Recent Comments

My mom worked as the social director there during WWII. She was a school teacher and worked there at least two summers. Fred Waring would have his orchester in the theater. Mom had her own car and would pick up guests at the train station to bring them to the hotel, once there they were captive. She met my father who lived in Philadelphia there one summer, he came back the next and the rest is history. I have an old Mt. Airy post card from then and pictures of my mother on the grounds. I kinda wanted to visit the place but I now know....it's gone !

This is Tory Mountain.

Harman, WV, not Harmon.

Haha well Dad, it looks like there are others that tell stories about a mythical place called Shanee Land!
Wish I had a place to make up stories and tell my kids about.

WOW, the things you find with a simple search, i spent many years (1957-1973)enjoying the horses, swimming, hunting, sking and the other kids with the same idea of how to spend the weekends. Teen club at the lodge, swan lake house and finally at the ski lodge, live music a few times! what a hoot. My kids think shawneeland is something I made up and tell stories about... David

The name was originally Big Valley. It was opened for the 1969/70 season. Had a T-bar, double chair and a rope tow. It offered just over 500 feet vertical and some challenging if short terrain. THe middle upper trail called "Big Valley" was a particularly good place to prepare for trips to big mountains. It was acquired by the family that owned Hahn Fire Equipment (a fire engine manufacturer in Hamburg, PA) and renamed Hahn Mountain.

I actually grew up in Braddock Heights from '90-'97 and didn't get the chance to ski there, but I did enjoy the thrill I got from my inner tubes/sleds/shovels. The great thing about being a kid was I didn't need a lift due to our high amounts of energy. We even built a jump out of snow towards the bottom. For safety's sake, I'm glad it was around during my days, beats trying to sled down an icy Old Swimming Pool Road in the dead of winter.

I hope some of my old buds get a chance to post here.

Thanks for posting everyone, I love reading about all the comments from way back when. It real feels great to look back and say I lived in Braddock Heights!

My husband and I are actually looking at buying a house up in the Wonderview housing development. It's actually quite large as Bloomsburg developments go. One of the neighbors told us that the old lifts are still buried in the woods.

If anyone has any old brochures or pictures from back when it was operating please let me know! I'd be very interested to see them. (we're thinking of putting a little pub in the basement and would love to decorate it with some memorabilia from the old slopes)

Try Fayette Property .org for help finding your lot.

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.

Hi Adam,

Just checked the site and saw your posting. My last name was Ball and we lived on Horseshoe Bend Rd.

Help
I bought a lot in Bear Rocks in 1971 havent been back since. How do I find out the location of my lot (address) since the resort does not exist anymore and all I have is lot ?

Going to college in Charleston in the late 60's Coonskin Park was the only game near town. The slope was on a golf driving range just below the airport runway.

Being a New Englander I met the primary criteria for working there. My own ski's and an ability to turn. I was free most afternoons and serverd as both the ski school and ski patrol.

Snow plow and stem christie was about as far as the teaching went. Fortuneately the 600' long rope tow didn't provide enough vertical for any real injuries.

The rope tow was a typical truck at the top set up. It was a good county park truck and could go pretty fast when no one was around.

Sledding was allowed on the same hill, the college used to send out someone to pick up all their cafeteria trays after a good storm. The most exciting thing to come down the hill was a car hood with 4 people on it, the only thing to ever go really fast down that hill.

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.

Hi Brenda,

What is your last name as I might remember it? I lived in Bear Rocks from 1976-86. Had a crush on Paula Sharbaugh and rode the bus with Bill. I was also heavily involved in the plays and such, and played drums with Gene Dacey for them. Memories!

Adam Wirdzek

none of the rumors are true
thanks for your continued interest in White Mountain
Doug Green
present owner of White Mountain

Jan - I have a lot in Shawnee land and am currently building on it. My lot did perk but I'm required to connect a very complicated sewage system on to my house. So is very possible to fulfill your dream.

Just learned about this website. I lived in Bear Rocks from 76-79. Got to revisit the old homestead in 2007 and it just wasn't the same. Paula Sharbaugh was my best friend. I went to school with John Waite, Kathy Pearson, the Sharbaugh twins...Remember Bill the bus driver? How did we ever get to school! I remember the Rumbaugh's, Freuhauf's, Koontz's...going to the lodge for movie night and being in the "Production of King Richard" Good memories I haven't thought of in a long time.

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!!!

In reading through the comments on Buck Hill, I am amazed that folks are keying on the death defying Poma Lifts. As a young boy in the late sixties, I remember them as a holly terror. Typically, everything went relatively smoothly up to tower three or so. There the grip holding the Pama to the haul rope would slip momentarily and then reengage launching any child at least four feet into the air. If you were able to survive, it was smooth sailing to the top; otherwise clear the track. The likelihood of success was around 60%.

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

here is a circular reference and a pic of a Ski Land ad on a Charlottesville News Blog called "the Hook"
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2008/06/20/lost-charlottesville-ski-land/
and here is a pdf of an another newspaper ad
collegian.richmond.edu/gsdl/collect/richcoll/archives/19731129.dir/doc16.pdf

According to skilifts.org, the lift was installed in 1963. It was a hall double with a length of 1830' and a vertical of 281'

It is also tagged as a new area for the 63-64 season

History of alpine lake, kind of vague on the ski area details. http://www.clutterrealty.com/images/alpinelakehistory/historyofalpinejesseprice.htm

according to skilifts.org, a tbar and a double were installed in 1967

I was the manager for Bart's Inner ski from 1979 through 1981 in G'burg. Bart and Elaine had a partner Scott, whose last name I don't recall who was also from York, PA. Bart ran RECO, an importer of ski boots and he may have been the orginal importer of Garmont to the US. Bart and Elaine were stand up people.

I would love to see the mansion before the fire. My friend tells me how amazing it look before that. She and her family told me how magnificent and hugh it was, but still hard to imagine. I hope someone can local pics before the fire. Ms. Sherrie is still in the area, not far from her old ruins.

I remember skiing Chadds Peak often in the '70s, especially during Winterim, senior year at Brandywine High School in '77. Every afternoon for 2 weeks, up to Chadds for 3 hours of local fun. Later, as a Ski Patroller at Little Gap (now Blue Mountain), I attended an advanced ski program there. The area was actually closed, and the only snow was on the school slope, so we walked up and worked on ski skills on the way down, over and over. I miss that place.

Yep...We remember it well and would love to turn back the hands of time. We lived in the Knoll and belonged to the pool during the summer and hung out at the ski peak in the winter. Several of our friends, who also lived in the Knoll, worked there and we would sled down the peak in trash can lids after it closed, while they were making snow. Did a little partying too...in those days, you could! We remember the Paciaroni family so very well, especially Mrs. P. and the oldest son. What a blast from the past!

Woah! That ad definately does not direct one to the White Mt in question. That sounds alot like Laurel Mt. (6mi east of Ligonier on 30, 810' vertical, chairlift, etc)

I learned to Ski at Chadds Peak. Will NEVER forget how big that hill looed the first day at 10 years old!

I raced for the Unionville team for a year and went back after college to Teach lessons for a couple of seasons.

The day one of my ski school students proposed is anothe unforgettable memory. He was seven years old. We settled for hot chocolate...

Ad from 1969 Ski Atlas on teachski.com

http://teachski.com/books/nationalsurvey/pawhite.jpg

Ad from 1969 Ski Atlas on teachski.com

http://teachski.com/books/nationalsurvey/pasharp.jpg

Ad from 1969 Ski Atlas on teachski.com

http://teachski.com/books/nationalsurvey/paplatuea.jpg

Ad from 1969 Ski Atlas on teachski.com

http://teachski.com/books/nationalsurvey/papoconorth.jpg

Ad on teachski.com from 1969 Ski Atlas

http://teachski.com/books/nationalsurvey/pabear.jpg

I was going to tell you of the trail map and of the postcard on my website, but Kevin beat me to it.

I have a postcard of Bald Knob in operation on my website.

http://www.teachski.com/pcindex2004/WVbaldknob1.jpg

Hi,
I have the same brochure Woody contributed and a couple other papers that were inserts with it when I purchased it off eBay. Unfortunately I do not have any postcards. The pictures you have linked to are great. I love teh old B&W ski area pictures.

One Comment Askes if anyone remembers Kevin, and yes I do. Kevin was an awesome Social Director at Pocono Gardens Lodge, where I was General Manager around 1997. I worked closely with him on many fun projects. He was always great with guests. Does anyone know where he is now. I also had a a couple of weeks standing in for Mr. Patrilak, (when he was hospitalized) as GM of Mount Airy and Stricklands. There were some wonderfull people working hard to keep those three properties going in those days. Does anyone know where are they now?. All three of these vacation spots, will be remembered most fondly by both the vacationers, honeymooners and
the devoted and loyal employees that shared the
experience. It left a mark in our hearts and historic fond memories. If anyone has any info.
please email me: shirleymiller4@yahoo.com

I saw the stone Lodge columns foto after glimpsing at a friend's monitor, and I immediately recognized them -very unique. What a gem of a memory this was for me! I never ski'd there, but my Father (Carpenter) built that Lodge - I believe he was the job forman. I remember he took me to the construction site when I was just a boy - vague memories of a lot of mud and stone. I may have slide fotos of the construction from my parents estate. My older cousin who had a place on the Paupack told me he remembers visiting the job site, and that stones used in constructing the Lodge fireplace were obtained right from the local area there. The Lodge as seen in the postcard shot still looks modern today. I'm proud to hear the great memories folks wrote of the Lodge, and that the columns were still standing in 2005. But I'm dissappointed to hear a residence may now be on the site, since I want to go visit the area. Long after it closed, we would stop by the site while hunting, and he would tell me stories about the place. Thanks for the article - it really brought back special memories for me.

Wow, my brother pointed me to this site and I felt compelled to share the memory of my first ski lesson at Chadds Peak. I was about 9 years old in a bright yellow jacket bombing down the bunny hill going at a pretty good speed and wasn't able stop until I crashed into my brother (Tom Cappie)and we then crashed right into the ticket booth!!! I was not the "Ski Bum" that my brother is but I came back many times to ski and have other very funny memories of "the Bump". Thanks for sharing your stories y'all. I am sure I saw many of you at Chadds Peak during those special years growing up in Chadds Ford, PA.

Irwin Fuchs was the firts Ski School Director at Seven Springs Mountain Resort

I learned to ski at "the peak" on a cub scout trip in 1976 and spent the next 10 years skiing there. I raced there all 4 years of high school as well. I never seemed to be able to crack the 16 second mark, but I think Kurt Drumheller once did it in 10 seconds! Yeah, it had its nicknames like Chadds lump, chadds pimple etc., but my friends and I all agree that we wouldn't be the same skiers we are today without it. I remember begging my father to spend the eighty dollars or so for my first season pass. Fortunately he relented and I was there almost every day after school in the winter. It's great to see so many familiar names in these postings and that they all, like me, have so many fond memories of such a special place. I was in "the knoll" today and couldn't resist parking my car and walking through the Ratliff's old yard to see what became of Chadds Peak. As I walked around the top where the poma unloaded and then down the trail to the top of the "big hill" the memories were endless and I wondered if there was any online content and pictures. I don't know why it never occurred to me to google Chadds Peak, but I'm glad I did.