King Ridge

Category: Abandoned Ski Areas

User Rating

**March 2009** (Skied it!)
Trails: Almost all of them are in PERFECT shape. I skied/hiked across many of them and you'd NEVER have guessed that the place had been abandoned for almost 15 years at that point. Only exceptions were a few trails that faced route 89, which saw a little bit of sapling growth and, in the case of the "Mad Hatter" trail, a row of pine trees that had decided to grow ACROSS about half of the trail at one random point. I'm wondering if someone maintains these trails...
Lifts: All were sold when the mountain closed in 1995, and the only real physical remnant of them I could find was the concrete summit return bullwheel for the King Ridge triple. However, many of the lift shacks do still stand, many of which have messages left in them by staff who sounded very sad that their mountain had to close. It was actually pretty touching. Also found what MAY have been ropetow rope in one of them.
Facilities: Aside from the lift shacks, many various snowmaking sheds dot the property as well, though the motors from them had been removed. The summit area (where the lodges and stuff were) is now all private and I'd assume that the base lodge has been converted into a private home as well. Several classic, wooden outhouses (complete with moon window cut out of the door) dot the ski slopes as well.
Accessibility: The road that leads to the summit (upside down mountain) is now private and loaded with super expensive and BIG homes. However, almost all of the ski trails are on public property and, since they haven't grown in much, are skiable! Parking is available at the end of the Mountainside cul-de-sac off of Hominy Pot Road, and there is also a pullout parking lot for hiking trails a bit farther down the road than that as well.

**September 2007**
Trails: Same as previous visit. Regrowth has been AMAZINGLY slow. I almost wonder if someone is maintaining them.
Lifts: Same as previous visit. All appear to be gone.
Facilities: FINALLY found a physical remain on this visit! Found a small pumphouse/maintenance shack near the bottom of an old ski trail.
Accessibility: The road leading to the summit ("base" area) is now private, but there are hiking trails all around the base of the old ski area off of Hominy Pot Road, which is what I explored on this visit. Didn't have time to go too far though as it was getting dark out.

**Summer 2005**
Trails: All still perfectly clear. Amazing for having been closed for 10 years at that point.
Lifts: All appear to have been removed.
Facilities: A quick drive by the summit (this was an upside down mountain) saw lots of, um, lots being developed. Didn't see anything resembling a lodge left.
Accessibility: As mentioned, lots of construction was happening in this area at the time, with lots being developed along the road for private homes. Many posted signs springing up along roadside. Other signage indicated that this road would soon become private once completed.