial instability and increased competition forced Berthoud Pass to close in 2001.
Blackstrap opened as a manmade hill, constructed for the 1971 Canada Winter Games. While the ski area expanded in the 1980s, operational challenges, mismanagement and financial struggles spelled the end for the resort. It closed in 2007.
Operating from 1960 until 1980, Valley Schuss was owned and operated by two businessmen, serving the Toronto ski market. The ski area was purchased by the Toronto Ski Club in 1980, then permanently closed following a lodge fire.
Kitsumkalum was open from 1973 to 1986, featuring a double chair and a t-bar. The mountain was extremely steep, but suffered from low eleveation. It permanently closed following several poor seasons, though equipment was used to build Shames Mountain.
Opening in 1951, Kratka Ridge was a small SoCal ski area that lacked snowmaking. Despite this, it operated for over 50 years, until various circumstances forced the ultimate closure in 2001.
Operating from between 1962-1969, and then 1977-1980, Pigeon Mountain was a beginner-friendly hill in the Bow Valley. Warm weather, paired with subpar snowmaking spelled the end of Pigeon Mountain.
Established in 1963 by five businessmen, Mont Echo operated for many years, though it struggled with financial issues, poor weather, competition, and a poor layout. Following its bankruptcy in 1978, all traces of the ski area were eventually removed.
Aspen Heights was built in 1990 by local Hardisty resident Leroy Holt. After years of struggling with snowmaking water rights issues, Aspen Heights perminantly closed around 2004.
From 1962 until 1984, Green Mountain operated on Vancouver Island, featuring two t-bar lifts. After several years of financial difficulties, and following an uninsured lodge fire, the ski area was left abandoned in 1984.
Operating from 1957 until 1979, Mt. Pilchuck featured two double chairs and a ski lodge. The mountain closed following several poor snow years, and the expiration of its lease with the US Forest Service.
Kelowna Mountain was the dream of developer Mark Consiglio, who envisioned a year round resort complex. The project faced much backlash and legal battles, and was never fully finished. Today, it sits completely abandoned.
Iron Mountain had a turmultuous history, opening in 1971 as Silver Basin. It underwent four ownership changes and several closures before finally declaring bankrupcy in 1995.
From 1964 until 1999, Forbidden Plateau was Vancouver Island's local mountain. Poor snow, low elevation, aging facilities and increased competition all spelled the end for this ski hill.
Mt. McKay operated in Thunder Bay from 1939 until 1989. In it's later life, it was owned and operated by the Fort Williams First Nation band. With declining skier visits paired with aging infrastructure, the hill was closed in 1989.
From 1959 until 1978, Mt. Shasta Ski Bowl operated on the high alpine slopes of Mt. Shasta. It faced extreme weather conditions consistently, leading to challenging financial conditions. After an avalanche destroyed a chairlift, the ski area was perminantly closed.
Opening as Snow Ridge in 1968, Fortress was once a major ski hill in Alberta. Following ownership changes and years of neglect, Fortress eventually closed in 2006.
Originally opening as Indianhead Mountain in 1963, Geneva Basin was a small Colorado mountain that struggled due to its remote location. After failing to reopen with new owners in the mid 1980s, Geneva Basin was perminantly closed.
From the late 1930s until 2003, Marshall Mountain was Missoula's beginner-friendly mountain. While the mountain enjoyed many years of success, several poor snow seasons put financial strain on the mountain, eventually causing its closure in 2003.
Established in 1950 as a remote asbestos mining town, Cassiar grew to be a community of over 1200 people. A ski hill was established in 1965. Following the collapse of teh mining company in 1992, everything was liquidated.
From 1949 until 1994, Cleary Summit operated as a family-run resort near Fairbanks, Alaska. Rising competition and operational costs eventually spelled the end for the mountain.
The Lassen Volcanic National Park sported a ski area from between 1939 to 1993. Despite capital improvements, shifting policies and financial struggles led to the mountain's eventual closure.
Opening in 1969, Silver Summit was a popular local hill near Edson, Alberta. Despite many years of family ownership, the ski hill closed after 2018 for unknown reasons.
Sugar Loaf grew from several rope tows in the 1940s to a full-on resort by the 1980s. However, following a period of financial instability, poor management and bad snow, Sugar Loaf abruptly closed in 2000.
Operating from 1983 until 2000, Ski Rio was a short lived ski area that faced numerous owners, financial instability and consistent operating losses.
The Telemark Resort was established in 1947, and it grew into a promiment local ski destination. However, years of financial struggles, ownership disputes and deferred maintenance ultimately forced the phased closure of the resort.
Developed by a local Thunder Bay businessman, Candy Mountain began operations in 1972. Despite it's size and terrain diversity, ownership changes, declining visitation and increased competition spelled the end for Candy Mountain, which closed in 2002.
Last Oak was developed in 1968, and slowly grew to become Saskatchewan's largest downhill ski area. The hill eventually closed around 2007 due to shifting priorities for the First Nation band who owned the mountain.
Operating in Rocky Mountain National Park, Hidden Valley evolved from a small ski club to a sizable operation. However, by 1991, shifting park priorities, old infrastructure and poor snow spelled the end for Hidden Valley.
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