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Cranmore
Conway, New Hampshire
Cranmore as seen from South Moat Mountain (2008)
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| Cranmore Details |
| Status: | Open |
| First Year of Operation: | 1937 |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,200 feet |
| Lifts in Operation: | 1 high speed quad, 1 quad, 1 triple, 2 doubles, surface lifts |
| Lifts Removed/Non Operational: | 2 Skimobiles, 1 double, surface lifts |
Located in popular vacation destination North Conway, Cranmore is one of New England's oldest and most storied ski areas.
Starting in the late 1930s, Cranmore's claim to fame was its unique Skimobile lift. Originally a mid-mountain lift, an upper portion was added for the 1939-40 season.
While Cranmore enjoyed successful decades at the beginning of its history, it was eventually overshadowed by its larger nearby competitors, such as Attitash, Bretton Woods, and Wildcat. Shortly after being sold by Herbert Schneider in 1984, two new chairlifts were installed, including a triple chairlift to the summit. This was not enough, however, to keep Cranmore from sinking. By 1988, the Skimobile was abandoned. Just over half a decade later, the ski area was taken over by the Bank of Boston.
In June of 1995, LBO Resort Enterprises Corp. purchased Cranmore and subsequently installed a Doppelmayr high speed detachable quad, climbing 1,123 vertical feet to the summit.
A merger with S-K-I Ltd. in 1996 resulted in the formation of American Skiing Company and a Justice Department order to sell Cranmore due to antitrust concerns. As such, American Skiing Company sold Cranmore and Waterville Valley to Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc. in November of 1996.
Booth Creek would own and operate Cranmore through the 2009-2010 season. On June 15, 2010, Booth Creek sold Cranmore Brian Fairbank, Tyler Fairbank, and Joseph O'Donnell, the operators of Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts.
Cranmore made headlines in late April 2011 when a baby was found abandoned in a running car in a parking lot. The body of the mother was found a few days later in a snowmaking pond.
The Cranmore Skimobile |
Expansion History
Lift Timeline
| Season | Lift Name | Type | Event | Notes |
| 2010s |
| 2010-11 | South | Doppelmayr Quad Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 2010-11 | South | Doppelmayr Double Chairlift | Relocated | Renamed C-More Double |
| 2000s |
| 2005-06 | North | Mueller Double Chairlift | Removed after season | |
| 1990s |
| 1995-96 | Skimobile Express | Doppelmayr Detachable Quad Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1995-96 | North | Mueller Double Chairlift | Modified | Truncated |
| 1994-95 | Mid | Mueller Double Chairlift | Removed after season | |
| 1980s |
| 1987-88 | South | Doppelmayr Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1986-87 | Lookout | Doppelmayr Triple Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1970s |
| 1973-74 | East Bowl | Mueller-Roebling Double Chairlift | Rebuilt | Rebuilt by Mueller after fire |
| 1969-70 | Mid | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1960s |
| 1963-64 | North | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1950s |
| 1955-56 | East Bowl | Roebling Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1940s |
| 1939-40 | Upper Skimobile | Skimobile | Installed | New install |
| 1930s |
| 1938-39 | Lower Skimobile | Skimobile | Installed | New install |
Skier Visits
| Season | Skier Visits | Source |
| 2005-2006 | 108,000 | New Hampshire Business Review |
| 2004-2005 | 128,000 | New Hampshire Business Review |
| 2003-2004 | 102,000 | Booth Creek Form 10-K 2004 |
| 2002-2003 | 119,000 | Booth Creek Form 10-K 2004 |
| 2001-2002 | 96,000 | Booth Creek Form 10-K 2004 |
| 2000-2001 | 129,000 | Booth Creek Form 10-K 2002 |
| 1999-2000 | 100,000 | Booth Creek Form 10-K 2002 |
| 1998-1999 | 112,000 | Booth Creek Form 10-K 2000 |
| 1997-1998 | 100,000 | Booth Creek Form 10-K 2000 |
Ticket Price History
Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket
| Season |
Price |
Source |
| 2010s | | 2011-12 | $64.00 |  | cranmore.com | | 2010-11 | $59.00 | | cranmore.com | | 2009-10 | $55.00 | | cranmore.com |
| 2000s | | 2008-09 | $55.00 | | skinh.com | | 2007-08 | $49.00 | | cranmore.com | | 2006-07 | $47.00 | | cranmore.com | | 2005-06 | $45.00 | | cranmore.com | | 2004-05 | $39.00 | | cranmore.com | | 2003-04 | $35.00 | | Brochure | | 2002-03 | $35.00 | | cranmore.com | | 2001-02 | $32.00 | | cranmore.com | | 2000-01 | $29.00 | | cranmore.com | | 1999-00 | $29.00 | | Boston Magazine |
| 1990s | | 1998-99 | $29.00 | | cranmore.com | | 1997-98 | $39.00 | | Brochure | | 1994-95 | $35.00 | | Brochure |
| 1960s | | 1963-64 | $5.50 | | Buxton's Eastern Ski Slopes | | 1962-63 | $5.50 | | Buxton's Eastern Ski Slopes |
Vintage Ads
Cranmore ad in the 1966 Eastern Ski Map
Click here to see more Cranmore vintage advertisements
External Links
Cranmore Mountain Resort - official site
Cranmore Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
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Last updated: April 9, 2012
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