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Located northwest of Hartford, Ski Sundown is a popular regional facility for skiers of all abilities.
Satan's Ridge
Ski Sundown's lift served ski history likely dates back to the 1963-64 season, when Satan's Ridge ski area opened by Russell Smith and Frank Linnell. While it is possible that the area had a soft start on surface lifts in December or early January, the double chairlift to the summit did not open until Saturday, January 11, 1964. Night skiing and snowmaking were also installed for the debut season.
Over $100,000 was invested into the area for its second season, including trail improvements, more night skiing, and expanded snowmaking.
While additional improvements were made to a top to bottom trail for the 1966-67 season, Satan's Ridge was running into trouble. The area closed after the 1967-68 season. The area, including the Mueller chairlift, Doppelmayr T-Bar, and a rope tow, headed to the auction block that August.
Butternut to the Rescue
The base area circa the early 1970s |
After sitting idle for a season, Satan's Ridge was brought back to life in 1969, when Channing Murdock of nearby Butternut Basin and his brother Robert Murdock purchased the 61 acre ski area from Harold Law, Russell Smith, and Frank Linnell. Shedding the Satanic name, the new ownership renamed the area Ski Sundown and quickly went to work on the snowmaking, lighting, and lifts for its reopening. In September of 1969, Richard Carter was named General Manager and Ski Sundown, Inc. was incorporated.
Operations were expanded to 7 days and 6 nights per week. To further enhance beginner offerings, a Pomalift was installed for the 1971-72 season. Two years later, Murdock made Carter part owner of the ski area.
Triple Chairlifts
The Exhibition Triple circa the late 1970s |
The area's first triple chairlift was installed in 1977, running next to the original double. Soon thereafter, Murdock transferred ownership of the area to Carter.
A second triple chairlift was installed in 1980, serving the new Sunnyside area. Seven years later, the original double chairlift was replaced with a new CTEC triple.
The Sunnyside complex was overhauled in 1994, when the Pomalift was replaced by the refurbished double chairlift. Two years later, an 8,000 square foot base lodge addition was constructed.
New Ownership
The Exhibition trail (2004) |
After owning Ski Sundown for nearly quarter of century, Richard Carter sold the area to General Manager and long time employee Robert Switzgable in 2002.
The Sunnyside complex was once again overhauled in 2013, when the Little Joe Double was replaced with a conveyor lift.
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
Expansion History
Image Gallery
Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Maps
Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2019-20 | $62.00 |  | $715.00 | | 11.5 days | December 20 | | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $62.00 | | $715.00 | | 11.5 days | December 8 | March 24 | | | | | 2017-18 | $62.00 | | $650.00 | | 10.5 days | December 21 | March 25 | | | | | 2016-17 | $60.00 | | $625.00 | | 10.4 days | December 23 | March 26 | | | | | 2015-16 | $60.00 | | $625.00 | | 10.4 days | January 8 | March 9 | | | | | 2014-15 | $58.00 | | $599.00 | | 10.3 days | December 13 | April 2 | | | | | 2013-14 | $56.00 | | $589.00 | | 10.5 days | December 13 | March 29 | | | | | 2012-13 | $55.00 | | $589.00 | | 10.7 days | December 26 | April 6 | | | | | 2011-12 | $55.00 | | $589.00 | | 10.7 days | December 17 | March 17 | | | | | 2010-11 | | | $589.00 | | | December 10 | March 27 | | | | | 2009-10 | $52.00 | | $579.00 | | 11.1 days | | March 21 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $50.00 | | $579.00 | | 11.6 days | November 28 | March 28 | | | | | 2007-08 | $48.00 | | $579.00 | | 12.1 days | | March 30 | | | | | 2006-07 | $46.00 | | $579.00 | | 12.6 days | December 9 | April 1 | | | | | 2005-06 | $43.00 | | $549.00 | | 12.8 days | December 3 | | | | | | 2004-05 | $40.00 | | $549.00 | | 13.7 days | | | | | | | 2003-04 | $37.00 | | $549.00 | | 14.8 days | | | | | | | 2002-03 | $35.00 | | $549.00 | | 15.7 days | | | | | | | 2001-02 | $34.00 | | $499.00 | | 14.7 days | | March 9 | | | | | 2000-01 | $33.00 | | $499.00 | | 15.1 days | | | | | | | 1999-00 | $32.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1995-96 | | | | | | December 9 | | | | | | 1992-93 | $28.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $27.00 | | | | | | | 110,000 | | | | 1990-91 | | | | | | | | 99,000 | | | | 1989-90 | $26.00 | | $400.00 | | 15.4 days | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $24.00 | | | | | December 11 | | | | | | 1986-87 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1985-86 | $19.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1980-81 | $13.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1979-80 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1977-78 | $9.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1976-77 | $9.00 | | $150.00 | | 16.7 days | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $8.75 | | | | | | | | | | | 1974-75 | $8.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1972-73 | $7.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $7.00 | | $130.00 | | 18.6 days | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1967-68 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1965-66 | | | | | | December 26 | | | | | | 1964-65 | $3.50 | | | | | | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I learned to ski here and feel very sentimental thinking about Ski Sundown. In the late 90's our after school ski program would make the weekly trip from West Hartford to New Hartford and we couldn't wait to return the following week. I am glad to see that this place still operates successfully and has since cut a new trail: Satan's Staircase which runs right alongside the Gunbarrel Trail. It is only moderately steep but extremely narrow, bumped up and shaded by the trees all day making for a challenging descent. It is a great place to bring the family and to teach future generations about the sport we all enjoy. Even though we have all moved on to bigger and less expensive mountains there is something about Ski Sundown that will never let me forget how special it is. " | | Rusty Shackleford, Dec. 18, 2017 | | "I was the ski director of the ski school at Ski Sundown. My wife Maurie was a ski instructor and my two sons Scott and Todd learned to ski there.
Both sons became freestyle competitors. We held a freestyle competition at Ski Sundown with Wayne Wong being a competitor." | | Jack Harrington, Apr. 4, 2017 | | "I was Ski Sundown's first female lift attendant in the winter of 1973. My brother Jeff Pratt was already working there, and my parents Rod and Hala were both on the ski patrol. A family affair, you could say. Rick Carter called the house one day to ask Jeff to come in and cover a shift and my mother said, "Jeff's not here, but Sue is." Rick replied, "Put her on." And that was my hiring!
Being the first woman to serve as a lift attendant was a responsibility I felt keenly, knowing that to complain about dragging heavy trash cans full of rain-sodden snow up the lift ramps would be the end of future women in the job. I never said a word. I think I saw this as my "gift" of sorts to the women lift attendants who would come along behind. I worked all that winter, and again the next winter during college breaks. It was a huge part of my life and meant (and still does) a great deal.
" | | Susan Pratt, Mar. 3, 2017 | | "I was a member of the freestyle team back in the 70's. Learned to ski at sundown. Great memories." | | Geoff Shea, Mar. 2, 2017 | | "I learned to ski at Satan's Ridge in the '60s and skied Sundown many nights when I was in high school. The "hill" was great part of my youth!" | | Sue Gentile, Mar. 2, 2017 |
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External Links
Ski Sundown - official site
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Last updated: March 1, 2017
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