Chris N. provides this tip about an area that used to be near Allentown, PA:
Kevin Whipple provides the following additional information about Apple Hill Resort, noting that in late 2007, the land will be ready to develop into houses, erasing all evidence of the former ski area.
In January, 2008, Christopher Hamm provided the following comments and memories to DCSki about Apple Hill:
In October, 2008, Christopher Hamm provided the following update, which clarifies the number of lifts at Apple Hill:
Kevin Whipple provides the following pictures.
My family (Mom & Pop 5 kids)skied at Apple Hill from 1962 through 1968. We knew the drive up Rte. 309 from Quakertown by heart. For several years our Christmas present from Pop was a family season pass. We all loved Apple Hill. Sometimes we had more fun getting up the rope tow than skiing down! I remember the expert trail, although short, was steep enough. Night skiing there was also a lot of fun. They had an A-frame lodge with great hot chocolate. I drove by there in 2000 to show my children where their Dad began his skiing life. I saw a lot of trees & vegetation overgrowing the area. It was a bit hard to recognize, but the memories of that great little ski area will be with me forever.
My family (Mom & Pop 5 kids)skied at Apple Hill from 1962 through 1968. We knew the drive up Rte. 309 from Quakertown by heart. For several years our Christmas present from Pop was a family season pass. We all loved Apple Hill. Sometimes we had more fun getting up the rope tow than skiing down! I remember the expert trail, although short, was steep enough. Night skiing there was also a lot of fun. They had an A-frame lodge with great hot chocolate. I drove by there in 2000 to show my children where their Dad began his skiing life. I saw a lot of trees & vegetation overgrowing the area. It was a bit hard to recognize, but the memories of that great little ski area will be with me forever.
Scott - Here are some memories of "Apple Hill," in the Orefield area west of Allentown PA -
Back in the early 60's, there were seven red plastic apples hanging on our holiday tree for each of us in our family - inside were season passes to Apple Hill! We were thrilled. My dad had checked out this new ski area that recently opened. I had a pair of $1.98 skis from Sears to which my dad rigged a piece of inner tube to hold my "boot" on. No metal edges - so we learned to slip and slide and keep our balance.
We loved going to Apple Hill (from Quakertown) in the evenings after school, and sometimes on weekends. From the lodge looking up the hill there was an "expert" slope that ran straight down towards the right side of the lodge with a long run-off area, and a T-bar to the right of that slope - we did a few cartwheels at the bottom of that one, while trying to hold on for dear life.
There was an Intermediate slope that curved around the expert Hill to the left of it looking up the hill. To the left of the lodge was a rope tow hill - which is the reason I still have trouble turning to the left. Because we would hold on to the rope, get off to our right, ski straight down and turn right and hit the rope on the move so as not to tear our gloves up. But we got real good at trying to knock each other over as we would ski out of the "tracks" of the rope tow to throw the person in front of you off balance. There were two real good skiers there - brothers from the Allentown area and I can't remember their names but one had Head Masters. Then, the next year, one got Head Competition skis - they were the Ferraris of the slope back then. There was a small beginner slope behind the lodge opposite side from the main expert slope, lined with a few pine trees. When there was adequate snowfall, there was a ridge you could push yourself along between the top of the rope tow back towards the top of the Intermediate slope to the left of the T-bar area. That slope dropped down into the Intermediate slope and then you ran out the bottom of it.
That's some of the background of the Area as I recall it.
Here's an aerial view of it on virtualearth.com
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v2&cp40.631971-75.608654&styleh&lvl16
I hear it's marked off for development now, but the old lift equipment is still there.
I stopped by this abandoned ski resort today, and took a peak around. The lift cables are still intact, along with all the light poles. I found some unlocked doors to the lodge, and was amazed to see how nice the lodge is, even to this day. The outside had lots of overgrown trees and brush. The windows have been broken. Inside the lodge was nice. Very unique fireplce with large tube venting out smoke from the open fire in the center of the room. The lodge still had all the kitchen appliances. There were some tables still setup. If I get around to it, I will take my camera and get pics. Its only about 30 min away from me. Its a shame the place went under. I'd love to see photos of this place when it was still operational. Does anyone know if anyone lives in the house right near the lodge? Looks like an older house, but looks to be occupied.
my parents live very close to an abandonded slope which seems by all descriptions to be apple hill - the area is most certainly going to be developed soon as this is a prime area.
My parents bought a house in Orefield, PA in 2001 which is where Apple Mountain is. We noticed the remnants of an old ski resort (basically the old lift)...what a site to see. Is would be nice if it stayed intact, but I anticipate that one day homes may be built on the site.
My fondest memories of growing up were spent at Apple Hill. We would certainly go every weekend and sometimes after school. My two older brothers and dad skied as well. I believe my dad and maybe my brother were on the ski patrol. I was eight years old when I started skiing there, I think it was 1968. I broke my leg on the expert hill when I was twelve years old. I do remember one season, there was an ice storm. We couldn't ski due to the ice, but we had an awesome time using our ski boots to slide down the hill. I was also friends with the owners daughter. I think her name was Megan. She had long hair, often worn in braids. In my dad's office to this day is a picture of myself and my brothers skiing at Apple Hill. I loved it!
DeeDee Cooper,
There's a name from the past. Brothers were Jeff and maybe Stevie or Allen? Megan lives in Kennett Square with husband and 4 kids, and both my parents are still living in an attached apartment with Meg's family. I'm in Asheville, N.C. Apple Hill's wonderful memories are forever embedded in my mind. Hope everything is well with your extended family. P.S. An itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini...remember that?
Eric Koetteritz -
The brothers were the Wentz brothers -- Tommy and,I think, Bill. There were the hottest skiers at the area, no doubt. Haven't thought about those guys for more than 30 years.
My wife and I built our home just about 3 miles west of Apple Hill in 1977-78. It was still open for skiing about a year after we moved in. There was talk of building a family entertainment complex with a mini Grand Prix race track sometime in the early 80's but nothing ever came of it. It was rumored that Mario Andretti was to be one of the partners.
There are homes being built all around it- but so far there has been no construction on the ski area property. Part of it has been used for farming but I'm sure it is only a matter of time until there are homes being built there. What a shame that will be to lose another piece of natural beauty to progress.
Our family (4kids&our parents)also frequented Apple Hill in the 1960's to the early 70's.I remember, patiently waiting in a line of traffic along Kernsville Rd.from 309, cars trying to find a space in the parking area. Lift tickets were sold in the shop(lower level).In that little shop they sold great skiwear along with skis,boots,bindings...I can remember all of my ski jackets that my parents purchased there. Joe Dolgos(later owned Sports Chalet) began working there as the ski shop manager/mounted bindings etc. His accent when he spoke made one think that they were at a ski resort in Europe. As much as I loved skiing there when I was young, I also loved to take a "break" and head for the lodge where they served Apple Hill cider (from their own apples picked in the orchard at the slope)and great hot chocolate topped with whipped creme as high as the slopes!! The hot dogs were good too...I always carried my tray and found a seat on the long benches by the big front windows. There were big red apple cut-outs for signs on the slopes, in the cafeteria, etc. When I took ski lessons, there was a bell that they rang to gather the kids for the beginning of their lessons.My instuctor was Dick Klinetop. Like another poster wrote, I remember the path along the edge of the mt.(hill)accesible by skiing off the t-bar and instead of going down the intermediate slope, you went up the otherside until you got to this unlit path that wound up at the top of the rope tow. One of the most vivid memories I have of Apple Hill, is the first aid room, next to the register by the food area. I had a tough time keeping the t-bar down as I was so little and didn't always have an adult to help to keep the "spring" down...resulting in getting whacked in the head by the wooden T part and finding myself in that first aid room. Many times the x-pert hill was closed because of ice near the end of the night. The last time I skied there was in '72 or '73.
I started skiing at Apple Hill in 1970 when it was thriving. For a little kid, the hill was plenty big enough, some of the T-bar springs tight enough to bounce off the ground with, and the rope tow, a heck of a lot of fun to pull out suddenly to try to knock your buddies over. We had season passes each year and spent not only weekends but many weeknights there as well. I remember they closed the lifts for an hour or so between the day and night skiing for grooming. After the hot dogs and hot chocolate, the kids would go out to rumble in the snow. It was a family ski area in our backyard. It was community and some great childhood memories.
Wow! I just found this webpage and what a joy it is!
I began my ski career at the tender age of 23 months old. My father ,Jerry, was a ski instructor there for many years, working for Dick Kleintop. My father and Paul Best Ran the ski school from the early 70's until the area closed.
I have been truly blessed to have been a part of Apple Hill history. The area consisted of 2 main ropetows (The Beginner slope and the Novice). In the early days there were 2 other ropetows, One ran next to the T-bar and there was another on top of the hill, that I believe was a teaching area.
I am still heavily involved in the ski business. I have been a race coach at Blue Mountain for the past 24 years.
My father and Paul Best are still ski instructors at Blue Mountain.
Many great memories to post here....Maybe I should write a book on the great times at Apple Hill!
It is so disheartening to see the photos of a place we cherished so run down. We spent the best years of our lives there. I remember it like it was yesterday. The ski shop, the big round fireplace, the tables in the lodge that were just waiting to give you splinters,(I remember having several removed!) My Dad,Jerry Hamm, was the ski school director there. That was great for us because we could ski 7 days a week. Everyone there was like family. These are some of the fondest memories of my childhood. I remember crying the day we were told Apple Hill was going to close its doors. Believe it or not we kissed every hill good bye.(Hey, I was young!)
Anyone remember Crazy Larry? Life was great then but as they say all good things must come to an end. It was a shame to see it go.
ATTENTION
I would like to announce that an Apple Hill reunion party is in the early stages of being planned! It's been 30 years and this long overdue.
We need your help to make this a HUGE success.
We need names and contact information of former employees, Family members and loyal patrons (We are all part of the family). Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. This includes becoming part of the planning committee or just sending me your contact information so we can send you an invitation when we have more details.
Please contact me via email at...
Christopher.Hamm@ge.com
Thanks,
Chris
I too have fond memories of Apple Hill, though I was very young. I think I learned to ski there when I was 3 or 4 (1975 or 1976). Alot of my cousins skiied with us, we were all part of the Mikylychak clan. The Diehls, the Martins. we had such a great time and my family still lives in the area. When I come home to visit it is sad to see how it has deteriorated. I still will always remember it!
We sure loved Apple Hill! My brother Davie and I skied there all the time with our cousins in the Mikylychak clan -- the Martins and the Kellers -- hi Shannon! Lots of friends as well. What a great time that was. Nobody ever even thought about locking up their skis! I'm so happy and grateful to have so many wonderful memories thanks to Apple Hill!
wow, this is a great site! I skiied at Apple Hill in the early 60's, I think I started in 63, that is when it opened, I think! I used to ski with the Wentz brothers and other friends, I am still at the sport! More to come...
My brother Jeff and I also learned to ski there. We too are apart of the Mikylychak family. We had many good times there. We then went on to ski at Hahn Mountain and Blue Mountain.
I remember when Apple Hill opened, i couldn't be more excited, it was 1963 and I was 13. My father brought a pair of skis home from WWII that were in my garage in Allentown, and when it snowed, I would strap them on my shoes and ski down the bank in the front of our house. My father, a golfer, took me to Big Boulder in 1957 and I was hooked, but I did not get back on the skis until Apple Hill opened! My parents used to drive me out to Apple Hill for the great night time skiing. I remember skiing with Bill and Tom Wentz, Betsy and Bobby Friedman,my cousin Jan Bishop and other friends from Allentown. I have photographs of our racing team that I would love to post. I also remember skiing in knickers, tie boots and my first head skis (that I slept with)... I went on the share the passion with my children, we ski now in Colorado (spoiled) but apple hill started it all... I also remember the faces of the people who owned the hill, or the shop and hearing them speak about VERMONT, a far away place. It opened up a new world to me, and I would love to share those memories! frangood@mac.com
Joe Dolgos (owner of The Sports Chalet - 309 N. near Daniels BMW) used to be the ski tech. in the little shop located on the lower level of the lodge at Apple Hill. He would probably be able to contribute a lot of nostalgia about the days that he fitted skis, boots, skiwear etc. also I believe he was also an instructor or on the ski patrol during the 1960's at Apple Hill. Just thought maybe it would be fun to include any information he might have for a reunion.
I am tingling with nostalgia at finding this site. I skied there with my family, probably around the years 1966-68, when I was a student at Parkland Junior High School (formerly Kratzer.) I remember buying my first pair of ski boots in the ski shop there, a pair of leather Heinkes (spelling??) and Northland Stein Erikson skis. The boots were fitted by the man who I believe owned the mountain, Fritz Kramer, who my Dad knew, maybe from Lehigh County Club.
I was a rank beginner in those days and spent most of my time on the rope tow that ran up the left side of the area, looking up the hill. At some point I graduated to the T-Bar. The headwall was terrifying; I don't think I ever even attempted it. I can still see the most popular girls in my class, Sally Brinkerhoff and Andrea Katz, speeding down that hill with their long brown hair straight out behind them in the wind. I never caught up to them, much to my chagrin.
Now I live in VT and ski mostly at Burke and Sugarbush. I have tried to describe Apple Hill and how exciting and scary it was to my kids, but you can imagine how that goes over. They were weaned at Burke (vertical drop c. 1800')
I live in Apple Valley est. which is next to Apple hill. I have seen nemorus activity that seems extreemly supernatural. I know, you probably think i am crazy, but please believe me. Just a few days ago I found felt some freezing wind coming from the main lodge on a hot, windless day. I have also seen the building completely illuminated by a strange white and green light.
If you have any stories about apple hill, pleas contact me @
Natea@ptd,net
The Reunion Date has been set! Mark your calendars for Sunday September 14, 2008! I will be sending out the invitations shortly via email. (Keep an eye out for them)
We are also looking for old photos taken at AH. We are putting together a multimedia presentation. Please contact me for further details.
If you haven't sent me your contact information yet I need you to do so right away. I need your email, home address and phone number.
Please send all information to me at: Christopher.Hamm@ge.com
Hope to see you on the 14th!
Chris
Just curious if you are allowed to walk around the property to take additional pictures of the place and if so who to talk with, land documents come back to Jandil land corporation and the house on the property looks occupied? never tried to approach. Looks creepy actually. Noticed that construction seems to be near mostly at the top of the lifts area. I was never able to see the resort in operation but think it would have been fun to see. Drive past numerous times and hard to believe what the place was like in running order. Any help would be appreciated. Steve
I started skiing at Apple Hill when I was in junior high school at Parkland. My brother Tim and I would tell my mother that we finished our homework in school and off we would go to ski until dad would pick us up late in the evening. I can still remember skiing past him time and time again saying one more run dad just one more run and he never complained. My brother and I skied with some great skiers( Tom Wentz, Roger Osmun, Greg Podnicks, Bob Cawley, George Meyers and Mark Smith) and we still ski today. My brother is a race coach at Blue and I live five minutes from Bear Creek. As I look back on the times I spent at Apple Hill I will always remember them fondly. They were some of the best times of my life.
Looks like they started making a new road on the upper part of Kernsville Rd and the Private Rd (Grist Mill maybe). Does not look like fast construction since I get up that way once a month and it took long enough for them to move the dirt. If you have not gone up to see what it looks like, maybe take a drive before gas prices hit up again.
I attended the reunion of Apple Hill and it was wonderfull to see everyone. The most upsetting thing was the pictures of the lodge as it deteriorated. A cd was made and put to music that brought me to tears! My memories go back to being 4 yrs of age when my grandpa Russel Brown and my dad Barry Brown were working at the mountain in the ski patrol and first aid. I remember riding the old ski-doo that towed the tobogan to rescue the skiers. My grandpa never once raised his voice to me (I am 42 now) and the one and only time he did was when I marched across the top of a picnic table w/ my ski boots on!!! It is a family story that has never died and is as fresh as the day it happened! He still asks me if I forgive him for yelling at me. I always aspired to catch Chris Hamm but never did. He just skied way too fast! Apple Hill is one of the fondest memories of my childhood. My grandpop found a receipt from the ski shop in which he paid $12.00 for a ski sweater for me and $69.00 for a pair of Heinke boots a lift ticket was $3.00. It is a hoot to look through the old receipts. I cant believe he still has them. I still say the frech fries were the best and I think Yocco's has the closest taste to the famous Apple Hill fries. Our family drove in on Oct.14th to snoop and we made it in almost to the lodge. It is overgrown and there is an elderly couple living in the house. They eat at the local rest (Norma J's) almost every day.I suspect that nothing would be done until they no longer live there.
thanks christopher hamm for the lift info! having never skied apple hill, it sure looked like a lift reached higher on the hill then the t-bar summit - a summit rope tow sounded logical
Back in 1970, I was 11 years old and a family friend took me to Apple Hill one weekend for my first time ever on skis. It was a wonderful place to learn the basics on a forgiving set of hills. My most vivid memory was of the rental equipment. Step in bindings were not common on rental equipment back then so we had the type with a cable around the heel pulled tight by a spring loaded release latch on the ski in front of the boot toe. There was an adjustment along the side spring for "quick release" in case of a fall. The toe rope was a real thrill for a beginner who could barely stand up for long on the skis. A far cry from today's "magic carpet" lifts.
I loved the one time experience back then but for one reason or another it took me 35 years to ski again. Took back to the slopes after a conference in Las Vegas. For those who have never been, there is a relatively quiet resort 3 hours up I-15 in Southern Utah called Brian Head. They get 450 inches of natural snow per year and have as much challenge as any resort further North around Salt Lake.
at the age of 12years old i began skiing at apple hill,from 10am to 10pm what a great place it was. met many great friends and today still have these friends. it was a kids mountain,some place that everyone who skied there will never forget. after apple hill i moved on to coaching and racing in vermont on the pro circut i moved on to aspen co fr two years also coaching and racing.then moved on to utah where i coached and raced out west. thank you so much apple hill for being there if it where not for a little mountain like you...i would have never experience the things i have in skiing today...
The picture of the lodge brings back so many memories of that great little ski area. I wish I could jump right back to that time and have a cup of hot apple hill cider. Many of you might not remember me but you may remember my brother, Rudy. He was there every night after school and all day on the weekends. I think one time he skied down the expert slope with Tom "Mouse" Wentz holding a torch. I think they did this on one ski. I remember it being impressive and pretty cool. Mr. Kramer and the people that ran that place really understood kids and the importance of recognizing their skills and allowing them to show it. What a wonderful place, but it was the people that worked there that made it such. Really miss those times and as your going through it, you always believe you'll be back. Funny how it just ends without realizing it... but what great memories.
i live a few minutes away. it's not going to be developed - it was bought by the jandils, who own the turkey farm. it has no markers for development, and the lights and lift and lodge are still there.
ok, my friends and i want to go see if this place if really haunted. I have heard the story that this kid licked the paint off the walls and went in the bathroom got sick and had to be taken to the hospital. HENCE the reaseon why it is haunted. My friends also told me thatt they walk right by Apple hill sr and it is FREEZING. so if anyone has anything PLEASE post on this page or send it to nates email.
Natea@ptd.net
Apple Hill was the first place I ever skied. I started when I was 7, about 40 years ago. I have such great memories of my Dad, Uncle Gus and Aunt Helen taking me to Apple Hill, making new friends and having such a great time. The T-bar was a fun ride with lots of "whoopee dos" on the way up. If you wanted to make a jump the attendant at the top would give you a shovel and tell you to build it off to the side. The front head wall was short but steep and every now and than huge moguls formed because they did not groom. The run coming round the valley had a bunny slope option. The Ski Patrol were the best skiers on the Mt. always friendly and ready to help. When I got to Jr. High we would have school outings there too. The lodge and ski area all had a European flair and skiers were taught etiquette, rules of the slopes. The hot chocolate was the best and I would always sleep real good after a hard day or night on the slopes. The Cafeteria had a nice fire pit in the center. Hard to believe I had so much fun on so little of a hill, but would not trade those days for anything. Thank-Full to God for the ability to continue to ski being almost 50 now and hope too for many more years, I was taken and inspired by those early days, as my love for skiing grew natured by my German parents and other relatives including Uncle Albert whom was a member of the Ski Patrol which I am now also a proud member thereof. Every now and than I have a pleasant dream of skiing this little gem. Thanks Apple Hill, owners and staff for some great times!!!
I worked at Apple Hill in 68 and 69. I was 16 years old when I started. I still live in the area and think about my time there every time I drive past. I mainly operated the beginner tow rope or shoveled snow into the whoops that developed at the base of the tee bar. There was also a rope tow that took you a little further up the hill from the top of the tee bar. A few years latter my friend broke his arm while we were jumping our dirt bikes up the hill that was at the top of that rope tow. My most vivid memory is of the trouble some beginners had figuring out how to get ahold of the rope. You had to let the rope slide through your hands and slowly squeeze down on the rope till you started moving. If someone would fall I had to shut off the rope or all those behind would pile into the fallen skier. Now came the hard part. I would yell down the hill that everyone should let the rope slide through their hands. But of course no one did and now everyone fell when the rope started. It could be quite a problem to get the rope started again without someone falling. I never skied there and did not start sking till about 15 years ago. But having worked there I always wanted to learn to ski. I finally learned to ski by taking lesson at Blue Mountain. I love Blue mountain and I have had a season pass there for many years. Now my 8 year old Granddaughter and I ski together. This year she skied every trail excet Challange.
There was a rope tow starting at the top of the t-bar, extending maybe 50 meters in a line parallel to the t-bar. It extended up through an apple orchard and had minimal vertical drop. The upper rope tow was there from 1967 on.
My second-ever skiing (but the real start of a life-long addiction, ultimately resulting in my residing in Colorado) was at the age of about 15 at Apple Hill, probably early winter of 1966. Sad to hear that it's gone.
this is where i learned to ski, it ws cheap and close, when you faced the hill from the lodge window, the main hill was straight ahead and steep, to the left was a trail that came around from the top and to the right of the t-bar was a rope tow that i lost alot of good gloves on, a friend of mine worked the t-bar and i remember there was a road to the top of the t-bar from above, i have pictures ill dig up, one is from the morning call of my brother, mark savage skiing on the rope tow hill, also on some nights we used to take the kitchen trays down the main hill, (yes that was us), had alot of fun there
I remember skiing at Apple Hill from 1963 to 1967 when my family moved to Washington DC. So many hours in bliss skiing down the Expert slope and the intermediates. There definitely was a two person chair lift back then that went to the very top of the mountain. Kim Martin and I skied so many hours together as kids. Good times, great memories and my first kiss. So sad to see pictures of the broken down lodge, but still great memories of sitting by the fire with hot chocolate and a hot dog. My cousin used to ski right into the side of the logde building all the time. To think that I am in my 50's now! Time marches forward and things start going by so fast. Memories are wonderful things. I had some of the best times of my life at Apple Hill.
To Pete Young, I was in 5th and 6th grade at Parkway Manor School with Sally Brinkerhoff, Andrea Katz, Kim Martin, Johnny Silverberg, Robert Wirth. Kim and I spent countless hours skiing at Apple Hill together. Small world, huh? I have been living in Washington DC for the past 43 years.
in regards to david ehmer's post on 2/26... anybody know where the loading area was for this double chair would have been? probably fairly close to the aerial images
Sorry Kevin, There was no chair lift at Apple Hill. Apple Hill had A T-bar that serviced the "Expert" and the "intermediate" runs. The other two main lifts were serviced by rope tows. One serviced the "Novice" run and the other serviced the "Beginner" run.
In the late 60's (perhaps before the beginner run) there was a rope tow at the top of the hill which I believe was a teaching area. Unfortunately you had to ride the T-bar in order to get there. This run and tow was only used a year or two. The other rope tow was used sporatically in the latter years and it serviced a hill next to the T-bar. This tow was only used a few times and only when there was enough natural snow. It started approximately where the T-bar loading area was and ran parallel to the T-bar for about 30 yards. and ended at a small plateau.
I will try to illustrate and post a trail map when I get the opportunity. The length of the runs and lifts is a bit foggy but the layout is still clear as a bell. Hope this helps until I can post a trail map.
Regards
Thanks Chris. I walked the property twice and never found any chairlift remnants. The vast majority of folks say there was never a double chairlift, but there is an apparently confused 2% that seem to remember one. Great info.
When in high school in Phillipsburg, NJ in 1964-66 I learned to ski at Apple Hill. For me at the time it was heaven. The skiing experience, and the lodge with its circular fireplace, donuts and hot cider.
The whole experience engendered such a love for skiing that in 1981 I quit my job with CBS News in Cairo and moved to the Swiss Alps, where I have lived ever since, writing as ski correspondent for The Times, Daily Mail and other publications.
I'm sure many others were so inspired by many such small family areas. Despite heliskiing in Alaska, touring the Haute Route, skiing in Alagna and La Grave, my fondest skiing memories are of Apple Hill.
Wow! What a blast. And so many names I remember and some I went to school with at JW Good, Troxel and Parkland High! Cool!
I learned to ski at Apple Hill around 68 when I was 13. What a great place. Bought my first ski's there. Think Joe Dolgos was the sales tech at the time. I remember the courtesy of checking on people when they fell, and calling out "on your right." Sad to say those courtesies are almost gone from skiing.
Now live in Wheeling, WV area and ski mostly at Seven Springs. My wife learned to ski and then we had our kids on skis by age 3.
Started there at 8 years old. My father took me to the beginner area and spend hours teaching me to snow plow on wooden skiis from Ski School. After many trips he took me to the intermediate hill. Both had rope tows. We went through a lot of gloves (leather ski mittens).
At the top of the intermediate, said give it a try. I flew down the hill like a mad man and stuck in the wooden snow fence at the bottom.
He came skiing down "Why didn't you snowplow or make a turn to slow down?" I said because I didn't want to slow down, Lets do that again!
I skied at Hahn, and then moved to Little Gap when Apple Hill closed. Ski area's were my daycare.
I taught Skiing at Blue Mountain under Roger and would make morning runs with Matty. I also skied with Paul Best.
Now my daughter and I ski at Roundtop.
Apple Hill was way more than just a Ski Area, it was a crazy fun place. People would party there all the time. After it closed, it became a Tubing/Sledding and Snowmobile area for us locals.
They had two rope tows, one on the beginer, one on the intermediate, and a double T-bar that serviced the intermediate and expert.
I was young put I remember the expert as being really steep with big moguls. My last memory of Apple Hills was on the last day of its last season walking down the Expert because the snow was sticking to my cheap wooden skiis, Argh!
I am the son of Bill Wentz and nehpew of Tom Wentz. I have been hearing stories about this place my whole life. I wish I could have been out there whooping it with you all! Both Bill and I have recently won gold medals in racing. He's still out there kicking ass. I've had a brand new pair of racing skiis the past two years because of the love my father has for this sport. We live for it. Thank you apple hill for building the relationship my family has for this amazing outdoor sport.
Oh MY! Here I sit in the West Indies, on the island of St. Kitts, & I find this site on APPLE HILL!! What a blast from the past! YES! The Jaindl kids, Sally Brinnkerhoff, Leslie Sheldon, EVERYBODY skiied Apple Hill! I think my first year was 1963?? I remember skiing in knickers, and those great knee-hi grey woolen socks! Up and down the T-bar on the "expert" hill, and riding the cafeteria trays making a long chain down the "Advanced Intermediate" run!! Those were the days! Skiied all day, skiied all night! Right after graduating from Parkland in '73, I moved to Colorado to keep skiing, teaching, and racing! Tom Mauser! OMG.. Bill Oldt, my sweet departed ski-buddy, Joey Jessel and Linda Whitner.. we all went on to hang out at Doe Mountain, Elk, and Camelback! I've long since retired from ski racing to follow my passion for teaching scuba diving... But I will always fondly remember where I first strapped on those long thongs and bear-trap bindings! Sweet Memories Indeed!!
Skied here with my family many years ago - great place - thanks for the web site. Found this post card with a great picture of the lodge from the "expert" hill.
http://www.cardcow.com/227513/apple-hill-ski-area-allentown-pennsylvania/
Apple Hill was a great place for many families.....we were there everyday, when there was snow.
Dee Dee, I remember when you broke your leg, I carried your books to school everyday, it was 1967 (only 45 years ago) remember?
My god did this bring back some good memories. My family lived in Allentown for about 2 years during the mid 60s. I was 13 when I got my first set of skis while we lived in Allentown, and learned how to ski at Apple Hill. At least while I was there, there was no chairlift only a T bar and rope tows which I remember tearing up a few gloves on. Great family place and enjoyed the night sking and especially the hot chocolate
My grandparents live in the blue house, they mentioned stories, Found this site very interesting.
Boy did this bring back memories,especially since I was just talking to someone that used to work there. I lived in the house at the base of the hill, with my parents and brothers and sister. There used to be a barn on the property used by Apple Hill. I learned to ski there, and we hung out at the lodge as often as we could, helping out in the cafeteria.
Nice site, We Moved in to the farm house at the bottom of apple hill ski slopes in October 1969
My sister and I along with our brothers learned to ski there, We were always there when they were opened and as we got old enough we worked there. Lots of memories and made lots of friends there.It was nice growing up there,Winters were a bit noisy with them making snow but we loved it there. When we first moved in they were making apple cider on the property too. Parents still live there and its still a nice area.
Yes Shirley and I moved in the house there right next to the Parking lot when we were in Early Jr High (Troxel)we had alot of fun there growing up exploring the Hills in the summertime and sking the hills in the winter We went to sleep to the sound of a large rented compressor that was used to make snow assisting the 2 permanently housed in the middle of the Expert Hill there was a beginers slope behind the lodge the Novice slope these were both rope tows then the Intermediate which ran threw the valley and above it was a small trail leading to the top of the Novice hill Then it was the Expert hill always filled with mogels and alot of action, these were accessable from the Tbar that ran from the bottom to the right of the lodge for a short time they added a small slope to the right of the T bar but I do not know if that panned out since it was right above the parking lot the rest of the area was Orchard we ate alot of fresh fruit and even tobaganed down the washboard area where the trees were planted on the hill one time my best friend and I even found an old concrete bunker filled with old wet Dinamite ( what did we know ) it was soon emptied and collaped in The remains of the area bring back many memorys for Me the house still inhabited holds alot of my life at what was known as Apple Hill Ski Area !!!!
Growing up only 1 mile away, I had a season pass ($50) and would ski almost every day after school. I remember hearing the snow making machines at night, knowing there would be fresh powder.
What a nice memory of skiing on ice, ice covered rocks, and leg breaking moguls. That is what trained us to be such skilled skiers today.
Kernsville, still a great hometown.
That's where I learned to ski(and kiss on the bunny slope) in the late 60's. - Jr High school years. Someone in the lodge would get on the PA system and say "Will the Jaindl family come in for dinner" and 20 kids would swoop down from all slopes and eat together. Cafeteria tray races..ice wrestling with Sally in front of the lodge. Good Times..
I skied Apple Hill in the early 1960s when I was in junior high. Until then, I learned in Lehigh Parkway by walking up and skiing down and was instructed by my father. My first skis were my father's cut down wood skis with bear trap bindings from the 1940's. I finally got my first pair of purchased pair of wood skis with metal edges "Edelweiss" while skiing there. The cool kids got Head skis. I look back on that fondly. Although I would never want to do those rope tows again ever in my life! Now I look forward to any time I can get skiing with my grandchildren in Colorado.
I started sking there before it was open with Mr Kramer and his family in 1962. My grandfather managed the orchard for Mr Fuller at the time. I was there just about everyday skiing. I remember Rick Kramer, Pete Fuller Pete Nestor and all the other kids that skied together. In the middle 70's I joined Doe Mt Ski Patrol (now Bear Mt) and was there for 12 years.
I am calling my show of photographs
"Far From Apple Hill" at David Castillo Gallery in Miami, Fl
opening April 11, 2012
I was there everyday after school starting in 1963!
fran bishop (good)
Boiler plate ice down the expert Ya----hooo!!!!!!!
Someone just called my attention to this site. It's nice to see Apple Hill provided a special experience to so many people, just as it did to both me and my wife Karen.
Reading this makes me remember that before I could drive I hitched rides to or from Apple hill with Paul Best and Forrest Marushak.
I can recall the excitement of being invited to become Jr. members of the ski patrol at the age of 16. The Wentz brothers, Rendell Hendricks, Tom Ward and I spent the off season getting our first-aid certifications and in the fall received our rust colored patrol jackets. Looking back it was the smartest way to keep us from terrorizing the slopes.
Apple Hill was a wonderful, if unlikely, portal to the wonderful world of skiing. Reading these comments makes it apparent that many more than just me became addicted to that world at Apple Hill.
My mom had an old lift ticket. If i find it i will post a pic.
Love these pictures, and the fabulous memories. Wearing knickers, long thongs, bear traps, my first pair of leather buckle boots! Such good times! Dee Dee, Mouse, the Jaindl kids, Sally Brinkerhoff... such a gang! Later I went on to patrol at Doe Mountain before leaving PA at 17 for Colorado... for college, but mostly, TO SKI! Became an instructor and raced super GS & Downhill all over. Did a little racing for Dynastar before setting the boards up in '96. Good times indeed.... So many great skiing memories from all over the world... began with that little area, Apple Hill!!
Hi David Jaindl. I do remember. If I didn't thank you then, I thank you now!
Not quite sure where and how to begin. I remember everybody. Did lots of learning by watching the Wentz Bros. We used to ski 5 or 6 days a week. My time at Apple Hill assisted me in flunking 9th grade. I don't think I've skied to old Beatles music since. Oldest daughter now lives in Boulder CO. Youngest daughter works at a ski shop here in Mass (and so do I sometimes). Ski on those damn short things now. Yes I guess Apple Hill had just a minor impact on my life...I would love to get a copy of that Milton Rockmaker shot of the expert slope with only his son sitting in the frame. It was made into postcards and really shows why the kids that skied there got so good...
ec.rogal@verizon.net
Thanks everyone for your memories of what sounds like it was a fantastic hill!
It is right around the corner from my office, anybody know if the current owners are tolerant of folks riding it backcountry style? With snow on the ground, and a little more predicted, hiking or skinning it is super tempting!
Looking for movies or pictures.
Hey! It is super cool reading all these post about what the Ski Lodge once was. My best friend lives in the Apple Valley Estates that are now built on top of the hill and just remnants of what used to be are covered by brush so it's fun to think about what it was like. Hearing your stories and seeing old pictures plus putting together the pieces of what was left behind tends to make a good story in my mind.
The main lodge is still accessable if you go through a farm field and the interior of the building (the roof and fireplace mainly) still look to be in solid condition. Although windows are broke, graffiti on the walls, and tables all moved, it feels when you walk in your walking into the past and that everything inside stayed in those times as well. Recently I spotted a second maybe smaller lodge that is still up 200 yards away from the main lodge but I have not been inside that one.
We used this awesome place in a music video for our band recently. For those who havent been to the lodge in years, check out what it looks like now! https://youtu.be/uLyOypN7J0Q ENJOY!
I am working on a google map of all the abandoned ski areas in PA. After reading these articles I wanted to make a map of these abandoned ski resorts and share them with you. Some ski resorts you will see are not even visble on google earth anymore. To skow all of you where they are Wanted to share this map. Everytime I add a new part of the map I will share the link.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1zBCb6LCm5KG-mi-BRMzzXFb_Wvzj-fzR&ll=40.09695855922546%2C-76.98060575366367&z=14
That is the link. Enjoy and tell me if there are any problems.
I visited Apple Hill some months ago to record video and take some pictures for a lost ski area tour project I've been working on. As mentioned previously the area opened in 1962 and closed in 1978. The t-bar was likely a Hall. They had a snowmaking system which you can still find hydrants for around the hill as well as what appears to be a pumphouse about halfway up the t-bar line. The t-bar is still standing today, and the drive is still intact inside its vintage steep roofed house. The t-bar line and advanced slope are heavily overgrown, as is the top terminal of the t-bar. The wrap around trail from the top is still somewhat open and easily discernible from the ground. You can still see the operator's shacks and foundations for the drives of the beginner rope tows as well, although the tow lines are totally overgrown. The lodge has suffered a lot from the pictures posted above. Sadly, all the glass has been punched out of the big window and the interior is pretty much open to the elements now. The lodge certainly has amazing bones, and its a real shame to see such a great example of mid-century ski architecture left in such a state.
This is another area that keeps being rumored to become slated for a residential development, but again, nothing has panned out yet, and the remains of the ski area are all still there left to decay.
I've compiled a video you can watch here of the tour as well as some historical photos of the ski area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyhGOINI-Fw&t=46s
Just came across this site and what a nostalgic blast from the past. Fritz and Marion Kramer were my godparents and we called Alex and Tom Fuller Our aunt and uncle. My parents best friends growing up. After being born in Allentown and living there a total of three times, we moved to Doylestown Pennsylvania in 1962. That winter I worked at Piper Hill ski area in Pipersville Pennsylvania. Very small hill with a rope tow. Used to love going to visit the Fuller‘s at Willowbrook Farm in Catasauqua. I currently live in New Hope Pennsylvania and After skiing all over the country and the world for many many years my old war wounds from rugby and motocross racing caused me to put my skis away. Best regards to all the members of this site and thanks for the memories. Tim Everett
