Ski Tows, Inc.
New England Ski Presence: 1934-1977?
The earliest large scale ski corporation, Ski Tows, Inc. had its start as Ski Tows, Ltd. in Quebec when beer tycoon Fred Pabst Jr. opened a small ski area on Hill 70 in St. Sauveur, Quebec. That ski area is now known as Edelweiss Valley. Prior to starting his company, Pabst had founded the Milwaukee Ski Club.
Initially, 3 rope tows were installed in Quebec in the mid 1930s.
Shortly thereafter, Huckins Hill, NH and Intervale, NH were opened. Huckins Hill would close in the early 1940s, while Intervale would be sold.
Circa 1937, Mt. Aeolus, VT was opened with a 2,500 foot long J-Bar.
The 13-lift chain reportedly lost $25,000 in the 1937-38 ski season (the equivalent of $375,000 in 2010).
Overall, the company operated 25 different lifts at one point in the late 1930s.
In 1939 (or as late as 1942), citing a lack of snow, the Mt. Aelous, VT, J-Bar was moved to Little Bromley, VT, which would become Big Bromley.
Pabst handed over operational control of Rib Mountain, WI to the local Chamber of Commerce in 1942. He would later remove his lift in 1947.
Fred Pabst died on March 1, 1977 at the age of 78.
Ski Tows, Inc. Resources on NewEnglandSkiHistory.com:
Bromley
Ski Tows, Inc. External Links:
Mt. Aeolus - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Bromley - official site
Huckins Hill - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Intervale - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Oak Hill - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Last updated: March 18, 2011
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