Laurel Mountain Ski Resort

Laurel Mountain
Location Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
Nearest city Jennerstown, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 40°09′53″N 79°09′54″W / 40.16472°N 79.16500°W / 40.16472; -79.16500 (Laurel Mountain)
Vertical 900 feet (270 m)
Top elevation 2,800 feet (850 m)
Skiable area 70 acres (280,000 m2)
Runs 20 total (10 Beginner, 6 Intermediate, 4 Advanced)
Longest run 7,920 feet (2,410 m)
Lift system 5 total (1 Quad Chairlift, 1 Double Chairlift, 3 Surface Lifts)
Terrain parks 1 total
Website http://www.skilaurelmountain.com/

Laurel Mountain Ski Resort was a ski resort located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The resort was adjacent to the Laurel Mountain Village, Pennsylvania and it was the primary attraction of Laurel Mountain State Park.

History

The resort was originally founded as a getaway for members of the Rolling Rock Club, an organization made up of the richest and most prominent citizens in Pennsylvania. The original runs were designed during the winter of 1939–1940 and the resort was first opened for skiing during the 1940–1941 ski season.

Over the years many more runs and ammentities were added to the resort. The resort was opened to the public in 1958,[1] and then turned over to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1964, [2] on the condition that that no summer programs or overnight lodging would be allowed.[3] The resort was closed for a decade from 1989 to 1999. Its opening for the 1999–2000 season featured a new lodge built at the top of the mountain. Mild winters and financial troubles caused the resort to close again for the 2003–2004 season.[4] It was opened during the 2004–2005 season under the operation of nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort, but closed again after a money-losing winter.

In August 2008, Seven Springs entered into an agreement to once again operate the resort, based on a promise of $6.5 million in funding from the state for infrastructure improvements.[3] The resort plans to open for the 2012–2013 season, once chairlift, snowmaking, electrical and trail upgrades are completed.[5]

Due to an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which still owns the land the resort is on, no lodging can be built in the immediate vicinity of the resort.

Midway Cabin

The original lodge at Laurel Mountain was located approximately halfway down the Broadway slope. Starting in 1954 the Pittsburgh Ski Club used the cabin as their mountain headquarters. The lodge had a dormitory that was available to members for an affordable $1.65/night. The PSC used the lodge until approximately 1954 when the region's focus on skiing shifted towards Seven Springs and Hidden Valley.

The lodge is still standing today and was utilized during the most recent operation of the mountain as a warming hut with bathrooms and food service.

Lower Wildcat

Lower Wildcat is the resort's double diamond slope. It is the steepest ski slope in Southwestern Pennsylvania and considered by many to be comparable to runs found at New England resorts.

Ski lifts

The resort has five ski lifts. Two chairlifts (one quad and a double) service the main skiing area of the mountain. A ropetow provides skiers and boarders the ability to learn on a soft and gentle bunny slope. A second rope tow services the terrain park and halfpipe. A third ropetow is utilized in the snowtubing area.

Sources

References

  1. ↑ http://www.learnenglishguide.com/unitedstates/pennsylvania/338.asp Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/laurelmountain.aspx Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 1 2 http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_584123.html Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ http://www.dcski.com/resorts/viewprofile.php?resort=LaurelMountain Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "At Least One More Winter Before Pennsylvania’s Laurel Mountain Reopens for Skiing". First Tracks!! Online. 5 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011.

External links

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