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Gunstock Mountain
Gilford, New Hampshire
Gunstock as seen from Bald Knob (2010)
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| Gunstock Mountain Details |
| Status: | Open |
| First Year of Operation: | 1937 |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,400 feet |
| Lifts in Operation: | 1 high speed quad, 2 quads, 2 triples |
| Lifts Removed/Non Operational: | 1 triple, 4 doubles, 1 single, surface lifts |
The present day, Belknap County-owned Gunstock ski area was started circa 1937 with the installation of a single chairlift and surface lifts. The area started with an abundance of fanfare, including attempting a bid at hosting the 1940 Winter Olympics.
Known for its first decades as the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, the ski area reached to the top of Mt. Rowe. A Constam T-Bar would soon climb the lower slopes of Gunstock Mountain. World class ski jumps opened on the northeast side of Mt. Rowe in 1937.
In 1962, a new Mueller double chairlift was built to the summit of Gunstock. As such, the ski area was renamed Gunstock. The single chair would likely be removed from service in 1980, when the Gunshy platter pull lift was installed near the bottom of the original Mt. Rowe area.
The ski area would see a $10 million investment in the mid-1980s with the installation of four new Doppelmayr chairlifts. Another significant investment would take place in the 2000s with the installation of a new high speed detachable quad and a new fixed grip quad.
Other ski areas existed near the present day Gunstock operation, including the original Gunstock Ski Hoist area (on the west slope), the Belknap rope tow area (southwest of Gunstock), Cobble Mountain (to the northeast), and Alpine Ridge (to the north).
The old twin summit double chairlifts |
Expansion History
Lift Timeline
| Season | Lift Name | Type | Event | Notes |
| 2010s |
| 2010-11 | Gunshy | Doppelmayr Double Chairlift | Removed after season | Possibly sold to Song Mountain, NY |
| 2009-10 | Penny Pitou | Doppelmayr CTEC Quad Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 2000s |
| 2003-04 | Panorama | Doppelmayr CTEC Detachable Quad Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 2003-04 | Summit | Doppelmayr Triple Chairlift | Relocated | Renamed Pistol |
| 2002-03 | Pistol | Mueller Double Chairlift | Removed after season | |
| 1980s |
| 1988-89 | Ramrod | Doppelmayr Quad Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1986-87 | Gunshy | Doppelmayr Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1986-87 | Summit | Doppelmayr Triple Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1986-87 | Tiger | Doppelmayr Triple Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1985-86 | Summit #2 | Mueller Double Chairlift | Removed after season | |
| 1985-86 | Summit | Mueller Double Chairlift | Removed after season | |
| 1980-81 | Gunshy | Doppelmayr Platter lift | Installed | New install |
| 1979-80 | Single | Single Chairlift | Possibly removed after season | |
| 1970s |
| 1976-77 | Single | Single Chairlift | Closed after season | |
| 1970-71 | Pistol | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1969-70 | T-Bar | T-Bar | Installed | |
| 1960s |
| 1964-65 | Summit #2 | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1962-63 | Summit | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1960-61 | Smith | Doppelmayr T-Bar | Installed | New install |
| 1950s |
| 1956-57 | Single | Single Chairlift | Accident | Wire rope breaks; fatality and injuries |
| 1954-55 | Red Hat | T-Bar | Installed | |
| 1951-52 | Single | Single Chairlift | Rebuilt | Likely rebuilt |
| 1930s |
| 1937-38 | Single | Single Chairlift | Installed | New install |
Skier Visits
| Season | Skier Visits | Source |
| 2008-2009 | 169,461 | Gunstock |
| 2007-2008 | 179,905 | Gunstock |
| 2006-2007 | 139,612 | Gunstock |
| 2005-2006 | 151,552 | New Hampshire Business Review |
| 2004-2005 | 178,261 | New Hampshire Business Review |
| 2003-2004 | 165,473 | Gunstock |
| 2002-2003 | 191,155 | Gunstock |
| 2001-2002 | 153,509 | Gunstock |
| 2000-2001 | 206,120 | Gunstock |
| 1999-2000 | 172,306 | Gunstock |
| 1998-1999 | 175,863 | Gunstock |
| 1993-1994 | 239,000 | Boston Globe |
| 1992-1993 | 204,000 | Boston Globe |
| 1980-1981 | 49,000 | Boston Globe |
| 1979-1980 | 34,000 | Boston Globe |
Ticket Price History
Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket
| Season |
Price |
Source |
| 2010s | | 2011-12 | $72.00 |  | gunstock.com | | 2010-11 | $69.00 | | gunstock.com | | 2009-10 | $66.00 | | gunstock.com |
| 2000s | | 2008-09 | $64.00 | | skinh.com | | 2007-08 | $59.00 | | gunstock.com | | 2006-07 | $56.00 | | gunstock.com | | 2005-06 | $52.00 | | gunstock.com | | 2003-04 | $49.00 | | SkiNH | | 2002-03 | $46.00 | | gunstock.com | | 2001-02 | $45.00 | | gunstock.com | | 2000-01 | $42.00 | | Brochure | | 1999-00 | $42.00 | | Boston Magazine |
| 1990s | | 1997-98 | $39.00 | | gunstock.com | | 1996-97 | $39.00 | | atplay.com | | 1994-95 | $35.00 | | Brochure |
| 1980s | | 1982-83 | $17.00 | | Rand McNally Winter Recreation Map |
| 1960s | | 1967-68 | $6.00 | | Eastern Ski Atlas | | 1963-64 | $5.50 | | Buxton's Eastern Ski Slopes | | 1962-63 | $5.50 | | Buxton's Eastern Ski Slopes |
Vintage Ads
Gunstock Mountain ad in the 1957 Eastern Ski Map
Click here to see more Gunstock Mountain vintage advertisements
External Links
Gunstock - official site
Alpine Ridge - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Gunstock Ski Hoist - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Gunstock Mountain Historic Preservation Society - Ski Jump Restoration Project
Mt. Belknap Chairlift - WeirsBeach.com
Gunstock Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
Mt. Rowe - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
The History of Gunstock: Skiing in the Belknap Mountains
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Last updated: April 9, 2012
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