Atlantic Forest/Locke's Ski Tow

Category: Abandoned Ski Areas

User Rating

**December 2008**
Trails Explored most of them quite extensively. The upper sections of the main mountain just below the summit of the lifts is now where the new homes are. Below those however, it's still pretty obvious where the trails were. The northern edge of the ski area is growing in MUCH more quickly with birches and alders than the southern edge (a row of pines sectionalizes the area).
Lifts: Initially, I had thought that once the two pomas were removed when the houses went in all was lost, and although those classic lifts are MOSTLY gone, a few scattered pieces remain. The bullwheel and counterweight structure for the fixed-grip poma that ran up the southern edge of the ski area are still sitting just barely in the woods next to the field at the summit. One concrete base pad for one of that poma's tower still stands just above the lawns of the new condos. The detachable poma, which ran up the northern slope, was more compltely removed (no signs of any towers, engines, or bullwheels), but the rusty cable was still running up and down the slope just next to the pines. Also was able to find one single concrete base pad for this lift heavily overgrown with grasses and shrubbery. In addition to these two pomas, I guess there also was a ropetow that ran up the far northern edge of the ski area for a ways. I was able to find four towers (including the base one) for this lift right on the edge of the property. No motors or rope though.
Facilities: Although all of the former ski-related buildings have been demolished to make way for houses, MANY floodlights for night skiing still remain on the hill, particularly the slope on the northern edge of the hill. Snowmaking pipes also run up and down the edge of this trail.
Accessibility: The cookie-cutter condos that were constructed at the summit are on a private road, but many hiking trails are in the area, one of which leads straight to the summit of the hill. Growth along the edge of the old ski area has been slow, with little to no new sapling growth, making it quite easy to walk through the forest. The ski trails themselves, however, are a different story. EXTREMELY tight new growth makes it tough to get through them.

**April 2008:**
Trails: Still visible, although the hill was really just one main open slope for the most part.
Lifts: All gone.
Facilities: Single remaining base shack torn down, new house being constructed in its place.
Accessibility: New road appears to be constructed heading straight up the old ski trails.

**Summer 2007:**
Trails: No changes
Lifts: Both pomas now entirely removed, as housing development takes over more of the hill.
Facilities: Same single shack still stands at base.
Accessibility: New road near summit makes it easer to drive where the ski area once stood.

**Summer 2003:**
Trails: Still very clear and discernable, albeit slightly overgrown.
Lifts: 2 blue and orange Poma lifts (1 detachable, 1 not) still standing.
Facilities: Several boarded up old ski lodge-like buildings near the base area.
Accessibility: Base area/buildings posted, but new road being constructed near the summit for a new housing development.

**Pre-2003**
This is one of several ski areas that really cemented my interest in abandoned ski areas. This was the first ski area my dad ever skied at in the late '70's, and he often joked about how he had issues trying to ride the detachable poma lift, embarrassing himself in front of my mom (whom he was only dating at the time).