IOWA 31 lost areas MWLSAP Homepage Any information or pictures on the lost ski areas of Iowa would be greatly appreciated. Please e-mail: mark@mwlsap.org  SKI IOWA - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Development Commision 1972

LOST AREAS Annie Wittenmyer Home Davenport, IA - northeast Iowa Google Maps / Google Earth 41.547381184857365, -90.55310542197545 Facebook Post and Comments on Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Group - see post by Chad Mayerhofer Beaver Hills Ski Association ??? Cedar Falls, IA may not have opened - I can only find two mentions in newspapers Beaver Hills Country Club - 8230 Beaver Hills Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 - ski hill was N and E (?) of the club house in 1964/65 - maybe N and W of present clubhouse (?) Google Maps / Google Earth 42.56983599310014, -92.52020487545497 New Ski Group Eagerly Awaiting Major Snowfall - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Sun, Dec 27, 1964 New Golf Links Opening In Spring - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Fri, Jan 15, 1965 Big Sioux Park Hawarden, IA - northwest Iowa Google Maps / Google Earth 43.06158501358438, -96.47113920752672 Iowa Winter Sports Area Offer Range of Activities, Des Moines Register, Jan. 7, 1973 Bunker Hill Golf Course* - see Dubuque Ski Club Hill Canton, IA Canton, IA - northeast Iowa possible rope tow at present site of Wildwood Acres Association (seasonal camping) Google Maps / Google Earth 42.17178740586281, -90.90084137504238 Facebook post - Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Group Clear Creek Ranch Lansing, IA - Allamakee County, highway 9, 2 mi W of Lansing o: 1971 Google Maps / Google Earth ??? 42.17234566010368, -90.90101543334731 Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location. Iowa Winter Sports Area Offer Range of Activities, Des Moines Register, Jan. 7, 1973 Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) Davenport Country Club Davenport, IA - northeast Iowa Google Maps / Google Earth 41.577184326226764, -90.40760037510096 From the notebook by Eloise - Daily Times (Davenport, Iowa), Jan. 29, 1955 Await Snow - The Daily Times, Jan. 23, 1957 Dayton Del Ski Area Dayton, IA - central Iowa (3015 Skillet Creek Ave., 5 miles east of Dayton on Iowa 175) Google Maps / Google Earth 42.255138141665036, -94.00142004115881 Skiing in Iowa on the Increase - Sioux City Journal, Jan. 22, 1973 Hit the slopes, ride the hills,and . . . - Quad City Times, Jan. 12, 1989, p. 52 Dexfield Sports Area Dexter, IA (2 miles north of Dexter on P48 [Dexfield Rd.]) v: 200 ft. upside down (lodge at top) Google Maps / Google Earth 41.56328728858404, -94.22797275917681 Skiing in Iowa on the Increase - Sioux City Journal, Jan. 22, 1973 Iowa Winter Sports Area Offer Range of Activities, Des Moines Register, Jan. 7, 1973 Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) SKI Magazine, Feb. 1975 (link) More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 Dubuque Ski Club Hill (probably the same as Bunker Hill Golf Course, near hole 11) Dubuque, IA - eastern Iowa (Kaufman Ave. near water level station, near Bunker Hill) - o: 1952 Google Maps / Google Earth 42.51147062481716, -90.69817997191613 Snomad Ski Club - Encyclopedia Dubuque SKIING - Encyclopedia Dubuque picture - encyclopediadubuque.org Duck Creek (also called Mount Duck) Davenport, IA - east central Iowa, in Duck Creek Park Google Maps / Google Earth 41.54338489536663, -90.52670244070458 The Skier Will Find A Way - Quad City Times (Davenport, IA), Dec. 26, 1978 (Mount Duck) In 1978 (Skalka): 1 rope tow (Mount Duck) skimap.org (0 maps) Fun Valley Montezuma, IA - south central Iowa (1066 500th Ave, Montezuma, IA 50171) v: 200 ft. (240 ft.) o: 1969 In 1978 (Skalka): 6 rope tows, 1 handle tow In 1992: 3 rope tows, 2 T-bars, 2 chairs Google Maps / Google Earth 41.56500071150638, -92.57391368778171 1991 Television Video - Facebook / Comments - Ski The Midwest Facebook Group Skiing in Iowa on the Increase - Sioux City Journal, Jan. 22, 1973 More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 SKI Magazine, Oct. 1992 - Glen Plake visits Fun Valley Iowa SKI Magazine, March 1985 - Fun Valley offers grass skiing KCCI Archive: Strap in for a trip back in time to Fun Valley Ski Area - Updated: 7:24 AM CST Feb 27, 20 1991 VIDEO Fun Valley Ski Area - tripadvisor.com Fun Valley - gottagoitsnows.com Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) Fun Valley Cap skimap.org Hawkeye Ski Hill (also callled Hawk Hill)- Hawkeye Ski Association (private) may have had two different locations - eastern Iowa - Cou Falls, IA 1972 in cedar Rapids city limits - 3/4 mi N of Mt Vernon Rd SE (1974), off Wilder Dr. SE o: Jan. 1966 Cou Falls location - unknown Cedar Rapids location ??? - Google Maps / Google Earth - 41.98863421184749, -91.5918388046071 Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location. Skiers Try Out New Hill (Cou Falls) - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Jan 23, 1966 The Weather's fine For Skiing (Cou Falls) - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Jan 23, 1966 Hawkeye Skiers Finally Get Break in the Weather (Cou Falls) - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Feb 16, 1969 Hawkey Ski Club to Make Snow (Cedar Rapids) - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Oct 27, 1974 advertisement (Cedar Rapids) - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Dec 22, 1974 Mel Koski Heads Hawkeye Ski Assn (Cedar Rapids) - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Wed, Apr 2, 1975 Hickory Hills Ski Slope Waterloo, IA - S. on County Rd. X 13 miles south on highway 21, off 412 and about 2 miles east on county road X maintained by Cedar Mountain Ski Club and later by the Waterloo Ski Club (combined with Cedar Mt. Ski Club in 1971) v: 190 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 42.27013757049143, -92.32072991827218 42.27151402162604, -92.31191747156461 Hickory Hills Ski Slope Open and Tow Is Working - The Courier (Waterloo Iowa), Jan. 22, 1971 Judge Wood Recalls Skiing in the Black Hawk Alps - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Sun, Jan 24, 1971 Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) Iowa Aspen? - picture of rope tow - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Sun, Dec 21, 1975 Holiday Mountain Inc. (later called Riverside Hills) Estherville, IA - northwestern Iowa ( 1 mile southwest of Estherville on Iowa 4) on Bluffs of Des Moines River West Branch v: 190 ft. o: 1966 In 1978 (Skalka): 3 rope tows, 1 T-bar In 1980: 2 rope tows, 2 T-bars Google Maps / Google Earth 43.38666825584598, -94.83542166826871 More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 Estherville Praying for Snow - Sioux City Journal (Sioux City, Iowa) · Sun, Mar 1, 1970 SKI Magazine, Nov. 1973 (link) SKI Magazine, Feb. 1982 (link) Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) skimap.org Horseshoe Bend Milford, IA - northwestern Iowa ( 2 miles south and 3 miles west of Milford on US 71) v: 75 ft. In 1978 (Skalka): 1 rope tow Google Maps / Google Earth 43.30237876144326, -95.20888308332535 More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 SKI Magazine, Nov. 1983 (link) skimap.org Humboldt Winter Playground* (Playland) see Silver Creek Iowa County Park Millersburg, IA - off I-80 5 mi N of Millersburg; runout on Lake Iowa Currently Lake Iowa County Recreation Area Google Maps / Google Earth 41.63737012840509, -92.17756325727444 Snow means fun for skiers - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sat, Jan 6, 1979 Kalen's Ski Area * see Ted's Ski Hill Kent Park / F. W, Kent Park Oxford, Iowa, 2048 Hwy 6 NW (Johnson County) closed to skiing: 1979 Google Maps / Google Earth 41.72545785941854, -91.72777337932321 Winter sports hill open at Kent Park - Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) · Mon, Jan 26, 1976 Vandalism at park major concern - Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) · Fri, Jul 21, 1978 Kent Park hill restricted to tobaggons - Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) · Fri, Nov 16, 1979 Tobaggon run, power rope tow to be discontinued - The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Fri, Oct 24, 1986 Mount Duck* - see Duck Creek Nob Hill Ski Area (close to Pilot Knob State Park) Forest City, IA - north central Iowa (4 miles east, 1/2 mi W of State Park W entrance) o: 1960; did not operate 1966-1969; c: 1976 may have reopened with new name: Pilot Knob Ski Area Google Map / Google Earth 43.25475979560132, -93.57384388475073 ??? Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location. Forest City's New Ski Area Opens Today - The Des Moines Register, Dec 31, 1960 Students, East Iowans Enjoy Sub-Zero Skiing - The Des Moines Register, Dec. 15, 1963 - See last two paragraphs Airborne in North Iowa - Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa), Feb 24, 1972 Skiing Facilities in Iowa - The Des Moines Register, Jan. 25,1976 (Nob Hill closes - last paragraph) Pilot Knob ski controversy may come to head Monday - part 1 / part 2 - Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa), May 7, 1964 Pilot Knob ski area ready for fun again - Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa), Jan 20, 1970 Nor-Ski Runs Ski Area Decorah, IA - northeastern Iowa (Decorah Parks and Recreation Dept. - on US 52, 1 and 1/2 miles north of Iowa 9) v: 250 ft. o: 1960 In 1978 (Skalka): 4 rope tows, 1 T-bar Google Maps / Google Earth 43.31457548587034, -91.81495870156311 Iowa Ski Areas - skibum.net Nor-Ski Eulogy ! ! ! R.I.P . . . . Decorah, Iowa - YouTube Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) Now They're Skiing More and It's Costing Less - The Des Moines Register,Feb. 7,1971 Believe it - skiing is alive and well here in Iowa, Waterloo Courier, (Winter World) Dec. 27, 1981 opened 1960 More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 Pictures (2023) from Dale Henkes skimap.org (0 maps) Oak Highlands Waverly, IA - northeastern Iowa (2 miles north of Waverly, from Hwy 3 going west turn north on 1st St. NW right before the bridge, then turn left on the first road after crossing bridge) v: 150 ft. In 1982: 2 rope tows, 1 poma lift, 1 T-bar chairlift added in 1982 waterslide in summer Google Maps / Google Earth 42.75155677966078, -92.47692247721919 SKI Magazine, Dec. 1982 (link) Ski area to open Dec. 11 - Waterloo Courier, Nov. 23, 1982 You can ski tonight at Oak Highlands - Waterloo Courier, Feb. 5, 1985 Hit the slopes, ride the hills,and . . . - Quad City Times, Jan. 12, 1989, p. 52 skimap.org Raccoon River Dexter, IA - central Iowa ( 2 1/2 miles north of Dexter on P48) v: 230 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 41.56149751213487, -94.22880485106383 SKI Magazine, Oct. 1982 (link) Inclined to ski all year - Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Thu, May 20, 1982 skimap.org Riverside Hills* - see Holiday Mountain Scott County Park Rope Tow Eldridge / Long Grove, IA - east central Iowa Google Maps / Google Earth 41.70024767041134, -90.52751001731409 Winter wonderland awaits visitors - Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) · Tue, Feb 12, 1980 Rope tow opens - Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) · Sat, Feb 5, 1983 Facebook Post and Comments on Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Group Iowa Ski Areas - Google Maps Silver Creek (also called Winter World, Humboldt Winter Playground; Winter Playland) Humboldt, IA - north central Iowa (3 miles east of junction 169 and 3, and 3/4 mile north, 3 miles east of Hardy, IA) v: 130 ft. o: 1960 In 1978 (Skalka): 3 rope tows - Humboldt winter Playground Google Maps / Google Earth 42.74591247394301, -94.15024083277324 More Iowa Ski Areas - (Winter World) Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 "Three rope tows. Benched cable car on rails for tobogganers." Believe it - skiing is alive and well here in Iowa, Waterloo Courier, (Winter World) Dec. 27, 1981 opened 1960 Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Development Commission, 1972 (Humboldt Winter Playgrojund) (.pdf) In 1987: 4 rope tows, 2 T-bars SKI Magazine, Jan. 1992 (link) Brochure (Winter Playland - thank you Rod Williams) Humboldt County - Business Review and News - Winter Playland - The Humboldt ndependent,Dec.29, 1973 location / map skimap.org Ski-Pal Ski Area Mt. Vernon, IA - Palidades-Kepler State Park - 4 miles west of Mt. Vernon o: 1958 Google Map / Google Earth 41.911341455032726, -91.5025187604197 Skiing Grows More Popular Each Year - The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Jan. 24, 1965 Big Crowd Enjoys Iowa Ski Project - Carroll Daily Times Herald, Jan. 28, 1960 Students, East Iowans Enjoy Sub-Zero Skiing - The Des Moines Register, Dec. 15, 1963 Ski Valley+ (reopened as Seven Oaks Recreation Area) Ski Villa Waverly, IA - northeastern Iowa (north on 1st . NW past north power plant to north side of Stockwell Bridge, first turn on north side of bridge) o: 1971, v: 250 In 1978 (Skalka): 6 rope tows Google Maps / Google Earth ??? 42.74902709936494, -92.47766857591458 Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location. Ski Villa Opens Near Waverly - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Tue, Feb 2, 1971 Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 Snomad Basin* (Dubuque) see Veterans Memorial Ski Hill Squaw Creek Park Rope Tow Marion (Cedar Rapids), IA - east central Iowa now called Wannatee Park Google Maps / Google Earth 42.017056668341674, -91.55742059363033 Squaw Creek skiing area set - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Dec 4, 1977 Facebook Post and Comments on Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest Group Iowa Ski Areas - Google Maps Sunset Cherokee, IA - northwest Iowa (on old Iowa 3, 1/2 mile east of town) v: 145 ft. o: 1982 1 rope tow Google Maps / Google Earth 42.74818815912793, -95.52895502622985 Times Gone By - Chronicle Times, 11/29/12 - scroll down to: 25 years ago SKI Magazine, Oct .1984 (link) skimap.org (0 maps) Ted's Ski Hill - sometimes called Kalen's Ski Area Grimes, IA - central Iowa (one mile north of Grimes on W side of hwy141) - 8000 block NW 114th St, Grimes, IA owned by Ted Kalen upside down (lodge at the top) v: 106 ft. o: 1964 Google Maps / Google Earth 41.707522959980814, -93.77613451247689 Polk Approves Ski Business - Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Thu, Feb 13, 1964 Tests Ski Lift Near Grimes (picture) - Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sat, Feb 23, 1963 Ski Enthusiasts Happy With Snow (picture) - Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Fri, Mar 27, 1964 Area Snow Reports - Kalen's Ski Hill - Ames Daily Tribune, Jan. 28,1971 Iowa Winter Sports Area Offer Range of Activities, Des Moines Register, Jan. 7, 1973 Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Developement Commission, 1972 (.pdf) Now They're Skiing More and It's Costing Less - The Des Moines Register,Feb. 7,1971 Veterans' Memorial Ski Hill (also called Snomad Basin) Dubuque, IA - eastern Iowa (1810 W. 32nd Street) v: 120 ft. o: 1968 c: 1983 In 1978 (Skalka): 2 rope tows Dubuque IA (West 32nd Street) Google Maps / Google Earth 42.52458496748675, -90.70299938566382 Snomad Ski Club - Snomad Basin - Encyclopedia Dubuque Encyclopedia Dubuque - SKIING More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 Peak Performers - Retiree / Ski Instructor - The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sat, Feb 28, 1998 Waterloo Ski Club Waterloo, IA - north east Iowa - Winter Ridge Rd. "Black Hawk County Alps" v: 300 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 42.5214240160085, -92.40971186980917 Waterloo Ski Club to Have Annual Meet - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Sun, Mar 11, 1956 Twenty Skiers Espected Sunday For Tournament - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Thu, Feb 19, 1942 Judge Wood Recalls Skiing in the Black Hawk Alps - The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) · Sun, Jan 24, 1971 (rope tow mentioned) Wildwood Acres Canton, IA - north east Iowa, Google Maps / Google Earth 42.175706408805844, -90.90910502362895 Skiers and Snowborders of the Midwest - Facebook Group Advertisement - Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) · Thu, Sep 15, 1977 Advertisement - Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) · Thu, Jul 12, 1979 Ad for real estate - mentions rope tow - The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sun, Mar 4, 1979 skiing mentioned in ad in 1981 - Quad-City Times, 16 Aug 1981 Winter Playland *see Silver Creek Winter World *see Silver Creek MWLSAP Homepage WORKING ON: 1979 map Beaver Hills Ski Association Raccoon River Nob Hill Ski Area Hickory Hills Ski Slope Hawkeye Ski Hill- no location Chestnut Mound ?? Cedar Falls / Waterloo, IA - east central Iowa Protection, Injury Aid Offered at Iowa Ski Areas - The Des Moines Register, Feb. 21, 1971 May be: Waterloo Ski Club Hickory Hills Ski Slope Iowa Skiers Seek Other Slopes - The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sun, Feb 28, 1965 Mount vernon Ski Pal Ski Area Eldora Des moines Hawkeye outside of Eldridge Elridge, IA - east central , N of Davenport "Ski Bug" Bites Teachers - Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) · Sun, Feb 10, 1963 Snow Valley Estherville, Spirit Lake, Skiers Honored - Estherville Daily News (Estherville, Iowa) · Mon, May 4, 1970 SKI JUMPS: Longview Ski Club (Longview Ski Hill / Longview Ski Slide) Dubuque, IA probably ski jumping only c: 1949 Ski Tourney at Dubuque Billed Feb. 3 - Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) · Sun, Jan 20, 1946 Canton Ski Hill (Sioux Valley Ski Club) Ski Jumping only Ski Jumping Hill Archive Canton Ready For Important Ski Competition -  MWLSAP Homepage PLANNED, BUT NEVER DEVELOPED Pilot Knob State Park^ NEVER OPENED Forest City, IA - north central Iowa (3 miles east of Forest City on Iowa 9; north of the tower in the park) runs were cleared, but it appears that no tow was installed Google Maps / Google Earth 43.25255247664318, -93.55286355124332 Iowa Winter Sports Area Offer Range of Activities, Des Moines Register, Jan. 7, 1973 Ski Iowa - Tourism and Travel Division, Iowa Development Commission, 1972 (.pdf) Pilot Knob ski controversy may come to head Monday - part 1 / part 2 - Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa), May 7, 1964 Preserve Pilot Knob - Ames Daily Tribune, May 6, 1964 Supports ski run at Pilot Knob - Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa), May 9, 1964 Ski Run Request Dropped - Des Moines Tribune, Jun 2, 1964  MWLSAP Homepage STILL OPEN (IA) Mt. Crescent Ski Area (Crescent Hills) still OPEN website skimap.org Seven Oaks Recreation Area (formerly Ski Valley) still OPEN o: 1997-1998 website skimap.org Google Maps / Google Earth 42.03086479232947, -93.95330730323244 Ski Valley: In 1978 (Skalka): 3 rope tows Ski Valley: More Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119 Ski Valley: SKI Magazine, Jan. 1992 History of Seven Oaks Sleepy Hollow Sports Park still OPEN o: 1997-1998 Des Moines, IA website skimap.org Sundown Mountain Resort still OPEN first chairlift in Iowa website skimap.org  MWLSAP Homepage

1976 The Des Moines Register Sun, Jan. 25, 1976  Map of Present and Lost Iowa Ski Areas created by Lucas Schryver   1979 The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sun, Nov 18, 1979   1986 The Gazette (Cedar Rapids Iowa) · Sun, Jan. 5, 1986   1997 The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sat, Dec. 6, 1997 Still open in 2023: Mt. Crescent, Sleepy Hollow, Sundown, and Seven Oaks

* renamed; closed
+ renamed; open
^ never opened

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