A reader alerted us to a lost ski area at Pennsylvania’s Harveys Lake.
The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader had an article in 1965 describing the ski area development.
A new ski development, located near the Outlet section of Harveys Lake, and operating under the name of the Harveys Lake Ski Area, opened on Sunday, with several hundred spectators and skiers in attendance. According to William Genetti, chairman of the Luzerne County Tourist Promotion Agency, this is Luzerne County’s first and only commercially-owned ski run. ‘The Cove Ski Area,’ located near Hazleton, but just outside the county, opened this year for the first time also.
The weekend snow brought to the area its first weekend of skiing. Mrs. Dorothy Major Baker, manager of the Luzerne County T.P.A., said the 700 foot slope at Harveys Lake is equipped with a rope tow and lighted for night skiing. The hill would beclassified as a novice or practice slope. At the foot of the slops is a large parking area and ski lodge. Restaurant facilities and a well-equipped ski rental shop are in operation.
Conditions permitting, the hill will be open to the public daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; evenings, 7 to 10:30. Among those taking advantage of the ski instruction will be a group from the Back Mountain Y.M.C.A., headed by Robert Crosson.
According to Donald Keefer of Keefer and Company, a 2100 foot run, extending down the mountain toward the Outlet of the Lake, equipped with a T-Bar lift and snow making equipment, is planned next year.
The Harvey’s Lake History web site has more information on this area, including historical photos.
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