DCSki Lost Ski Areas Archive

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Ski Lodge

Indiana, Pennsylvania

Historical profile · Updated June 29, 2008 · 9 reader comments

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The story in brief

Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s College Lodge, sometimes called Mount IUP, was a small university-run ski area in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Operated through the Co-op from the 1970s into the late 1980s, it featured three runs, about 250 feet of vertical drop, and eventually two rope tows. Equipment rentals and season passes were notably inexpensive, while lessons and shuttle service made the hill an approachable introduction to skiing. Accounts suggest the second tow and additional lighting arrived in the early 1980s.

The area depended on natural snow, but readers recall memorable seasons with roughly 29 to 47 consecutive operating days. Students worked as instructors, patrollers, tow operators, groomers, and rental technicians, giving the modest hill an unusually strong community and training culture. One former supervisor remembers repairing a broken tow rope with a rough splice nicknamed “The Rat.” Skiing eventually ended, but the lodge remains in university use. The slopes and tow structures were still maintained in 2008, and the property has since supported cross-country trails, hiking, disc golf, and winter sledding.

Generated from DCSki's historical profile and reader-contributed memories.

Paul Cline provides the following information about the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Ski Lodge:

“Run by the University’s Co-op, it had 2 rope tows and 3 runs with a vertical drop of about 250-feet. The Co-op ran from the 1970s (maybe earlier) to the late 1980s. They rented equipment for $2 and the cost of a season pass was $5 in the late 1970s. The lodge is still there and there are cross-country trails there now.

A web site describing the lodge is on the University’s web site here.

Kevin Whipple visited the site of the defunct ski operation at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in late Spring, 2008. Kevin writes:

“The ski slopes and facilities at the Indiana University of PA ski area are still maintained for local use. The tow ropes have been removed leaving the towers with sheave wheels still attached, and I’m not sure if the drive components remain in place. There are concrete block shacks at the top of each of the two tows that served to house the drives for the tows. Being locked and boarded-up, I was unable to see if the drives were still there. On most of the tow towers there are also night lights. The former lodge is still maintained and used in university functions. There were other structures in the base area that might have served as a caretaker residence or some other function. Upon my visit in the late spring 2008, the property was being used for disc golf and there are a wealth of hiking trails available and maintained.

The ski slopes were very simple in design. Two tows ran on the left and right perimeters of the area. There were three slopes (one along each towline, and one down the middle) that descended into a vast lower mountain meadow. The vertical drop was probably between 150’-200’. I can’t remember seeing any evidence of snowmaking, but that doesn’t mean there was none.”

Kevin provides the following photos.

An aerial image of the area. Image provided by Kevin Whipple.

A topographic map of the area with the tows signified by red lines. Image provided by Kevin Whipple.

The former lodge, which is still used for University functions. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

One tow ran along the treeline to the far left of this picture, and the other tow ran along the treeline of the trail to the right (notice the towers running up the slope with lights and sheave wheels). One of the disc golf holes is in the foreground in the shadow of a tree.

Looking up the slope from the base area. One tow ran along the treeline to the far left of this picture, and the other tow ran along the treeline of the trail to the right (notice the towers running up the slope with lights and sheave wheels). One of the disc golf holes is in the foreground in the shadow of a tree. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

Kevin writes that this was the highest elevation.

Looking down the steepest part of the hill (maybe intermediate skiing) from near the unloading zone for the tow on the right side of the hill (skier’s left). Kevin writes that this was the highest elevation. “Notice the towers running along the treeline on the left. The towpath remains clear, but the overhanging branches make it appear very grown-in.” Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

This is a flat traverse that allows skiers to access the middle slope, and the other tow slope.

Looking skier’s right from the top of the tow from the previous picture. This is a flat traverse that allows skiers to access the middle slope, and the other tow slope. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

The rope would enter the building through the rectangular opening near the ground, and exit the building very neatly through the small hole above that. The other drive station remains in place and is very similar to this one.

The top drive station for the two from the previous two photos. The rope would enter the building through the rectangular opening near the ground, and exit the building very neatly through the small hole above that. The other drive station remains in place and is very similar to this one. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

One of the towers with sheave wheel and night lighting in place. These towers remain in place along the entire towline for both tows. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

The facilities here are in great shape and could, conceivably at present, be re-opened easily.

The emergency stop button, still mounted on a top drive station. The facilities here are in great shape and could, conceivably at present, be re-opened easily. Photo provided by Kevin Whipple.

Living history

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Community archive

Reader Comments

rick papurello

March 15, 2005

I attented IUP in the mid 1980s and worked for the co-op. We taught ski lessons for IUP students and staff along with running the shuttle back and forth from campus. I recall one year of having a run of 47 straight days of skiing. Not bad for a (correct me if i am wrong) a hill that did not face north. 2 rope tows and 250 vertical was still fun, it was skiing.

Jen

May 21, 2006

I worked for the Co-Op at Mount IUP the winter of 1995-1996, when we had a huge blizzard. I think we were open for 29 days in a row that season. It was a great job! We groomed the hills with a snowmobile; the lodge was really nice. I know that the rope tows have been removed and that it's used for sled riding in the winter and Frisbee golf in the summer. Good memories.

Jane DiBridge

January 12, 2008

Back in the mid-70's we called it "College Lodge". It was the very first place I ever skied. I borrowed a pair of skis that were waaay to long for me, but picked it up with ease on the first run! I decided right then that I must have learned to ski in another life. I have loved skiing ever since - all thanks to this little slope.

Doug

August 23, 2009

They also had cross country trails here in the 80s (and maybe still). Was a good little spot.

Doug

August 23, 2009

Or, perhaps i could read the entire description, and see that cross country is listed right there. Duh. :)

Seth

November 28, 2009

I started to ski at the College Lodge in the mid '70s. It was a great place to learn. Back then there was only one rope tow which served the left side of the hill (looking up), and you could rent some skis from the Co-op for a few bucks. I think the second rope tow was added around '81 or '82 and the addition of the extra lighting was also nice. There seemed to be a lot of snow in the '70s...much more than in the '80s. Also, there was a good learn to ski program that was offered for at least a few years...too bad it's closed now (for skiing). It was a lot of fun, even though it was really small.

Chris

February 5, 2010

I really think that they should re-open the hill to snowboarders and skiiers, it would be a lot of fun and I think that it would be very useful to students for something to do in the winter without having to buy a $60 lift ticket to go to seven springs. They would also be able to use the money to add things to the park

Mike

July 22, 2013

I went to school there from '92-'96, and lived in Indiana for a couple years after. They had a meeting for people who wanted to work there one winter (I think it was '95). We were taught CPR and first aid. But it never opened. They depended on natural snow. I raced xc mountain bikes during that idustry's growth spurt and the trails there were awesome! Smooth and fast, lots of hills and turns. I need to get back up there for a ride someday.

Duganc

September 29, 2020

Member since 09/27/2020 🔗

1 posts

IUP College Lodge Ski Run Glory Days

I last visited here in the summer of 2018 returning from college tours with my daughter. I attended IUP from 1981-1984. In my freshman year I joined the ski patrol at the lodge. We had a lot of snow that year and were open somewhere around 45 days. I worked many hours and spent much time tuning the rental skis - with their Spademan bindings.

For The following year I was promoted to Student Supervisor. I did all the hiring and managed the area. That year we started our National Ski Patrol aspirations and were affiliated with Laurel Mountain ski area. That's where we did our training and got NSP certified. I forget how much first aid training was required - either 50 or 100 hours. Additionally we became officially certified Spademen technicians. We also introduced the official IUP maroon & slate powder shirts with the NSP yellow cross for the patrollers. Before that we wore bright yellow construction bibs. We were a professional shop! It was another good year for snow. We opened for a couple of days before winter break and I believe had snow through all of Feb and well into March.

One day in Feb 1983 I had off and was out and about with my roommate (lived in Whitmyre) and we decided to stop by the lodge. It so happened that earlier that day the left hand tow rope had separated and the place shut down - not enough snow on right hand side to run that tow. My Boy Scout training kicked in and I was able to splice the rope back together. Not the neatest splice it was about 18" long but strong enough to get things going again. It would kick up snow as it dragged up the hill so we called it the snow rat. For fun we would all position ourselves along the towline and dive on the rat to grab it and be dragged up the hill. After a few weeks the Co-op brought in some Amish workers that cut out my splice and put in a much better permanent one. "The Rat" was presented to me by the patrol at the end of the season. It may have been mounted on a board and displayed in the old ski hut. Memory fuzzy on that detail.

I wound up taking a gap year and returned in fall 1984. I rejoined as a patroller but ended up transferring to another school for the winter/spring semester. Lots of fond memories of IUP and especially my times at the lodge. Too bad it folded.

Duggan C

Speak truth to powder.

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