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Haystack
Dover, Vermont
Haystack's lower base lodge in the 1960s
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| Haystack Details |
| Status: | Open |
| First Year of Operation: | 1964 |
| Last Year of Operation: | |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,400 feet |
| Lifts in Operation: | 1 |
| Lifts Removed/Non Operational: | 2 triples, 3 doubles, surface lifts |
After opening the lower mountain for the 1964-65 ski season, Haystack expanded upward for the 1965-66 season with the installation of the Oh No double chairlift. Located in the shadow of Mt. Snow, Haystack struggled financially throughout its first decades, leading to a multi-year closure in the early 1980s.
Despite significant capital investment in the mid 1980s, including a new upper mountain lodge and three triple chairlifts, Haystack ended up in bankruptcy by 1991. At that point, Mt. Snow leased the ski area for three seasons and then subsequently purchased it in 1994.
The ski area was later rolled into the American Skiing Company in 1996. It operated less and less frequently during its time as a part of Mt. Snow, eventually becoming a weekend and holidays area.
In 2005, Haystack was sold to Tyringham Ridge, Inc. for $5 million. Plans were put in place to develop an upscale, private ski area, however real estate sales and capitalization issues plagued the company as the project estimate soared to $450 million. The project was put on hold in 2007.
After being closed for 4 seasons, Haystack briefly reopened in December of 2009 with the shorter Hayfever triple chairlift. Mt. Snow then successfully sued over the use of snowmaking water per the 2005 sales agreement, therefore pushing the ski area back into closure after two days of operation.
The upper base lodge was demolished in 2010.
The area was sold in October of 2011 to Jim Barnes of the Hermitage Inn. The area reopened on a limited basis for the 2011-2012 season with snowmaking and one triple chairlift.
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Expansion History
Lift Timeline
| Season | Lift Name | Type | Event | Notes |
| 1980s |
| 1987-1988 | Witches | CTEC Triple Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1986-1987 | Haymaker | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | Likely from storage |
| 1985-1986 | Skid Row | Mueller T-Bar | Possibly removed after season | |
| 1985-1986 | Haymaker | Mueller T-Bar | Possibly removed after season | |
| 1985-1986 | Barnstormer | Poma Triple Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1985-1986 | Hayfever | Poma Triple Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1984-1985 | Hayfever | Mueller Double Chairlift | Removed after season | Likely placed in storage |
| 1960s |
| 1966-1967 | Transfer | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1965-1966 | Oh No | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1964-1965 | Hayfever | Mueller Double Chairlift | Installed | New install |
| 1964-1965 | Fanny Hill | Mueller T-Bar | Installed | New install |
| 1964-1965 | Skid Row | Mueller T-Bar | Installed | New install |
| 1964-1965 | Haymaker | Mueller T-Bar | Installed | New install |
Ticket Price History
Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket
| Season |
Price |
Source |
| 2000s | | 2004-05 | $48.00 |  | mountsnow.com | | 2003-04 | $45.00 | | mountsnow.com | | 2002-03 | $43.00 | | mountsnow.com | | 2001-02 | $38.00 | | mountsnow.com | | 2000-01 | $35.00 | | mountsnow.com |
| 1990s | | 1998-99 | $39.00 | | mountsnow.com | | 1997-98 | $37.00 | | mountsnow.com | | 1996-97 | $37.00 | | atplay.com | | 1993-94 | $37.00 | | Brochure |
| 1970s | | 1977-78 | $12.00 | | Brochure |
| 1960s | | 1967-68 | $7.00 | | Eastern Ski Atlas |
Vintage Ads
Haystack ad in the 1966 Eastern Ski Map
Click here to see more Haystack vintage advertisements
External Links
Haystack Club - official site
Haystack Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
Haystack Mountain Ski Area - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Lost Ski Areas of Southern Vermont
- Amazon.com
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Last updated: April 17, 2012
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