DCSki Editorial Overview
The story in brief
Sawmill Run Park was a small, short-lived ski area in Butler Township, north of Pittsburgh, on Sawmill Run Road. Its difficult-to-access location and tiny parking lot reflected the limited scale of the operation, which ran for only a couple of short seasons and then operated on an even more restricted basis. A short T-lift served the downhill skill area from a small hut, while underground piping was installed for snowmaking guns despite the absence of a pond. In 1993, the area received a $100,000 grant for trail improvements, an investment that briefly suggested a larger future for the park.
That future never developed. According to Bill Kircher, county officials ultimately ended the operation rather than continue paying insurance costs, and no private operator was willing to assume responsibility for such a small hill. Photographs from 1996 capture the park during this brief chapter, including its T-lift and snowmaking infrastructure. Sawmill Run Park is distinct from the still-operating Ski Sawmill Family Resort in Morris, Pennsylvania, roughly 200 miles away.
Generated from DCSki's historical profile and reader-contributed memories.
DCSki reader Bill Kircher describes Sawmill Run Park, a lost ski area located north of Pittsburgh (not to be confused with Ski Sawmill Family Resort, an area still in operation some 200 miles away in Morris, Pennsylvania). Bill also provides a couple photos.
“Here are two photos from 1996 at the Sawmill Run Park downhill skill area. Hard to believe underground piping was installed for connecting to snowmaking guns despite not having a ‘pond.’ This area received a $100,000.00 grant in 1993 for trail improvement, and a short T-lift was installed and ran from the small hut in the background. The area only operated for a couple of short seasons on a very limited basis. County heads pulled the plug when they didn’t want to pay insurance costs and no private party was willing to take over the operation of such a small hill. The Park is located on Sawmill Run Road in Butler Township, PA. It had a very small parking lot, and its hard-to-access location didn’t help.”
Sawmill Run Park in 1996. Photos provided by Bill Kircher.
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