Ever wonder how long your favorite ski resort in the United States has been in existence?
Skiing had its U.S. start in 1915 at a Colorado resort that is fairly obscure these days. Howelsen Hill Ski Area is located across the YampaRiver from downtown Steamboat Springs.
Howelsen Hill still exists, but most people headed for a day on the slopes are skiing or snowboarding at famed Steamboat Springs, which made its debut 48 years later in 1963, along with 17 other first-year resorts.
Most California skiers and riders probably believe that Sugar Bowl was the state’s first ski resort. But Granlibakken Ski Area was the GoldenState’s inaugural ski resort, arriving in 1927. Eight years later, Soda Springs got its start, while Sugar Bowl didn’t come along until 1939.
Below is a list of U.S. ski resorts and the year they started. The list of 354 American ski resorts is courtesy of the National Ski Areas Association.
1915
Howelsen Hill Ski Area CO:
1922
Eaglebrook School MA:
1927
Granlibakken Ski AreaCA:
CooperSpurMountain Resort OR
1928
Mt.Hood Skibowl OR
1932
Seven SpringsMountain Resort PA
Bousquet Ski Area MA
1933
WildcatMountain Ski Area & Summer GondolaNH
1934
StoweMountainResortVT
Gore MountainNY
Pico MountainVT
1935
Soda Springs Ski AreaCA
LookoutPass Ski Area ID
BlackMountain Ski AreaNH
DNCParks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. CA
1936
BromleyMountainResortVT
Brighton Ski ResortUT
Showdown Montana MT
TerryPeak Ski AreaSD
Blandford Ski Area MA
Sun Valley Resort ID
BeaverMountain Ski AreaUT
Sleeping Giant Ski Area WY
Mount Peter Ski AreaNY
1937
Timberline Lodge & Ski Area OR
The Summit At SnoqualmieWA
SnowValleyMountainResortCA
Loveland Ski Area CO
Sandia Peak Ski AreaNM
Stevens PassWA
GunstockMountainResortNH
Mountain High ResortCA
Suicide Six Ski AreaVT
Granite Peak at Rib Mountain State ParkWI
Mt. ZionMI
CranmoreMountainResortNH
1938
Hoodoo Ski Area OR
Alta Ski AreaUT
Pine Mountain MI
Cannon MountainNH
ShawneePeak Ski Area ME
ArizonaSnowbowlAZ
Wilmot MountainWI
Lost Trail Ski Area, Inc. MT
Abenaki Ski AreaNH
Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard ParkWA
1939
Sugar Bowl ResortCA
Monarch MountainCO
MiddleburyCollege Snow BowlVT
Ski Ward Ski Area MA
Snow King Resort WY
Otsego Ski Club MI
Catamount Ski AreaNY
Camden Snow Bowl ME
1940
Winter Park Resort CO
1941
Snowbasin Resort Co. UT
WillamettePass Resort OR
1942
Ski Cooper CO
1944
PajaritoMountain Ski AreaNM
Snowhaven ID
1945
Mt. Lemmon Ski ValleyAZ
AnthonyLakes OR
Snow Ridge Ski ResortNY
Sky TavernNV
1946
Bear Mountain ResortCA
Arapahoe BasinCO
Otis Ridge MA
1947
Aspen MountainCO
BoyneMountain Resort MI
Ski Santa FeNM
Mohawk Mountain Ski Area CT
Big Boulder Ski Area PA
WhitefishMountainResortMT
Swain ResortNY
1948
Jiminy PeakMountain Resort MA
MountSunapeeResortNH
Bradford Ski Area MA
Mad River Glen VT
Mont Du Lac Recreation WI
Lutsen MountainsMN
SoldierMountain Ski Area ID
Oak MountainNY
1949
Squaw Valley Resort, LLC CA
Snow Snake Ski & Golf MI
Buena Vista Ski AreaMN
Mt.Holiday Ski & Recreation Area MI
Pebble Creek Ski Area ID
Belleayre MountainNY
1950
Dodge Ridge Wintersports Area CA
Trollhaugen Winter Recreation AreaWI
Hillberg Ski AreaAK
1951
Sugarloaf ME
1952
SnowSummitMountainResortCA
Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort NM
Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts, Inc. CA
Oglebay Resort WV
1953
White Pass Ski AreaWA
Donner Ski RanchCA
Mt. BakerWA
1954
MountSnowResortVT
Buck Hill MN
1955
Taos Ski Valley, Inc. NM
Mammoth CA
Heavenly Mountain ResortNV
OkemoMountainResortVT
Hidden Valley Resort PA
Bridger Bowl Ski AreaMT
JayPeak Ski ResortVT
1956
Smugglers’ Notch ResortVT
Crystal Mountain MI
DartmouthSkiwayNH
BurkeMountain Ski AreaVT
Mt. Holly Ski Resort, Inc. MI
Wisp Resort MD
Ski Brule MI
1957
HolidayValleyResortNY
HolidayMountain Ski AreaNY
GreekPeakMountainResortNY
SolitudeMountainResortUT
1958
Aspen HighlandsCO
ButtermilkCO
Killington Resort VT
WhitefaceNY
Mt. Bachelor, Inc. OR
Sugarbush Resort VT
TyrolBasin Ski & Snowboard AreaWI
Nub’s Nob Ski Area MI
ChinaPeakMountainResortCA
Loup Loup Ski AreaWA
Hurricane Ridge Ski AreaWA
Plattekill MountainNY
1959
The Homestead Ski AreaVA
ChestnutMountainResortIL
SundayRiver Ski Resort ME
Mt. La CrosseWI
Red River Ski Area, Inc. NM
Elk Mountain Ski Resort, Inc. PA
Indianhead Mountain MI
Hunter MountainNY
McCauley Mtn. Ski CenterNY
Alyeska Resort AK
Thunder Ridge Ski AreaNY
MagicMountain Ski AreaVT
SnowyRange Ski & Recreation Area WY
Hyland Ski and Snowboard AreaMN
Big RockMountain ME
1960
Windham MountainNY
Saddleback Maine ME
Mt. Abram Resort ME
RedLodgeMountainResortMT
BlackMountain of Maine ME
1961
Snow Trails OH
Breckenridge Ski Resort CO
Alpine Meadows Ski ResortCA
Lost Valley Ski Area ME
Cataloochee Ski AreaNC
BrundageMountain Resort ID
Hogadon Ski Area WY
Mt. Crescent Ski AreaIA
Timber Ridge Ski Area MI
MontanaSnowbowlMT
Ski Apache ResortNM
1962
Crested Butte Mountain Resort CO
King Pine Ski AreaNH
StrattonVT
Vail MountainCO
Crystal Mountain, Inc. WA
Eldora Mountain Resort CO
Ober Gatlinburg Ski ResortTN
Appalachian Ski Mtn.NC
Powder Ridge Ski AreaMN
HomewoodMountainResortCA
Cascade MountainWI
Mad River Mountain OH
Alpine Valley Ski Area MI
WachusettMountain Ski Area MA
Ski Gull, Inc. MN
SongMountainResortNY
HoliMont Ski AreaNY
Alpine Valley Ski Area OH
1963
Steamboat Ski & Resort CO
Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort OH
CamelbackMountain Resort PA
ParkCityMountainResortUT
SchweitzerMountain Resort
Afton Alps Ski AreaMN
PomerelleMountain Resort ID
Ski Butternut MA
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard ResortNV
Alpine Valley ResortWI
Grand GenevaResortWI
Clear Fork Resort OH
Pats PeakNH
Big Horn Ski Resort WY
Elk Ridge Ski & Outdoor Recreation AreaAZ
Blue Knob PA
Arrowhead Recreation AreaNH
1964
Boyne Highlands Resort MI
Boreal Mountain ResortCA
Hermitage Club @ HaystackVT
Ragged Mountain ResortNH
AttitashMountainResortNH
Peek ‘n Peak ResortNY
RoundtopMountain Resort PA
BristolMountain Winter Resort NY
Mt.Rose – Ski TahoeNV
Hawksnest Resort NC
Mount Southington Ski Area CT
NashobaValley Ski Area MA
SapphireValley Ski AreaNC
Mt. AshlandOR
Yawgoo Valley Ski Area & Water ParkRI
1965
Durango Mountain Resort CO
Welch Village Ski Area, Inc. MN
LibertyMountain Resort PA
Bryce Resort VA
Brian Head ResortUT
Cannonsburg Ski Area MI
BoycePark Ski Area/Snow Tubing Area PA
Lake City Ski HillCO
Mountain CreekNJ
1966
Loon Mountain Recreation Corp. NH
WatervilleValleyResortNH
DiamondPeak Ski ResortNV
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort WY
Balsams WildernessNH
Angel Fire ResortNM
Hunt Hollow Ski AreaNY
Mission Ridge Ski & Board ResortWA
Bolton ValleyVT
Villa Olivia Ski AreaIL
Apple Mountain MI
Sunlight Mountain Resort CO
Powderhorn Resort CO
CampgawMountain Ski AreaNJ
1967
SnowmassCO
Mt.Hood Meadows Ski Resort OR
Bear Valley MountainCA
BeechMountainResortNC
1968
Sierra-at-Tahoe Snowsports Resort CA
SilverMountain Ski and Year Round Waterpark Resort! ID
SwissValley Ski & Board Area MI
Canyons ResortUT
1969
Shanty Creek Resorts MI
SugarMountain Ski AreaNC
Ski Sundown CT
Grand Targhee Resort WY
BearCreekMountain Resort PA
Ski Sawmill Family Resort PA
WolfRidge Ski ResortNC
Proctor Ski AreaNH
Great Bear Ski ValleySD
SundanceUT
1970
Keystone Resort CO
Ausblick Ski AreaWI
SunriseParkResortAZ
Christmas Mountain VillageWI
WolfMountain Ski Resort LLC UT
Mystic Miner Ski ResortSD
1971
Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski ResortCA
CanaanValleyResortWV
Devil’s Head Resort & Convention Center WI
Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort UT
49 DegreesNorthMountain Resort WA
Cloudmont Ski & Golf AL
Quechee Ski AreaVT
McIntyre Ski AreaNH 1971
Mount Pleasant of Edinboro PA
Copper Mountain Resort CO 1972
Northstar California CA 1972
1972
Tahoe Donner Ski AreaCA
KirkwoodMountainResortCA
Telluride Ski & Golf Resort CO
Jack Frost Mountain PA
Wild MountainMN
Powder MountainUT
Highlands of OlympiaWI
Eastman Cross CountryNH
Woodbury Ski Area CT
1973
Massanutten Ski ResortVA
Bretton Woods Ski AreaNH
Discovery Ski AreaMT
1974
SundownMountain Ski and Snowboard ResortIA
SpiritMountain Recreation AreaMN
SnowshoeWV
Big Sky ResortMT
Mt. Eyak Ski AreaAK
Pocono Ranch Lands Property Owners PA
1975
Wintergreen ResortVA
ShawneeMountain Ski Area PA
The Hidden Valley ClubNJ
Mount Lakeridge Ski & Board Center CT
1976
Eaglecrest Ski AreaAK
Alta Sierra Ski Resort & Terrain ParkCA
NordicMountain Ski AreaWI
Ski Big Bear PA
Frost Fire Ski & Snowboard AreaND
1977
BlueMountain Ski Area PA
1978
Paoli Peaks, Inc. IN
Mount Kato Ski AreaMN
1980
Beaver Creek Resort CO
TitusMountainFamilySkiCenter, LLC NY
1981
TusseyMountain Ski Area PA
Andes Tower Hills, Inc. MN
Ski BluewoodWA
Ski Snowstar Winter Sports ParkIL
Perfect North Slopes IN
Deer Valley Resort Company UT
Fernwood Resort and C.C. PA
1982
Ski Granby Ranch CO
Triple M-Mystical MountainNM
Hidden Valley Ski AreaMO
1983
Timberline Four Seasons ResortWV
Winterplace Ski ResortWV
The HomesteadMI
Hilltop Ski AreaAK
1984
Giants Ridge Golf & Ski ResortMN
Alpine Mountain Ski & Ride Center PA
SNO Mountain PA
1985
Sunburst Ski AreaWI
Mt. Shasta Ski ParkCA
1986
The Rock Ski & Snowboard ParkWI
Snow Creek Ski AreaMO
1991
Whitetail Resort PA
Huff Hills Ski AreaND
Polar Peak Ski BowlNY
1995
Mystic Mountain/Nemacolin Woodlands PA
1997
Eagle Rock Ski Area PA
Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, Inc. IA
YellowstoneMountainClubMT
1998
Double H RanchNY
2000
MountBohemia MI
Deer Crest Home Owners Association Private TrailsUT
2001
BearCreekMountainClubVT
Silverton MountainCO
2003
Moonlight BasinMT
Granite Gorge Ski AreaNH
Crotched Mountain Ski & RideNH
2004
Tamarack Resort ID
2007
TuxedoRidgeSkiCenter at Sterling ForestNY
2009
LibertyMountain SnowFlex Centre VA
Xanadu SnowPark
2010
c/o Select Contracts NJ
Eagle Point ResortUT
2011
Hawk Island Snow Park MI
Whitetail Ridge Ski AreaWI
Teton Pass Ski AreaMT
Maple Ski RidgeNY
Saw Creek Estates Community Association, Inc. PA
Angeles Crest Resorts CA
Snow Mountain Ranch CO
Frisco Adventure ParkCO
“Tubes “”R”” Us
Cisco Grove & Kingvale” CA
Theodore Wirth Winter Recreation AreaMN
