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Mid-Atlantic Lost Ski Areas:

Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area

Camp Lohikan, Pennsylvania

Historical Overview - reported by M. Scott Smith, DCSki Editor

Kevin Whipple writes about the following lost area:

    “Mount Tone Ski Area shut down its skiing operation somewhat recently in 2004. It was a fairly long lasting ski resort boasting 10 trails served by four lifts, about 60 acres on possibly 450 vertical feet. It’s located on Camp Lohikan near Lake Como off Rte. 245 on Wallerville Road, near the New York border. It is a mountain retreat with bunk housing, cottages, lodges, and many activities. It had night skiing and snowmaking on two separate mountains (split by a road requiring a short hike between mountains). On one side are the main buildings of the camp (lodge) with a vast lower meadow which was served by two side-by-side rope tows. Next to these, a Borvig triple chair rose to the area’s highest point (and greatest vertical). This served a series of easy, rolling cruisers around the camp. Across the street and over a bridge led to the original t-bar. This lift served the area’s steepest terrain, all diamonds with an intermediate, wrap-around route. There was a small warming hut at the top of the t-bar. If I had to guess the t-bar’s designer, then I would say Hall. I really don’t know. Mount Tone was known for a cheap lift ticket with worthwhile terrain, but its proximity to Elk Mountain (one of Pennsylvania’s finest) was probably too much for this place to compete with. It’s certainly not the easiest place to find either, but it’s a beautiful setting and had some interesting skiing.”

Kevin provides the following topographic map showing the ski area:
Topographic map of the area, with the layout of the four lifts. Picture provided by Kevin Whipple.

Kevin obtained the following postcard show from www.teachski.com:
Postcard showing t-bar side of the area from somewhere around the main lodge area. Photo provided by www.teachski.com.

Kevin provides the following photos showing remnants of Mount Tone:
The base of the t-bar lift. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.
The base of the triple chair. The dual rope tows are just to the right of this photo. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.
The top terminal of the t-bar. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.
The entrance sign for the area. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

Al Danon scanned an old Mt. Tone ski brochure, and provided DCSki with the following scans.
A scan of the Mt. Tone trail map, provided by Al Danon. Click on image for full-size version. Scan provided by Al Danon.
A scan of the Mt. Tone ski brochure. Click for full-size version. Scan provided by Al Danon.

Woody Bousquet provides the following photo of a Mt. Tone ski patch from his collection, and another photo (courtesy of an eBay listing) of a ski patch from when the ski area was known as Sno-Hill:
A patch from Mt. Tone. Photo provided by Woody Bousquet.

 
A patch from Sno-Hill, found in a listing on eBay. Image provided by eBay / Woody Bousquet.

 
3-d view from Google Earth. Image provided by Kevin Whipple.

 
Aerial image from Google Earth. Image provided by Kevin Whipple.

 
Warming hut at the top of the T-bar lift. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

 
From the top shack of the T-bar looking back towards the camp and the triple chair slopes. The triple rose to the knoll directly above the camp. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

If you have any additional information about this ski area, please contact DCSki's Editor, or add your comments by scrolling below. To view historical information about other lost ski areas in the Mid-Atlantic region, click here. Note that DCSki's Lost Ski Areas section contains recollections pieced together by DCSki readers. We try to continually develop a clearer and more accurate picture of closed ski areas, but understand that some of the details reported on this page may be inaccurate.

Reader Comments

The views and opinions expressed in DCSki Article Comments are strictly those of the comment authors and have not been reviewed or approved by DCSki. If you believe a comment is inaccurate or inappropriate, please contact DCSki's Editor.

Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by kevin
March 13, 2007 at 10:11 pm
looking at the photo of the triple chair, I think it might be a Hall, not Borvig, but I'm no expert
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Warren 733
May 14, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I am very sure that the Triple is a thokel, because Borvig's lifts didn't have chairs like that, or those kind of towers or drive terminals. Hall had similar chairs and towers, but the Drive terminal wasn't so big, and the drive didn't have gigantic legs on the sides of it like that.
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Warren 733
May 14, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Correction: Thiokel, not Thokel
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by kevin
August 25, 2007 at 10:59 am
nice trail map and brochure.
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Al Mokes
October 8, 2007 at 11:45 am
I learned to ski at Mt. Tone 34 years ago. I used a pair to 210's, I remember it was -10 degrees. The following year my new wife started there and when kids came along both of them did the same. It was a home from the first time you walked out the door of your cabin. When I heard they closed I felt like I lost a freind. It would of been a good place for my old knees.
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by g-man
October 18, 2007 at 4:41 pm
i was the ski school director at mt tone for the last 7 years. i really miss the place. sure, it was a small hill compared to most, but the people that worked there and the guests that skied there i will miss the most.
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Jessica
October 23, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Mt Tone is an awesone place to be. Our school used to go there on Ski trips when I was in the Geology club. After we graduated high school, about 20 of us continued to go up there and ski. It didnt have the best slopes but we ALWAYS had a great time there! We will definitely miss it!!!!!
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by kevin thomas
October 24, 2007 at 8:07 pm
That's a hall t-bar with out a doubt, skied there in around 2001, sad to hear it's gone, had a great time!
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Christine
December 15, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I met my fiance here...god I miss the place...by the way I think that was Garth that posted the message about ski school..if so, Hi garth. I'm still sad to hear it's closed
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Al D.
December 20, 2007 at 2:32 pm
There is a new website, under construction, that will be providing additional information about this former ski area. www.mounttone.com.
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Pete
January 20, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Though I never got to ski at this area, I have some great memories of when it was a camping center for school groups. For several weeks in the early 70's, around 73 or 74 I was a counselor with the school groups. The guy who ran the place was Pancho. I have no idea what his last name was. But as a reward for the kids one year/session he gave them all a ride on the brand-new (at least it was then) chairlift.

This was a beautiful setting & I'm sure in the winter it was just as wonderful. I wish it was still up and running. But businesses come and go & I can't even imagine how tough it would be running a ski area.
 
Comments on Mount Tone Ski Area - posted by Pete
January 20, 2008 at 9:07 pm
One more thing, back then it was called "Sno-Hill."
Anyone have any idea when it was first named Mount Tone and why they gave it that name?!

Pete
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Keith
December 27, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Mount Tone was awesome, it is too bad it closed. If it is for sale I will buy it and re-open it as a world class ski resort.
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Keith
December 27, 2008 at 4:49 pm
If anyone knows conact information for the seller of Mount Tone please post it.
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by John K
January 1, 2009 at 7:47 am
This place had $1.99 tickets for week day night skiing around '77-'78 and had a older ski instructor that would ski backwards while holding the ski tips of his students all the way down the hill. Does anyone remember his name? He was a really friendly guy. I think his name was Herman or something like that. Is he still around?
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Brad Homer
January 12, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I worked at the ski school for five years in high school and college in the early 90's. It was a lot of fun and a great place to learn and help help others learn.
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Rev Joe
February 11, 2009 at 5:40 pm
It's too bad this ski camp ceased operation. It was a great place to take a group of kids for the weekend and just let them have at it. They had free lessons for beginners.

The property was also a summer camp and is now exclusively run as a summer facility as Camp Lohikan.
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Tim
March 3, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I learned to ski at Mt Tone and continued to ski there from the early '80's to the early '90's. I preferred the T Bar Hill. There were more trails there and it is steeper. I also remember the older ski instructor. I believe his name was Henry. He helped my mother and sisters learn to ski. He skied backwards holding my mom's skis while she was learning. I was sorry to see Mt Tone closed as my daughters are skiing now and I would have taken them there.
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Tim
March 3, 2009 at 2:15 pm
BTW: I know Henry died. Sometime in the early nineties.
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by chickadee
June 3, 2009 at 12:20 pm
The old instructor was Mr. Nyberg. He was older than dirt, but could out-ski the teens. Great old place. Owned by the Buynak family. Heard rumors of an accident with some trespassers and a sno-cat, and that's why they had to close. Don't know how true it is.
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Garth
August 19, 2009 at 8:12 am
Hey all. Garth here. I'm looking for any members of my staff, and friends from Mt Tone. Please e-mail me: gmansez@yahoo.com
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by DCSki Reader
January 14 at 10:02 pm
Hey to all. You know how much I miss it. I can still remember the backflips under the chairlift. Now all I can do is go to Elk...throw one and wait for the first guy to try and tackle me and threaten to kick me off the mountain. Hope to hear from some of you. good times had by all
Danpfishes@yahoo.com
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by john wanek
April 4 at 1:07 pm
Can anyone help me find a mt tone ski sticker.
jwvienna@ptd.net 570-675-7913
 
Comments on Mount Tone / Sno-Hill Ski Area - posted by Ryan c.
April 13 at 3:38 pm
Came accross this website while surfing at work.Brings back good memories. In the late 80's early 90's there were many locals who went skiing then snowboarding there on the weekends and Christmas Holiday's. Many very good skiers and snow boarders started on this hill. I have several friends that are now doing amazing things out west and to think they started here. The staff gave my group of friends much leeway and allowed us to build jumps throughout the trails where many of us perfected our skills. The hill just did not have enough local support once the 2000's hit as many people moved out of the area. It's too bad was a great place and for $100 you could ski all year.
 

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