NORTH DAKOTA 11 lost areas MWLSAP Homepage Any information or pictures on the lost ski areas of North Dakota would be greatly appreciated. please email: mark@mwlsap.org | lost | working on | never opened | still open |

LOST AREAS Bear's Den Mountain + - previously called Fort Ransom Ski Area, renamed Bear's Den in 1996; now open as Thrill Hills Fort Ransom, ND - southeast North Dakota 2016 website  ??? o: 1962 as Fort Ransom Ski Area; became Bear's den Mountin in 1996 ?? c: 2013 reopened as Thrill Hills in 2022 (still open) v: 290 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 46.531999539731245, -97.9356027490586 Residents of Fort Ransom Area Building Winter Recreation Site - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Mon, Nov 12, 1962 SKI Magazine, Jan. 1978 - link (Fort Ransom) Ski North Dakota - The Bismarck Tribune Dec 13, 1987 North Dakota ski resort closed years ago, but new owners aim to return thrills to the hills - Grand Forks Herald, Jan. 15, 2020 skimap.org Blue Mountain Ski Area (Lakota ND Ski Area) Lakota, ND - 14 mi. SW of Lakota, W of Tolna, E slope of Blue Mountain in W part of Nelson County o: 1961  c: 1966 (last mention)   Google Maps / Google Earth 47.91821303668529, -98.4935892876734 Blue Mountain Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location. Nelson Ski Club Formed - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Sun, Nov 26, 1961 Lakota Ski Club Builds New Tow - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Sun, Nov 11, 1962 Lakota Area Club to Seek Charter - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Sun, Jan 5, 1964 Ski Area Conditions Reported As 'Perfect' - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Fri, Dec 17, 1965 Fort Ransom* - see Bear's Den Jim's Hill * - See Nor-Ski Slopes Knob Hill / Nob Hill Valley City, ND - 1/2 mi to 1 mi. W of Valley City on Hwy 10 (now I-94) First in State: Knob Hill, 1953 Valley City Times - Record, Thurs., November 13, 2003 From the Past 50 years ago – 1953 Construction began this week on a ski tow to be erected near Highway 10 west of Valley City, the first ski tow to be erected in the state.  The tow, to be a 1,000-yard rope-tow, is being built on the Elder Bohrer property near the Dreamland Motel.  Gordon Gray is the project planner. o: 1953 c: 1958 , closed when I-94 went through in 1958 cutting the ski area in half; rope tow was then moved to Sugar Loaf Hill E of town; Google Maps / Google Earth 46.91442432742268, -98.04909517546746 about 1 mi. W of Valley City, ND Pictures from the Barnes county historical Society Museum (Thank you.) knobhill_ski hill 1954_001.jpg knob hill skiing.jpg Tow to Open - The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Wed, Dec 23, 1953 "state's longest ski tow" but it was probably the state's only tow Valley City Ski /Area To Open On Christmas - The Fargo Forum, Daily Republican, and Moorhead Daily News (Fargo, North Dakota) · Tue, Dec 22, 1953 Local Building Firm Incorporates - Morning Pioneer (Mandan, North Dakota) · Thu, Dec 17, 1953 Ski Conditions Reported Good - The Fargo Forum, Daily Republican, and Moorhead Daily News (Fargo, North Dakota) · Sat, Jan 9, 1954 Valley City Ski Tow All Set, But Alas, Where Is The Snow? - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Sun, Jan 12, 1958 Lake Region Winter Sports Inc. * - see Skyline Skiway Lakota Ski Club* - See Blue Mountain LaMoure Ski Run LaMoure, ND - southeast North Dakota, WSW of LaMoure o: 1970 ?? (first mention)  c: 1972 (last mention) Google Maps / Google Earth ??? 46.34788678170467, -98.33717035773824 Ridge line WSW of LaMoure) Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location. From the LaMoure County Museum Facebook page administrator, Sonya Albertson: "Here is what I know: the ski slope had a tow rope and a warming house. Parts of the facility were built by a local man - Norman Ellis. . . . The ski slope was located WSW of LaMoure. Norm Ellis not only built the ski area but ran it for many years. It was commissioned by the City of LaMoure Park Board. " Picture of tow (2022) / Picture of lodge (2022) Thank you Terri Potts of the LaMoure County Museum Mentioned in newpaper on Jan. 21, but not included on Feb. 6, 1970: Seven Skiing Slopes Open in North Dakota - Bismarck Tribune, Jan. 21, 1970, p. 25 State Ski Report - The Bismarck Tribune, Feb 6, 1970 BUT, mentioned again in 1971: Dakota's Winter Is Time to Be Outdoors - The Bismarck Tribune, Nov 4, 1971 Leonard Lions Club Ski Hill Leonard ,ND - southeast North Dakota (Cass County) - "in the hills south of Leonard" o: 1969 ?   c: 1972  ???  (last mention0 Google Maps / Google Earth ??? 46.651609592743895, -97.24558047621785 town of Leonard Please email - mark@mwlsap.org - if you know a more precise location. "Leonard Centennial, 1881-1981", p. 185 (or p. 186) "A ski lift was operated by the Leonard Lions Club in the hills south of Leonard." Leonard - West Fargo Pioneer (West Fargo, North Dakota) · Wed, Jan 22, 1969 leonard_The_Forum_1970_03_27_10.pdf Dakota's Winter Is Time to Be Outdoors - The Bismarck Tribune, Nov 4, 1971 Nob Hill *- see Knob Hill Nor-Ski Slopes -  also called Jim's Hill Edinburg, ND (near Hoople), ND) - northeast North Dakota, 10 mi. NE of Park River Are Nor-Ski Slopes and Jim's Hill the same ski area? From Mick Shoup, Edinburg Back When FB when I ask if Jim's Hill and Nor-ski Slopes were the same ski area: "The only other literal hill near very flat Edinburg is Peppermint Hill, which is next to the highway, coming into town, and someone confirmed on that FB page that it was NOT the hill that had a ski slope. o: 1969-1970, c: 1972 v: 120 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 48.49889884882728, -97.77521658476401 Thank you to Mick Shoup for location. ND Firms File to Incorporate - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Sun, Dec 14, 1969 Seven Grand Forks Firms Incorporated - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Sun, Dec 14, 1969 Seven Skiing Slopes Open in North Dakota - Bismarck Tribune, Jan. 21, 1970 Ski Conditions Report - North Dakota - Minneapolis Tribune, March 20, 1970 Where to ski in region - Minneapolis Tribune, Nov. 7, 1971 Seven Ski Areas Set in North Dakota - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Tue, Sep 12, 1972 Ski slopes provided in state - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Thu, Dec 7, 1972 JIM'S HILL: opened by Jim Langerud Edinburg "back when" Facebook page Ski Report - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Fri, Feb 12, 1971 Area Ski Resorts Big Attractions - page 1 / page 2 - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Thu, Jan 30, 1969 - Interview with Jim Langerud Rolla View Rolla, ND - north central North Dakota (2 miles west of Rolla on Highway 5 then 2 miles north and 1 mile west) o: 1964  c: 1984 (last mention) v: 140 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 48.87934186968096, -99.675141266553 When Business Is Booming Things are All Downhill - The Bismarck Tribune, Feb 23, 1968 SKI Magazine, Jan. 1984 (link) advertisement - Turtle Mountain Star, Jan. 25, 1965 History and Memories of Rolette County Facebook Group Aerial View of Rolla View Farm Photos of the old Rolla View Ski Slope 1965 A view from the top in June of 2013 skimap.org Skyline Skiway - also called Lake Region Winter Sports Inc. (LRWSI) Devils Lake, ND (3 miles east of Fort Totten, 10 miles south of Devil's Lake) - northeast North Dakota o: 1954 1954  ??  FIRST IN STATE    c: 1995   1997  1997 closed v: 311 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 47.988435096636664, -98.92948151059657 Ski Report - The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Fri, Dec 30, 1960 Ski Report - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) · Fri, Dec 29, 1961 Lake Region Winter Sports Endowment - lrsc.edu Ski slopes beckon all (LRWSI) - The Bismarck Tribune, Nov 25, 1989 Get a jump on skiing (LRWSI) - The Bismarck Tribune, Nov 9, 1991 It's all downhill from here (LRWSI) - The Bismarck Tribune, Dec 12, 1992 SKI Magazine, Dec. 1982 (link) Ski North Dakota - The Bismarck Tribune Dec 13, 1987 The Abandoned Skyline Skiway, Devils Lake - Ghosts of North Dakota skitalk.com/threads/lost-ski-areas The Midwest: Heartland Hucking in the Tall Grass Satellite View skimap.org Sugar Loaf Hill Valley City, ND - E. flat top hilll, take 3rd St. N, look E; flat top hill E of town; easly seen from 3rd St. S of Valley City Town and Country Club o: 1958 when rope tow was moved from Knob Hill, c: 1960 when girl was hurt on tow (?) sugarloaf_Jan 13, 1960 Englert accident.jpg sugar_loaf_Ann englert accident.jpg sugar_loaf_ski lift photos wash gate .jpg Google Maps / Google Earth 46.92575230735011, -97.98368644706704 Valley Sity Skiers Meet - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Sun, Jan 6, 1929 - ski jump and toboggan Valley City Ski Tow All Set, But Alas, Where Is The Snow? - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Sun, Jan 12, 1958 Thank you to the Barnes County Historical Society Museum Trestle Valley Minot, ND - north central North Dakota in 1980: 1 rope tow, 1 poma, 1 T-bar o: 1974 c: 1983 (1978?) v: 195 ft. Google Maps / Google Earth 48.23243012337223, -101.40335853780218 Huff Hills Ski Area Facebook Page Trestle Valley Ski Area - prairiepublic.org SKI Magazine, Oct. 1982 (link scroll down) Gasman Coulee Trestle - Ghosts of North Dakota Advertisement Minot ND Real People's cardboard box race at Trestle Valley - YouTube skimap.org Twilight Hills (Twilight Hills Snow Bowl) Reopened as Huff Hills Ski Area Mandan (Bismarck), ND - central North Dakota even though it reopened, it was lost for 27 years, therefore the MWLSAP includes it as being lost o: Jan. 1963 c: 1966, v: 450 ft.; Reopened in Jan. 1993, as Huff Hills Ski Area w Google Maps / Google Earth 46.62752468424864, -100.72324506467196 Mandan Area May Become Ski Capital of North Dakota - The Bismarck Tribune, May 9, 1963 Ski Mandan - The Bismarck Tribune, Jul 6, 1986 New Ski Facilities - Sports Illustrated, Nov. 25, 1963 Twilight Hills: A Ski Resort that Once Was - midwesternscout.com Snow Bowl Plans a Grand Opening - Bismarck Tribune, Jan 17, 1964 Huff Hills History Vintage Video: Twilight Hills Huff North Dakota - Twilight Hills Dedication.. early 1960's, Huff, North Dakota Villa Vista Arvilla, ND (west of Grand Forks) - northeast North Dakota o:  1961 (first mention) c:  1982   v: 100 ft. Turtle River State Park Arvilla Offers Winter Fun Spot - Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota) · Sun, Dec 13, 1964 Google Maps / Google Earth 47.93767746898858, -97.49704066042663 Turtle River State Park - Facebook page 50 years ago Dakota winds scours ski hill down to dirt - Grand Forks Herald, Jan. 8, 2013 (subscription may be needed) MWLSAP Homepage WORKING ON Gryde Ski Hill - PRIVATE Edinburg, ND Edinburg "back when" Facebook page picture From David Monson: "Gryde ski hill is a place in our coulee that my family and the Gryde family built a rope tow that was enjoyed by many neighbors in theearly 1960s. After several years of operation and several broken legs, we shut it down . was not a commercial operation, just for fun with the neighbors"   location of Leonard Lions Club Ski Hill Info@Bonanzaville.com (Cass county Histoical Society) https://www.fmwfchamber.com/inforeq/contactmembers https://www.facebook.com/groups/249804196111313 - Leonard Lions Club - posted 5/31/23   PLANNED, BUT NEVER DEVELOPED Bismarck Junior College - NEVER OPENED Bismarck, ND Hold the snow! Old idea revived - The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota) · Fri, Oct 3, 1986 Commissioners support ski plan - The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota) · Wed, Oct 8, 1986 Bismarck ski hill has makings for success - The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota) · Sun, Sep 21, 1986 Fargo - 1 - NEVER OPENED Fargo, ND - east central North Dakota U.S. Agency Rejects Fargo Ski Hill Plan -The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota) · Thu, Nov 6, 1969 Plans For Ski Hill Here Dead - The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) · Wed, Jun 17, 1970   Fargo - 2 - NEVER OPENED Fargo Man Plans Hills and Lakes - The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota) · Wed, Apr 27, 1977 STILL OPEN (ND) Bottineau Winter Park - STILL OPEN o: 1969 48.950694971350536, -100.47494187553335 website skimap.org Frost Fire Park - STILL OPEN 48.91199301459221, -98.06871940817722 website o: 1976 first chairlift in North Dakota skimap.org Huff Hills on site of former Twilight Hills Ski Area v: 450 ft. o: 1992 Google Maps / Google Earth 46.62752468424864, -100.72324506467196 Huff Hills Press Release - 4/24/2024 Huff Hills Ski Area Facebook Page - 4/24/2024 Huff Hills Ski Area closes after more than 3 decades, citing lease concerns -The Bismark Tribune, 4/24/2024 - but will be open 2024-25 website Huff Hills History The Huff Hills Story - Facebook video Huff Hills Ski Area - Prairie Public Broadcasting skimap.org Thrill Hills - re-opened for skiing 2022-2023 season - STILL OPEN o: 1962 as Fort Ransom Ski Area; became Bear's Den in 1996; closed in 2016; reopened as Thrill hills in 2022 46.53204453289891, -97.93559870455728 Formerly Bear's Den / Fort Ransom Facebook page webpage skimap.org MWLSAP Homepage

North Dakota Ski Areas in 1971 from Dakota's Winter Is Time to Be Outdoors - The Bismarck Tribune, Nov 4, 1971 Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau, still open Rolla View, Rolla Skiline Skiway, Devils Lake Villa Vista, Arvilla Fort Ransom (later called Bear's Den, now open as Thrill Hills) Edinburgh (Nor-Ski) LaMoure Leonard 1987 The Bismarck Tribune, Jan 22, 1987 slightly modified for clarity

* renamed; closed
+ renamed; open
^ never opened

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