DCSki reader Steven Berkoski remembers an area north of Rt. 78 in Pennsylvania around the Allentown area that was called either “Lost Dutchman” or “Flying Dutchman.” At this time DCSki does not know any details about this potential lost ski area.
A comment from DCSki reader Rich K. in January, 2011 indicates that “the Flying Dutchman” may have been a proposed name (which was never used) for Big Valley / Hahn Mountain. “The name appeared on a map of Eastern PA ski areas, but the name was never actually used,” Rich recalls.
This entry probably refers to Hahn Mountain. The Flying Dutchman is a ski club, not a ski area. They sometimes skied at Hahn Mountain. See www.fdsc.org
There is a small, seemingly long-defunct operation just west of Schnecksville off Route 309 on Kernsville Road that seems to have been a ski area at some time. Evidence is an assortment of old lift towers and cables, plus various buildings. It doesn't have more than a couple hundred feet of vertical, but it looks like it was a ski hill...
The ski area that the above poster is referring to is Apple Hill (off of Kernsville Road near Rt.309 Orefield, PA) near Schnecksville,
My dad belonged to the Flying Dutchman in the 1960s-70s. They had a ski club and my siblings and I were signed up for ski lessons. We skiied every Saturday day and Monday nights at Heidelburg Country club (name changed to Blue Marsh ski area) near Berks county. The boots were lace up, the hill was icy, the tow was rope- and we loved it! Our lodge was a trailer. The nice country club lodge was off limits, at least to me:)
The flying dutchmen had a ski area outside of kutztown. There also was an area near virginville which is close to kutztown.
The Area near Kutztown was the Flying Dutchman Ski Hill on Eagle Point Road, according to my friend Fred Jopp, who was involved in the construction and operation of this area. Fred was also involved with 11 partners in Crystal Ridge Ski Area which was located near Virginville on Crystal Ridge Road.
It had one rope tow powered by a flat-head Ford motor, located on the top of the hill. They hauled gasoline up the hill, can could operate on about three gallons a night.
There were two fields to ski. One of the fields had trees at the top, which you could ski through or go around, and there was a creek at the bottom, which you had to be careful to not to ski into.
They used an endless rope that the purchased from Jackson Rope company in Reading, where the company's rep would weave the rope together at the area.
The area was on Eagle Point Road, just north of Kutztown, and operated for about 7 years in the late fifties until about 1962 or 1963.
The rope tow then was moved to Crystal Ridge Ski Area, which was begun in 1962 and opened around 1964 or 1965.
When The Flying Dutchman Ski Hill closed they moved their home mountain to Sharp Mountain, and later Heidelberg Ski Area, where there was snow making and could accommodate the club for their weeknight instructional ski programs each winter.
If anyone wants to contact Fred, he's still Skiing like crazy and is still active in the Flying Dutchmen Ski Club. www.FDSC.org
Thanks so much Peter, I knew I wasn't crazy!
is it possible this area had operated a motocross track in the late 70's?
