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

Alpenhorn* (became Crystal
Hills in 1974) Andersen's
Hill+ (became
Ski
Haven, still
open as Mt. Kato) Arctic Park* - also called Mt.
Sitzmark Bamber Hills (also called Rochester Ski Hill) Barkers Alps (also called North Star Tow,
became Ski Strom 2 in 1959) Battle Creek
Park (Davis Bros. Tow) Benton Valley * see Hole in the Wall County Park Big Ojibway *- see Ojibway
Ski Bowl Crystal Hills (formerly Alpenhorn) Crystal, MN
Rope Tows (Lion's Valley Place Park) 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 Davis Bros.Tow *- see Battle Creek Park Eagle Mountain
Ski Area (Eagle Mountain Winter
Recreational Area) Jon Pofahl Bob and Ursula were
regulars at the MSAA shows each summer in
the early 2000’s. Bob was quite the
character, straight off the farm, heart full
of gold. Their operation was rope tows and
tractor intertubes. Each year there was a
‘give-away’ of a couple ‘snow industry’
tubes and he always ‘won’ them. The system
was rigged in his favor, but it was always
awesome to see him accept the prize. Good memories. Egan's Resort
/ Egan's Hidden Valley Ski Tow* (see Hidden
Valley) Fond du Lac
Winter Sports Center* - see Ojibway
Ski Bowl Fred Sims Park * - see Hew Hope Rope
Tow Gokey's Hlil + (still open as Buck Hill) Hallaway Hill
Ski Area (Hollaway) Hidden Valley (another one - also called Egan's
Resort and
Egan's Hidden Valley Ski Tow) Hole in the
Wall County Park - also called
Benton Valley and Lake Benton Valley Inver Hills
Ski Hill
(previously called NorSki) Kenwood ( see Ski
Kenwood) From Rebecca J. Snyder This is my guess.
According to the attached
article,
the land was owned by a “South St. Paul
attorney”. When I looked at the 1946
plat map, focusing on the Inver
Grove/Rosemount/Hastings area,
especially near the area of Pine Bend, I
looked for any lawyer names with which I
was familiar. One name popped out at me,
Lawrence L. Lenertz, seen here in section 35 of Inver Grove, as well as the adjacent section 18 of
Rosemount,
below: This is what
that area looks like today, apparently all owned by
Flint Hills:" Lake Benton
Valley* - see Hole in the Wall county Park Lester-Amity
Park Ski and Jumping Area ??? Lookout
Mountain
(Lookout Lodge, Minnesota's Lookout
Mountain) Mt. Carmel *- See Saint John's University Mt. Normandale+ - still open as Hyland
Hills Mt. Notch - same
location as the Tyrol Ski Tow (1949) Mt. Rushford* (see Rushford) Mt. Silver (silver Creek?)(may be the
same as Two Harbors) Mt. Sitzmark - also called Arctic Park New Brighton
Rope Tow* (probably same as TCAAP) From what I can find,
yes, Fred Sims Park did have a rope tow
for several years. I can’t tell you a
specific start date, but it would have
been in the mid to late 1960’s. I also
found that it was discontinued in 1975
due to budget cuts. 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) Pipestone* (may be Hole in the Mountain / Benton
Valley) Potter Ridge * ??? Rochester Ski
Hill* - see Bamber
Hills Rock Hill* - see University
of Minnesota Duluth Saint John's
University
(Mt. Carmel) Ski Haven+ - became Mount Kato in 1977 - still open This same 1956
newspaper article says that Hallaway Ski
Hill Inc. became part of a new
corporation known as Hallaway-Ski Dahlen
Inc. For a time today I had
thought it was located further south, on
land owned by Philip Monson, but I am
still not certain. In a newspaper
article from 1967, it is mentioned as
part of an article regarding the
proposed development of “Maple Mountain”
which appears to have never
materialized. That article says, “the
area will include what was Ski-dahlen,
with three hills to provide runs up to
2400 feet. The vertical drop on the
hills is 225, 200, and 190 feet.” This
project was dropped after the accidental
death of the person who spearheaded the
idea, and also with two other large area
fundraising projects going on. This
area, including Hallaway Ski Hill,
became Maplewood State Park, which was
first proposed in 1961. ToMo (Toad Mountain) 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) University of
Minnesota Duluth - also called Rock Hill Val Croix+ - became Wild Mountain, still open Val Hulla ?? Villa Park (Villa-Arctic Park?) Voyageur's
Skiway*
(probably NOT the same as Two
Harbors
(1958-1963) and Mt. Silver (1951-52 ) Trout Valley, Bovey - MN WI UP
(Wisconsin) Lakeview, Duluth - MN WI UP
(Wisconsin) edinarealty_Star_Tribune_1973_06_28_Page_56.pdf map of some
spots in Minnesota and Wisconsin Maple Valley - SW of
Rochester Columbia Park - WORKING ON N.
A. A. C. -
WORKING ON Mt Lockness
Ski Area - Mt. Lochness - WORKING ON Lost Valley - WORKING ON location of Crestwood Golf and Ski location of Edina Ski Tow location of Mt. Silver Silver Creek? location of New Brighton Rope Tow* (probably same as TCAAP) location of Prior lake Ski Area 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 -
probably cross country skiing at Blueberry Hill Lanesboro, MN and Pigeon
Falls, WI both ski jumps - WORKING ON Winter Haven - WORKING ON - no mention of
rope tow This
same 1956 newspaper article says that Hallaway
Ski Hill Inc. became part of a
new corporation known as Hallaway-Ski
Dahlen Inc. For a
time today I had thought it was located
further south, on land owned by Philip
Monson, but I am still not certain. In a
newspaper article from 1967, it is
mentioned as part of an article
regarding the proposed development of
“Maple Mountain” which appears to have
never materialized. That article says,
“the area will include what was
Ski-dahlen, with three hills to provide
runs up to 2400 feet. The vertical drop
on the hills is 225, 200, and 190 feet.”
This project was dropped after the
accidental death of the person who
spearheaded the idea, and also with two
other large area fundraising projects
going on. This area, including Hallaway
Ski Hill, became Maplewood State Park,
which was first proposed in 1961. Buck Hill (formerly Gokey's Hill) Elm Creek
Winter Recreation Area Hyland Hills
Ski Area (formerly
called Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area and Mt.
Normandale) Loppet Foundation Alpine
Learning Hill - see Theodore Wirth Park Mount Itasca
Winter Sports Center Mount Kato (formerly called Anderson's Hill
and Ski Haven) Theodore Wirth
Park (
also called Wirth Park, Mt. Wirth) now open as Loppet
Foundation Alpine Learning Hill Wild Mountain
Ski Area
(formerly Val Croix) The Minneapolis Star,
Minneapolis, Minnesota · Sunday, February 02,
1941 Minneapolis
Tribune, Dec. 4, 1955, p. 52 Minneapolis
Tribune, Dec. 7, 1958, p. 52 Minneapolis
Tribune,Sun, Dec 6, 1959 Trollhaugen
Troll Facebook Page Star
Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Dec
11, 1960 Minneapolis
Tribune, Dec. 17, 1961 Minneapolis
Tribune, Dec. 23, 1962, p. 53 Minneapolis Star,
Dec. 20, 1964, p. 62 Minneapolis
Tribune, Dec. 13, 1964, p. 62 Minneapolis, Tribune, Sunday,
December 12, 1965 Star
Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov 13,
1966 (information
on each ski area) Star
Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Sun, Nov
16, 1969 Minneapolis
Star, Mon. Nov. 15, 1971, p. 2B (information
on each ski area) Minneapolis Tribune,
Minneapolis, Minnesota · Sunday, November 12,
1972 Minneapolis Star,
Nov. 10, 1972, p. 28 (information
on each ski area) Minneapolis Star,
Nov. 7, 1974 (information
on each ski area) Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minnesota · Friday,
January 24, 1975 Post-Bulletin,
Rochester, Minnesota · Friday, January 16, 1976 Winona Daily News,
Sunday Dec. 11, 1977 p. 25 (information
on each ski area) Minneapolis
Tribune, Nov. 20, 1977 Minneapolis
Tribune, Nov. 19, 1978 Minneapolis
Tribune, Nov. 9, 1980 Post-Bulletin (Rochester,
Minnesota) · Sat, Nov 29, 1986
LOST
AREAS
44.79960829618372, -93.75666082824594
43.9832790838799, -92.5052151335841
45.020158424926116, -92.79056484707569
44.93857489481974, -93.01274098186072
on 1977 Map and 1978 Map
46.589801012222956, -94.20876286969335
45.17553124458687, -93.91665690816872
44.85320416688552, -93.36473761612218
44.82641950469074, -93.48281720289502
46.80335220757042, -95.35233661309049
45.932437312935726, -95.32649707374982
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
45.33100687429801, -94.66818292621268
45.01566382415604, -93.36718313357937
One more to bring to your attention... I have
a younger brother who says the City of Crystal
(MN) operated a double rope tow at one of
their parks. My brother is 9 years younger
that I am so guessing his memory is from the
early to mid 70s. "
"My understanding is there were two tow ropes
at Valley Place Park. It is currently a very
popular lighted sliding/sledding hill that is
operated by the City of Crystal. The rope tow
was likely used more for sliding/sledding than
for skiing, but has been gone a long time.
This park was once called Lions Valley Place
Park if that matters." -
Crystal.Recreation@crystalmn.gov
45.09393830016789, -94.37771733834762
45.82548592773573, -94.67015794603361
44.899208308460295, -93.39164220343932
Walnut Ridge Park
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
(Thank you to the Edina Historical Society)
45.277262628163875, -92.88962890289501
47.456422344915, -91.23211248848425
46.40280936250696, -94.15330308484818
45.639458946611576, -95.3809875839709
44.40090448220191, -94.70485263842096
46.71381309741253, -92.27922594788411
46.548708673639986, -95.98578503997342
1953 Plat Map - courtesy of the Otter Tail
County Historical Society
47.90390075492738, -91.81594447518945
44.762681062867465, -93.3428719688989
44.262440533299994, -96.30503021293637
44.801726418005515, -93.07556418992448
45.006134855651524, -93.05691460533164
44.77880157841904, -93.02602671636043
Director of Research & Publishing
Dakota
County Historical Society:
46.855314045405954, -92.01268887825745
44.900886676802344, -93.42760477571105
47.57774404504111, -92.54371886993975
44.89508568050969, -93.08528779855648
44.81777443225282, -93.52347366536176
45.25211772605166, -95.04016986545808
"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
44.51293298181389, -92.38391985240614
45.574230741562225, -94.45151083696071
16582 Schuman Lake Rd (from brochure)
47.3172718221796, -91.26232620983713
47.06438654780687, -91.61279636416776
Thank you to Doris Ressl for a more precise
location
45.061102786027476, -93.12362072221859
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
45.03554825457216, -93.37168349307002
45.3370618, -95.0664327
45.08630508931592, -93.08804799062293
Hill Farm - Star Tribune (Minneapolis,
Minnesota) · Sun, Mar 12, 1950
44.597195734785636, -93.2981287488469
9 mi. S of Buck Hill
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
46.66671619449173, -92.27616231348657
46.26907871089365, -96.08253202831828
44.76530444851543, -93.02055617609334
46.70727328069347, -92.46262793271465
44.72864101813653, -93.4330808520157
location of town of Prior Lake
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
Email sent to City of Prior Lake and Scott
County Historical Society 10/30/23
46.96575314420824, -93.59560220125181
46.75916, -96.1878
Thank you to Spencer McCombs
https://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/airphotos/projects/bec/y1973/bec_04_063.jpg
Thank you to Spencer McCombs
(Magelssen Bluff Park)
43.8108604953742, -91.75915642032382
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
45.584258334298234, -94.38262788918838
44.04481070665975, -91.6961562187784
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
47.03706869162941, -94.64402828673963
44.12978895017303, -91.78938412806193 ???
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
43.67421007734853, -92.0833791330755
(Town of Preston)
47.52402382559625, -96.2918849841037
46.81052250651552, -92.10148675526277
44.980259815978584, -93.64265605440866
(Maplewood State Park)
46.515740796570945, -95.95133621436293
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
From Kathy Evavold of the Otter Tail County
Historical Society:
45.07949982870608, -93.14763619133926
- Exact location unknown
44.377314597036325, -92.05765366398334
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
44.84145333476944, -93.08527531731154
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
47.13268174050001, -93.66939676386619
44.97458868128064, -92.86914294892279
47.89774014032652, -96.30999328164717
46.86951926133622, -95.51206625395382
Toad Mountain, Toad Lake township
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
Google
Earth screenshot
on 1958 and 1963 maps
(Town of Two Harbors)
47.03501246314212, -91.67445528911047
Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a
more precise location.
45.09642504794117, -93.16324120024277
45.574230741562225, -94.45151083696071
16582 Schuman Lake Rd (from Mt. Notch brochure)
46.822208358145694, -92.0893055790312
47.13382463098816, -94.97587366571594
46.161611202544094, -95.73692494811777
45.00333073708185, -93.12066167378828


WORKING ON:
https://www.mwlsap.org/minnesota/The_Winona_Daily_News_Sun__Dec_11__1977_.pdf
Google Maps
47.36472982780351, -93.7616420404384
ichs@paulbunyan.net
45.61787503564166, -94.20699293699815PLANNED,
BUT NEVER DEVELOPED
STILL
OPEN (MN)
45.13928451601623, -93.43885369814781
44.84390075216751, -93.36360734735935
44.24539159886342, -92.51466760468938
44.99224054568846, -93.32296560861312

1941
1955

1958

1959

1960s

1960

1961

1962


1963
1964


1965

1966

.jpg)
1969
1971


1972

1972

1974
1975
1976
1977

1977

1978

1978St.
Cloud Times, Dec 8, 1978

1980

1986
Val Chatel

Tyrol Ski Tow

Timberlane

Ski Devil

Mt. Notch - 1989

Sugar Hills / Quadna - Ad
in SKIING Mag, Spring 1969

Moon Valley

University of Minnesota Duluth
- Mt. Rock

Marthaler Ski Area - 1971

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

* renamed; closed
+ renamed; open
^ never opened
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