MINNESOTA

68
lost
areas

MWLSAP Homepage

Any information or pictures on the lost ski areas of Minnesota would be greatly appreciated. Please e-mail: mark@mwlsap.org

| lost | working on | never opened | still open |

LOST AREAS

Allen's Thrill Hill

Alpenhorn* (see Crystal Hills)

Anderson's Hill+ (became Ski Haven, still open as Mt. Kato)

Arctic Park* - See Mt. Sitzmark

Bamber Hills (also called Rochester Ski Hill)

Barkers Alps (also called North Star Tow)

Battle Creek Park

Benton Valley * see Hole in the Mountain County Park

Big Ojibway *- see Ojibway Ski Bowl

Blaine Ski Area^

Breezy Point Estates

Buffalo Valley Ski Area

Bush Lake

Cedar Hills Ski Park

Comet Skiways

Crestwood Golf and Ski

Crystal Hills (formerly Alpenhorn)

Darwin Winter Recreation Park

  • Darwin / Dassel MN (Meeker County) South Central Minnesota
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    45.09393830016789, -94.37771733834762
  • From Midwest Lost Ski Areas Facebook Page - Old ski hill between Darwin and Dassel Minnesota. We fly our paragliders off it now.
  • from Meeker County Museum at the GAR Hall
    • Hi Mark,

      We weren't able to find any definite dates, but I did put a request for memories from a local Facebook group and was able to gather a few details from their comments. The rope tow was in operation sometime during the 1970s-80s. It was shut down due to liability concerns. One person remembered watching more than one person shoot across the highway on their toboggan. You would lay on your tube or sled and grab on to the rope (often with a good jerk of the shoulders) to be towed up the hill, hoping you don't lose your sled on the way up. One gentleman commented that he went through a pair of gloves each year.

      Sorry we couldn't be of more help, but it looks like the people enjoyed reminiscing! If we get any more details, we will be sure to pass them along if you are interested.

      Danelle Erickson

 

Eagle Mountain Ski Area

Edina Ski Tow

  • Edina, MN - Twin Cities area (Hennepin County) - "near hwy 169 and (old) county road 18"; on 169 [hwy 169 realigned in 1988]; hill faces north; 5 min from Edina Country Club
  • v: 100 ft, o: 1952?
  • Google Maps / Google Earth ???
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • Scene in Edina - Minneapolis Tribune, Jan, 6, 1952 (nice pictures)
  • Ski Resorts Ready as Snow Piles up - Minneapolis Tribune, Jan. 6, 1952, p. 27
  • Ski Reports - Minneapolis Tribune, Jan. 1, 1953

Egan's Resort / Egan's Hidden Valley Ski Tow* (see Hidden Valley)

Eko Backen

Finland Air Base

  • Finland, MN (Lake County) - northeast Minnesota - 2.8 miles north of Finland, MN
  • v: 190 ft. o: 1950
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    47.45385365963821, -91.23748584915985
  • skimap.org (0 maps)

Fond du Lac Winter Sports Center* - see Ojibway Ski Bowl

French Rapids

Glenhaven

Gokey's Hlil + (still open as Buck Hill)

  • Burnsville, MN (Dakota County) - near Twin Cities
  • o: 1940
  • Ski Run Lift Is Being Built - The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Mon, Nov 22, 1937 (Gokey's Hill)
  • Ski Trails - The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Jan 14, 1940 (Gokey's Hill)

Golden Gate To Fun

Hallaway Hill Ski Area (Hollaway)

Hidden Valley

Hidden Valley (another one - also called Egan's Resort and Egan's Hidden Valley Ski Tow)

Hole in the Mountain County Park - also called Benton Valley and Lake Benton Valley

Inver Hills Ski Hill (previously called NorSki)

Lake Benton Valley* - see Hole in the Wall county Park

Lester-Amity Park Ski and Jumping Area

  • Duluth, MN (St. Louis County) northeast Minnesota - 2940, Seven Bridges Rd, Duluth
  • v: 62 ft.
  • 1 rope tow
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    46.855314045405954, -92.01268887825745
  • skimap.org (0 maps) - this is the only reference I can find stating that there was a rope tow, but this reference has been removed.

Little Squaw Valley

Lone Lake Ski Club

Lookout Mountain (Lookout Lodge, Minnesota's Lookout Mountain)

Marthaler Ski Area

Moon Valley Ski Area

Mt. Carmel *- See Saint John's University

Mt. Florida

  • Spicer / Willmar, MN - (936 S, First St.) (Kandiyohi County) - central Minnesota - 13 mi. N of Wilmar, 5 mi. W of Spicer
  • Dickerson's Resort, 13194 2nd Street N.E., Spicer, MN fornerly called Shady Rest Beach Resort and Lake Florida Resort - pictures
  • 1958-59, 1959-60
  • on 1958 and 1962 maps
  • Highest hill in area:
    Google Maps / Google Earth
    45.25569532780207, -95.0359808636332
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • Location of resort on Lake:
    Google Maps / Google Earth
    45.25211772605166, -95.04016986545808
  • These are the only references that I could find:
  • Bob Larson, Kandiyohi County Historical Society:

    "I can't find any articles or pictures of Mt. Florida. I did talk to a family member and it was a Downhill Ski and Toboggan Hill on the NE side of Lake Florida 1958-1960. They had rope lift and a warming house. Because of lack of snow in those years it never got going. Here are pictures of where it would have been. I hope you can use this; it is all I could Find.."

    Pictures     1 2

Mt. Frontenac

Mt. Normandale+ - still open as Hyland Hills

Mt. Notch - same location as the Tyrol Ski Tow (1949)

Mt. Rockwood

Mt. Rushford* (see Rushford)

Mt. Silver (may be the same as Two Harbors)

Mt. Sitzmark - also called Arctic Park

Mt. Wirth* (see Theodore Wirth Park)

New Brighton Rope Tow* (probably same as TCAAP)

Nordmarken Ski Area

Norski Hill* (later became Inver Hills)

North Oaks (also North Oakes)

North Star Tow* - see Barker's Alps

Ojibway Ski Bowl - Also called: Big Ojibway Mountain, Fond Du Lac Ojibway Bowl, Fond du Lac Winter Sports Center

Old Smokey Hill Ski Park (Smoky)

Pine Bend Ski Area

Pine Valley

Pipestone* (may be Hole in the Mountain / Benton Valley)

Potter Ridge * ???

  • Kimball, MN - central Minnesota
  • v: 250 ft.
  • Ski Area Guide, SKIING Magazine, Sept. 1969, pp. 162-164 This is the only reference I could find. Probably did not exist. May be confused with Powder Ridge, Kimball, which is stlil open.

Prior Lake Ski Area

  • Prior Lake, MN (Scott County)
  • o: 1967
  • Google Maps / Google Earth ???
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • Suburban Neighbors - Ribbon Cutting Opened Prior Lake Ski Area - Minneapolis Star, Jan. 31, 1967 (Note: this is the only news article that I could find.)

Quadna

Rochester Ski Hill* - see Bamber Hills

Rock Hill* - see University of Minnesota Duluth

Royal Oak

Rushford (Mt. Rushford)

Saint John's University (Mt. Carmel)

Saint Mary's College

Sawtooth Mountains Ski Area

Shingobee Ski Area

Silver Slopes

Singing Hills

Ski Devil

Ski Haven+ - became Mount Kato in 1977 - still open

Ski-Tonka

Skidahlen

Snail Lake

Snofun

  • Inver Grove Heights ? (Dakota County), MN - 8 miles south of St. Paul at South Robert Trail and Highway 55
  • Google Maps / Google Earth ???
    44.84145333476944, -93.08527531731154
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • 1,000 May Jam JCC Ski Train - Minneapolis Tribune, Jan. 18, 1953, p. 42
  • Ski Reports - Minneapolis Tribune, Jan. 1, 1953

Snobakken Ski Tow

Sugar Hills

Theodore Wirth Park ( also called Wirth Park, Mt. Wirth)

Timberlane

ToMo

  • Detroit Lakes, MN (Becker County) - west central Minnesota (15 miles east of Detroit Lakes on US 34)
  • v: 300
  • Google Maps / Google Earth (exact location unknown)
    46.88144247136384, -95.54091579874222 ???
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • In 1978 (Skalka): 1 rope tow, 4 chairlifts ??

Two Harbors (probably the same as Voyageur Skiway; may be the same as Mt. Silver)

Twin Cities Army Ammunitions Plant (TCAAP)

Tyrol Ski Tow - Same location as Mt. Notch (1989)

  • Avon, MN (Stearns County) - Hwy 52, 17 mi. W of St. Cloud (14 mi on Hwy 52, then left a half mile before Avon, and go 3 mi)
  • o: 1949 (may only have been open only two seasons); 2 rope tows
  • Google Maps / Google Earth ???
    45.58268651659414, -94.45001853405277
    Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location.
  • The Fanning Mill - St. Cloud Times (Saint Cloud, Minnesota) · Sat, Jan 1, 1949
  • Tows Ready For Skiers - St. Cloud Times (Saint Cloud, Minnesota) · Thu, Dec 30, 1948
  • Picture1 Picture 2 - St. Cloud Times (Saint Cloud, Minnesota) · Mon, Jan 3, 1949
  • Good News: Tyrol Opens: "It's Tops" - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Jan 9, 1949

University of Minnesota Duluth - also called Rock Hill

  • Duluth, MN (St. Louis County) - northeast Minnesota
  • WR Bagley Nature Center on the University of Minnesota Campus
  • v: 124 ft.
  • Google Maps / Google Earth
    46.822208358145694, -92.0893055790312
  • Picture - University of Minnesota Duluth Facebook Page
  • Picture - UMD Libraries Media
  • skimap.org (0 maps)

Val Chatel

Val Croix+ - became Wild Mountain, still open

Val Hulla ??

  • Mankato, MN (Blue Earth) - south central Minnesota
  • on 1963 map
  • Skiers Take to Chartered Busses - Minneapolis Star, Dec, 20, 1963
  • The only reference found is the Dec. 20, 1963 Minneapolis Star article and map. It is doubtful that it actually existed.

Viking Valley

Villa Park (Villa-Arctic Park?)

Voyageur Skiway* (probably the same as Two Harbors and Comet Skiways)

Wirth Park* (see Theodore Wirth Park)

MWLSAP Homepage

 

WORKING ON:

location of Crestwood Golf and Ski

location of Edina Ski Tow

location of Mt. Florida

location of Mt. Notch and Tyrol Ski Tow

location of Mt. Silver

location of New Brighton Rope Tow* (probably same as TCAAP)

location of Prior lake Ski Area

  • email sent to info@scottcountyhistory.org

location of Royal Oak

location of Rushford

location of Saint Mary's College

location of Silver Slopes

location of Skidahlen

location of Snofun

location of Snobakken Ski Tow

location of ToMo

location of Two Harbors

 Lester-Amity Park Ski and Jumping Area

Potter Ridge - probably Powder Ridge

Deer River ski hill - WORKING ON

  • Deer River, MN (Itasca county) - north central Minnesota
  • Deer River Finds Answer to Sports Program Finances - The Winona Daily News (Winona, Minnesota) · Thu, Aug 7, 1952
  • no mention of tow
  • Deer River Sliding Hill ???
    Google Maps
    47.36472982780351, -93.7616420404384
  • Itasca County Historical Society
    ichs@paulbunyan.net

Winter Wonderland - WORKING ON

Lanesboro, MN and Pigeon Falls, WI both ski jumps - WORKING ON

  • Voice of the Outdoors - The Winona Daily News (Winona, Minnesota) · Sat, Feb 4, 1950
  • Benson Hill ski jump 2 mi N of Lanesboro

Winter Haven - WORKING ON

MWLSAP Homepage

PLANNED, BUT NEVER DEVELOPED

 

STILL OPEN (MN)

Afton Alps

Andes Tower Hills

  • still OPEN
  • Kensington, MN (Douglas County) - west central Minnesota
  • website
  • skimap.org

Buck Hill (formerly Gokey's Hill)

  • still OPEN
  • Burnsville, MN (Dakota County) - near Twin cities
  • Ski Run Lift Is Being Built - The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Mon, Nov 22, 1937 (Gokey's Hill)
  • Ski Trails - The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Jan 14, 1940 (Gokey's Hill)
  • website
  • skimap.org

Buena Vista

  • still OPEN
  • Bemidji, MN (Beltrami County) - north central Minnesota
  • website
  • skimap.org

Chester Bowl Park

Coffee Mill

Como Park

Detroit Mountain

  • REOPENED
  • Detroit, Lakes, MN (Becker County) - northwest Minnesota
  • website
  • skimap.org

Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area

Giants Ridge

Hyland Hills Ski Area (formerly called Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area and Mt. Normandale)

Lutsen

  • still OPEN
  • Lutsen, MN (Cook County) - northeast Minnesota
  • o: 1948
  • website
  • skimap.org

Mount Itasca

Mount Kato (formerly called Anderson's Hill and Ski Haven)

Mount Ski Gull

Pine Valley Ski Area and Jump Center

Powder Ridge Ski Area

  • still OPEN
  • Kimball, MN (Stearns County)- central Minnesota
  • o: 1959
  • website
  • skimap.org

Spirit Mountain

  • still OPEN
  • Duluth, MN (St. Louis County) - northeast Minnesota
  • o: 1974
  • website
  • skimap.org

Steeplechase Ski & Snowboard

Welch Village Ski Area

Wild Mountain Ski Area (formerly Val Croix)

MWLSAP Homepage

1958

Minneapolis Tribune, Dec. 7, 1958, p. 52

 

1959

Minneapolis Tribune,Sun, Dec 6, 1959

 

1960s

Trollhaugen Troll Facebook Page

 

1961

Minneapolis Tribune, Dec. 17, 1961

 

1962

Minneapolis Tribune, Dec. 23, 1962, p. 53

1963

Minneapolis Star, Dec. 20, 1964, p. 62

Error: Timberlane located on map south of Bemidji was actually in Red Lake Falls, 90 miles northwest of Bemidji

1964

Minneapolis Tribune, Dec. 13, 1964, p. 62

1966

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 13, 1966 (info. on all resorts)

1969

Minneapolis Star (?) Mon. Nov. 16, 1969

 

1971

Minneapolis Star, Mon. Nov. 15, 1971

1972

Minneapolis Star, Nov. 10, 1972, p. 28

1977

Winona Daily News, Sunday Dec. 11, 1977 p. 25

1978

Minneapolis Tribune, Nov. 19, 1978

 

1978

St. Cloud Times, Dec 8, 1978

1980

Minneapolis Tribune, Nov. 9, 1980

Skiing in the Great Lake States: the industry and the skier [by] William A. Leuschner. 1970
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/10567

 

FROM: Ski Magazine, Dec., 1977

 

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* renamed; closed
+ renamed; open
^ never opened

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