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Magic Mountain
Londonderry, Vermont
| Overview |
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Magic Mountain: Upper Mountain Area | Beginner Area | Summit Area | Timberside
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| Upper Mountain Area - 1962 - Open |
Magic Mountain as depicted in 1961-62 |
Starting as a lower mountain, T-Bar only ski area in 1960-61, a top to bottom chairlift was planned for 1961-62, placing Magic in the league of nearby areas such as Bromley and the new Stratton Mountain.
For reasons unknown, the lift was not installed until the 1962-63 season, expanding the ski area by over 1,000 vertical feet with a Pohlig fixed grip double chairlift. A helicopter crashed during the installation of the lift, the remains of which can still be found just off the lift line trail.
Advertised as a mile long, the new chairlift allowed for the opening of 5 new trails, making Magic a sizable player in the Vermont ski industry.
In the 1980s, the lift was upgraded from a double to a triple with Yan chairs.
1960 Magic Mountain concept map
The 1962-63 Magic Mountain trail map showing the first season of the chairlift
The bottom of the triple chairlift (2002)
The top of the triple chairlift (2002)
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| Beginner Area - 1964 - Open |
The beginner area as displayed on the 2007 Magic Mountain trail map |
Coming off the heels of a recent 1,000 vertical foot expansion, Magic Mountain looked to build a legitimate beginner ski complex. Though not part of the original concept maps, the Hocus Pocus Beginner's Paradise was soon planned.
A brand new Hall double chairlift, running 1,140 feet while climbing 180 vertical feet was installed west of the base area (where a small ski school slope was previously located). Known as the "Little Chairlift," it served a slope ("Hocus Pocus") and trail ("Rabbit Run").
The area would remain in operation until Magic Mountain closed in 1991. A few years later the Little Chairlift was removed and installed at Mt. Tom in Massachusetts. After Mt. Tom closed, Berkshire East purchased the double chairlift and installed it in 2001 (incidentally as the "Little Chair").
Upon reopening in 1997, there have been plans to install a lift on the Hocus Pocus slope (now known as "Little Dipper"), though nothing concrete as been announced. The Little Dipper slope is considered open, however the Rabbit Run trail was removed from the trail map in 2008.
The old double chairlift line on the Little Dipper slope (2006)
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| Summit Area - 1971 - Open |
The bottom terminal of the Red Chair (2010) |
Magic Mountain expanded significantly for the 1971-72 season by installing a new 5350 foot long Heron-Poma double chairlift, climbing 1,500 vertical feet, starting slightly below and ending slightly above the existing Pohlig double chairlift.
In addition to the new chairlift, 4 trails were added.
Magic Mountain's trail map circa 1980 showing three double chairlifts
Looking up the Red Chair lift line (2006)
The top of the Red Chair (2002)
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| Resources |
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Magic Mountain - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com
Magic Mountain Official Site
Save Magic Mountain
Glebe Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
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| Feedback |
Do you have any additional information about Magic Mountain?
Last updated: July 24, 2010
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