|
LOST
AREAS
Annie
Wittenmyer Home
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
Booneville
- Booneville, IA (Dallas County) -
central Iowa, near Des Moines W - 1 mi. S of Booneville,
17 mi. W of Des Moines
- Google
Maps / Google
Earth ???
41.51405007590459, -93.8866314962841
1 mi. S of Booneville
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more
precise location.
- Ski
Run Near Here - The Des
Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Thu, Jul 27,
1961
- No
Snow -- But Skiing Interest Up
- Des Moines Tribune, Fri, Jan 7, 1966 - "commercially
operated ski areas" near . . . Booneville.
Personal rope tow near
Booneville:
- Family
on Skis - The Des Moines
Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sun, Feb 28, 1965 -
about a personal rope tow in Raccoon River
valley near Booneville
Bunker
Hill Golf Course*
- see Dubuque
Ski Club Hill
Clear
Creek Ranch
Davenport
Country Club
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
Deer
Run * - see
Dexfield
Sports Area
Dexfield
Sports Area
(also called Raccoon River and Deer Run)
- Dexter, IA (2 miles north of
Dexter on P48 [Dexfield Rd.]) central
Iowa
- v: 200 ft. c: 1987 (on 1986 map,
not on 1987 map)
- upside
down (lodge at the
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 Development Commission, 1972
(.pdf)
- SKI
Magazine, Feb. 1975
(link)
- More
Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines
Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119
- Deer Run: Area
slopes a hit with skiers -
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Thu, Feb 15,
1979
- Deer Run: Ski
Iowa - The Des Moines
Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sun, Nov 18,
1979
- SKI
Magazine, Oct. 1982
(link)
- Raccoon River:
Inclined
to ski all year - Des
Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Thu, May 20,
1982
- Raccoon River:
skimap.org
Dubuque
Ski Club Hill (maybe the
same as Bunker Hill Golf Course, near hole 11)
Duck
Creek (also called
Mount Duck)
- Davenport, IA - east central Iowa,
in Duck Creek Park
- o: 1964 c: 1982,
- upside
down (lodge at the
top)
- Google
Maps / Google
Earth
41.54338489536663, -90.52670244070458
- Davenport
Iowa History Facebook Page
- picture
- Quad
Citians Try Skiing -- And like It!
- The Dispatch (Moline, Illinois) · Fri, Feb 12,
1965
- 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
- Vintage Video: KCCI
Television News Report,
1991 - KCCI Archive Facebook Page (1:57)
Also on: KCCI
Television News Report,
1991 - Ski the Midwest Facebook Group
- Fun
Valley Ski Area -
tripadvisor.com
- Fun
Valley -
gottagoitsnows.com
- Ski
Iowa - Tourism and Travel
Division, Iowa Development 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
- skimap.org
(0 maps)
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
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
- Nor-Ski
Eulogy ! ! ! R.I.P . . . . Decorah,
Iowa - (2:51)
YouTube
- 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., c: 1987 (on 1986 map,
not on 1987 map)
- 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 *
- see Dexfield
Sports Area
Riverside
Hills*
- see Holiday
Mountain
Scott
County Park Rope Tow
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,
c:
1998
- upside
down (lodge at the
top)
- 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
- skimap.org
Ski-Pal
Ski Area
- Mt. Vernon, IA - Palisades-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
Reports - The Courier
(Waterloo, Iowa) · Fri, Jan 21, 1966
Ski
Valley
+ (reopened 1997-98 as
Seven Oaks
Recreation Area)
- Boone, IA - central
Iowa
- c: 1987 (on 1986 map, not on 1987
map)
- In 1978 (Skalka):
3 rope tows
- Google
Maps / Google
Earth
42.03076242505003, -93.95363809653945
- More
Iowa Ski Areas - Des Moines
Register, Nov. 5, 1978, p. 119
- SKI
Magazine, Jan. 1992
- Area
slopes a hit with skiers -
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Thu, Feb 15,
1979
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
Sugar
Creek Hill
Sunset
Ski Slope
- Pella, IA - 6 mi. SE of
Pella
- o: 1979
- 1979
map
- Google
Maps / Google
Earth ???
41.33311595532514, -92.89139589323965
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more
precise location.
- Area
slopes a hit with skiers -
Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) · Thu, Feb 15,
1979
- advertisement
- The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Tue,
Feb 6, 1979
- It
Is An Alternative, But Fear Not,
Aspen - The Des Moines
Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sun, Nov 18,
1979
- Snow
means fun for skiers - The
Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) · Sat, Jan 6,
1979
- The
Des Moines Register, Sunday, December 14,
1980
Sunset
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)
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:
location of Clear
Creek Ranch
location of Hawkeye
Ski Hill
location of Nob
Hill Ski Area
location of Ski
Villa
location of Sunset
Ski Slope
location of Booneville
No
Snow -- But Skiing Interest Up
- Des Moines Tribune, Fri, Jan 7, 1966
Mentions ski areas
near;
- Coon Rapids
- Scranton (Green
County)
Eldora
- WORKING
ON
- Eldora, IA - Hardin
County
- Google
Maps / Google
Earth ???
42.359469708376466, -93.10051373963913
location of city of Eldora
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more
precise location.
- Iowa
Skiers Seek Other Slope - The
Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sun, Feb
28, 1965
- "Among commerial ski areas in
Iowa are those near Mt. Vernon, Eldora, and Des
Moines.'
- No
Snow -- But Skiing Interest Up
- Des Moines Tribune, Fri, Jan 7, 1966
- email sent 5/25/23
hchs@heartofiowa.net
Clarence E (Whitey) Gilbert
obituary
10th mtn / first US ski tow - The Des Moines Register (Des
Moines, Iowa) · Tue, Sep 9, 2003
Hawkeye
Ski Hill- no location
- WORKING
ON
Chestnut
Mound
?? -
WORKING ON
Eldridge -
WORKING ON
Snow Valley -
WORKING ON
SKI
JUMPS:
Longview
Ski Club
(Longview Ski Hill / Longview Ski Slide)
Canton
Ski Hill
(Sioux Valley Ski Club)
MWLSAP
Homepage
PLANNED,
BUT NEVER DEVELOPED
Cone
Park -
NEVER OPENED
MacBride
Ski Area
- NEVER OPENED
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
- Knob
ski issue is reborn -
Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa) · Tue, Mar 16,
1965
MWLSAP
Homepage
Mt.
Crescent Ski Area
(Crescent Hills)
Seven
Oaks Recreation Area
(formerly Ski
Valley)
Sleepy
Hollow Sports Park
- was closed 2021-2022 and
2022-2023, but Snowflex is being installed in 2023 for
year-round skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
- o: 1997-1998
- Des Moines, IA
- facebook
- skimap.org
Sundown
Mountain Resort
MWLSAP
Homepage
|
The Des Moines Register
Sun, Jan. 25, 1976
Map
of Present and Lost Iowa Ski
Areas
created by Lucas Schryver
It
Is An Alternative, But Fear Not,
Aspen - The Des
Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sun, Nov 18,
1979
Milford
- Horseshoe Bend
Estherville - Holiday Mountain
Decorah - Nor-Ski
Humbolt - Winter World
Waverly - Ski Villa
Dubuque - Sundown and Veteran's Memorial Park
Boone - Ski Valley
Council Bluffs - Crescent Ski Hills
Dexter - Deer Run Sports Area
Pella - Sunset
Montezuma - Fun Valley
The
Gazette (Cedar Rapids Iowa) · Sun, Jan. 5,
1986
Iowa City Press-Citizen, 28 Dec 1987, Mon · Page
13
The Des
Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Sat, Dec. 6,
1997
Still open
in 2023: Mt. Crescent, Sleepy Hollow, Sundown, and Seven
Oaks
|