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Spruce Mountain
Spruce Mountain Ski Area
Jay, Maine
Status: Open
First Season:1959-60
Vertical Drop:300 feet
Standing Lifts:Surface lifts
Past Lifts:
Left: Spruce Mountain
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Located northwest of Augusta, near the village of Livermore Falls, Spruce Mountain is a small, multi-town-owned, volunteer run ski area.

Spruce Mountain in North Jay

The Spruce Mountain Ski Club dates back to 1956, when a group of Livermore Falls skiers obtained permission from Eben Farrington, Carl Wright, and Everett Wright to develop a ski area off Spruce Mountain Road in North Jay. The ski club was registered as a non-profit in December of 1956 and a rope to acquired from Augusta.

Spruce Mountain in Jay

The Barn slope (2016)
The Barn slope (2016)

In the interest of having a more convenient location, the ski area was moved to a location just outside of Livermore Falls in 1959. Alex and Pauline provided their land and barn for the ski club's use, in exchange for a lease payment to cover their property taxes. Thousands of trees were planted in the early years to help define the ski trails on what was sometimes called Dion Hill. Like its predecessor, the ski area was rope tow serviced. The new location likely opened during the winter of 1959-60.

While a lack of volunteer help threatened the ski area in the mid 1970s, the club was able to rebound, keeping the area in operation as it played host to numerous ski races and championships later that decade.

Spruce Mountain was not immune from the poor winters of the early 1980s, as the club found itself asking the towns for help in paying down deficits.

Spruce Mountain Sold to Towns

1995 snowmaking expansion work
1995 snowmaking expansion work

In December of 1987, the town of Jay entered into a purchase agreement with the Dion family for the property. Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Falls purchased the land and buildings for $197,000, retaining the Spruce Mountain Ski Club as operator. The deal likely closed in 1988 with the stipulation that Jay would continue to receive property taxes on the property.

Relatively large projects were completed for the 1991-92 season, when the warming hut, snack bar, and garage facilities were upgraded. New bathrooms were also constructed.

Losses accumulated as Spruce Mountain entered the mid 1990s. The ski area faced foreclosure due to $3,000 in back taxes owed to Jay. An agreement was likely reached in 1995.

Also in 1995, the towns of Jay and Livermore and numerous volunteers joined together to build a new snowmaking system. New pipe was installed and a new pumphouse constructed, boosting the system's coverage to 8 acres.

Improvements have continued since the 1990s. In the early 2010s, rope tow lines were smoothed and the Maine Army National Guard installed new drainage at the base of the ski area and parking lots.

Spruce Mountain presently operates with three rope tows, 11 trails, snowmaking, night skiing, and grooming.

NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
Month Average Percent of Terrain Open
December60%    (1 report)60 Open
January87%    (3 reports)87 Open
February58%    (2 reports)58 Open
March60%    (1 report)60 Open
Recent Conditions Reports
Jan. 27, 2024 by newenglandskier13
Wet Packed Powder, Wet Powder
Mar. 24, 2023 by newenglandskier13
Spring Snow, Variable Conditions
Dec. 31, 2022 by newenglandskier13
Spring Snow, Variable Conditions
Jan. 19, 2022 by newenglandskier13
Packed Powder, Variable Conditions
Feb. 14, 2020 by newenglandskier13
Packed Powder, Packed Powder
Spruce Mountain Ski Area on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com


Maps
2023-24 Spruce Mountain Trail Map
2008-09 Spruce Mountain Trail Map2009-10 Spruce Mountain Trail Map2010-11 Spruce Mountain Trail Map2011-12 Spruce Mountain Trail Map2012-13 Spruce Mountain Trail Map2013-14 Spruce Mountain Trail Map
View All Spruce Mountain Ski Area Trail 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
2023-24$30.002023-24 Ticket Price Graph2023-24 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 26March 92023-24 Skier Visit Graph
2022-23$30.002022-23 Ticket Price Graph2022-23 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 26March 292022-23 Skier Visit Graph
2021-22$25.002021-22 Ticket Price Graph$225.002021-22 Season Pass Price Graph9.0 daysDecember 26March 172021-22 Skier Visit Graph
2020-212020-21 Ticket Price Graph$300.002020-21 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 31March 212020-21 Skier Visit Graph
2019-202019-20 Ticket Price Graph$225.002019-20 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 26March 152019-20 Skier Visit Graph
2010s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2018-192018-19 Ticket Price Graph2018-19 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 29March 312018-19 Skier Visit Graph
2017-182017-18 Ticket Price Graph2017-18 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 26April 12017-18 Skier Visit Graph
2015-16$25.002015-16 Ticket Price Graph$500.002015-16 Season Pass Price Graph20.0 daysDecember 29March 92015-16 Skier Visit Graph
2014-15$25.002014-15 Ticket Price Graph2014-15 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 26April 12014-15 Skier Visit Graph
2013-14$25.002013-14 Ticket Price Graph2013-14 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 26April 12013-14 Skier Visit Graph
2012-13$25.002012-13 Ticket Price Graph2012-13 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 26March 102012-13 Skier Visit Graph
2010-11$17.002010-11 Ticket Price Graph2010-11 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 262010-11 Skier Visit Graph
2009-10$17.002009-10 Ticket Price Graph2009-10 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 262009-10 Skier Visit Graph
2000s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2008-09$17.002008-09 Ticket Price Graph2008-09 Season Pass Price Graph2008-09 Skier Visit Graph
2007-08$16.002007-08 Ticket Price Graph2007-08 Season Pass Price Graph2007-08 Skier Visit Graph


Visitor Memories
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External Links
  • Spruce Mountain - official site
  • Spruce Mountain - SmallSkiAreas.com
  • Last updated: October 15, 2016

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