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Located in Jackson, Black Mountain is the oldest lift served ski area in New Hampshire.
CCC Days
Modern skiing on Black Mountain dates back to at least 1934, when the Civilian Conservation Corps cut the Black Mountain Ski Trail on the middle peak of the ridge. The trail and its cabin remain in use today, unconnected to the lift served alpine ski area.
Moody's and Whitney's
Whitney's |
From a lift served skiing perspective, Black Mountain likely first opened in either December 1935 or early 1936 as a small rope tow area designed to bring more people to Moody's Inn. According to future owner Betty Whitney, the lift, constructed by George Morton, had hanging ropes and vertical bullwheels.
Mechanical engineer H. Holland "Bill" Whitney and his wife Helen "Betty" Whitney entered into an agreement to purchase Moody's circa September 1936, leveraging an inheritance. The couple subsequently renamed the inn "Whitney's." According to a letter decades later, Betty Whitney reported that they bought the ski lift from George Morton for $230. Meanwhile, the Jackson Ski Association was formed to promote skiing in the town. Carroll Reed, head of Eastern Slope Ski School, served as an advisor to the organization. Reed hired Benno Rybizka from Hannes Schneider's ski school in Austria to be the Eastern Slope Ski School's head instructor, basing the operation in Jackson.
In early December, Betty Whitney was nearly killed in an automobile collision near Rochester, New Hampshire. Whitney reportedly suffered a fractured skull and permanent damage to her vision.
The earliest known reference to skiing on Whitney's during the rainy 1936-37 season was late January, when Rybizka conducted lessons in his "typical Tyrolean hat, all decked out with fascinating silver ornaments and tipped in cavalier fashion at a most becoming angle to shade that already well-tanned face of his," according to the Boston Globe. The ski tow was reported to be "a popular affair." The slope was also reportedly lighted for night skiing and became known by some as Whitneys' Side Hill.
The Whitneys likely formally acquired the property from Ed Moody in May 1937. The tract reportedly spanned 100 acres.
A 1938 Whitney's advertisement |
New dorm-style rooms were added to the operation for the 1937-38 season. It is not known when the ski season started (snow was reportedly lacking around Christmas), but the lift was advertised as in operation before the end of December.
At some point in the late 1930s, perhaps for the 1937-38 season, Whitney reengineered the tow by changing the bullwheels from a vertical to horizontal orientation, and replacing the hanging ropes with dozens of Sears Roebuck & Co. shovel handles for easier riding and more reliable operation.
By the time the 1938-39 season rolled around, the Eastern Slope Ski School had a staff of 21 Austrian and American instructors and was operating at Whitney's, Cranmore, and Russell's. In February, Hannes Schneider arrived at Cranmore and became head of the Eastern Slope Ski School.
Franz Koessler was named director of the Jackson branch of the Eastern Slope Ski School for the 1939-40 season, with Arthur Doucette serving as one of his instructors. A native of Austria, Koessler was known to exclaim, "Jeepers creepers!" to struggling beginners.
Early grooming at Black |
A new expert trail was added for the 1940-41 season. The Portsmouth Herald described it as "especially fast and steep." The season likely kicked off in late November or early December. Conditions were reported as poor over the holiday period, though business was reported as strong. A "new tow" was reported as going into operation just before Christmas, though subsequent accounts only alluded to one lift at the area.
Improvements for the 1941-42 season included smoothing of the main slope and adding the "Sugar Orchard Schuss." Just weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Whitney's reported record business over Christmas weekend. Some even hit the slopes as a last furlough before shipping out to serve.
Bill Whitney shipped out to Europe to operate a servicemen's club for the Red Cross, leaving Betty to operate the inn and ski area for the 1942-43 season. According to Nicholas Howe, on February 22, 1943, only three cars showed up, causing Betty to shut down the business and join the Red Cross effort. The area likely did not operate during the winter of 1943-44.
While serving in the Army in 1944, Franz Koessler was killed in a training accident at Camp Croft in South Carolina. Honoring a request made by Koessler, Bill Whitney installed a memorial plaque on the slope in December 1946.
Whitney's was back in operation in December 1944, advertising "The best of Skiing as usual."
Following World War II, Whitney's enjoyed a 200-skier day just after Christmas 1945. Arthur Doucette was named ski school director, a position he would hold for the next quarter of a century. A January thaw reaped havoc on the state, with Whitney's being one of the only areas managing to stay in operation. The season likely came to a close in mid-March, with Joe Dodge observing that in recent years, "The snow is coming earlier and going sooner."
A new rope tow operation opened just past Whitney's at the Davis Pasture in 1946, operated by Jake May.
The 1946-47 ski season at Whitney's likely kicked off just before Christmas, with more snow falling soon thereafter. A Boston Globe declared, "Skiing Conditions Best in Years at Jackson." The season likely extended into March.
Black Mountain Tramways, Inc.
A February 1948 stock advertisement |
In the post-war era, Whitney's was in danger of being left behind by bigger ski developments with newer and longer lifts. With the top to bottom Skimobile service in place at nearby Cranmore and a large development being proposed down the road at Thorn Mountain, Bill Whitney began to plan a chairlift development in 1947. Brothers Halsey and Stanton Davis were brought in as partners on construction of the mile long lift, which was to start in the spring of 1948. Meanwhile, Jake May shut down his Black Mountain rope tow, which was reportedly relocated to Duck Head.
After skiing at Whitney's in late December 1947, Boston Globe writer Pat Harty speculated that the new chairlift "will provide some top running for all classes of skiers, for, like Bill's present site with its shovel handle tow, terrain falls away in every conceivable degree of drop." Harty added that, "The good old rope tow, however, can still carry more passengers per hour than any other conveyance dreamed up for a ski hill to date."
Whitney actively recruited shareholders for his new Black Mountain Tramways, Inc. venture that winter, placing an advertisement in the Boston Globe. By this point, Whitney had reportedly acquired 1,000 acres of pasture land for the expanded ski development on "The Knoll."
As the fall of 1948 arrived, the expansion had been scaled back from a chairlift to a 3,500 foot Constam T-Bar constructed by John Roebling and Sons. There were plans, however, to hang chairs on the lift for off-season scenic rides. The base terminal of the lift was located near a former schoolhouse. Four trails were announced: the intermediate-expert Whitney Trail, the expert Davis Trail, the intermediate Hardscrabble Trail, and the novice Maple Trail. Juniper, Roller Coaster, Speedwell, and Bob-O-Link were subsequently added to the list of trails for the debut season. The Lynn Daily Item noted, "Bill [Whitney] has been real noble in considering it his problem to conserve trees rather than cut them down." The vertical drop of the new complex was about 750 feet, making it one of the largest lift-served areas in New England at the time. A 300-car parking lot was constructed, while plans were announced for a new base lodge for the following year.
Whitney's Becomes Black Mountain
The Knoll T-Bar |
To help rebrand the larger new area, Whitney's ski area was renamed Black Mountain. Unfortunately for Black Mountain, the 1948-49 season started with little to no snow. Joe Dodge told the Boston Globe that the region was in a drought and the snowless holiday period reminded him of 1931, 1937, and 1940. A mid-January 1949 Boston Globe piece noted that the new development was "100 percent complete" and that "the lack of snow has been a great help in smoothing the lift line to the point where it is much better than could have been hoped for in a normal year." Snow soon arrived, allowing for the season to kick off in late January. February was reportedly "marred by thaws and rain."
The intermediate Spruce Run was added and the Knoll Pastures slope expanded for the 1949-50 season. In addition, portions of Roller Coaster and Juniper were relocated, while the T-Bar motor was redesigned so that the lift could operate faster. At the base, the warming hut and parking lot were expanded.
Despite the poor winter of 1948-49, Whitney's was already fully booked for Christmas 1949 well in advance of the season. The season kicked off in mid-December with good crowds in what the Boston Globe called "the earliest opening of the Eastern Slopes region in the sport's history." The bounty only lasted a couple of days, as rain intervened and likely shut down the area for the rest of the month.
The Knoll T-Bar |
The Speedwell Trail debuted in early 1953, as well as a new grooming contraption described by the Boston Globe as "a tractor with an endless belt of slats turning on its tractor treads." The handle lift was upgraded to a J-Bar circa 1954.
Meanwhile, Cranmore, Black Mountain, and Jackson Senator Winifred Wild unsuccessfully tried to stop the state funded Peabody base area development at Cannon Mountain, fearing the expansion would harm Eastern Slope Region business. Struggles did ensue, in large part due to winters with poor snowfall. Betty Whitney later reflected told the Mountain Ear, "during the late forties and early fifties, literally five years in 10 were poor snow years. Local businesses simply had to suffer through it." While Thorn Mountain likely folded following the 1956-57 season, Black Mountain decided to push forward and invest in snowmaking and a new restaurant for the 1957-58 season.
Multiple improvements were made for the 1959-60 season, including new night skiing lights on Whitneys' Hill, a skating rink, and a new base building near the T-Bar.
A 1,150 foot long Mueller T-Bar was added for the 1960-61 season, serving novice terrain.
The Chairlift Age
The Knoll T-Bar and Summit Double circa 1970 |
Once again finding itself dealing with new competition, including Attitash and Tyrol, Black Mountain made plans to expand the ski area. The Upper Mountain was opened for the 1965-66 season, served by Black's first chairlift. Increasing the vertical drop by 400 feet to 1,100 feet, the new chairlift was described by the Portsmouth Herald as "pretentious." The lift was dedicated by Governor John King on December 18, 1965, though it reportedly did not open to the public until later in the season.
Following a successful 1968-69 season in which business was up 30%, Bill and Betty Whitney retired to a home above Whitney's Slope, handing over the reins to former ski patrol director Don Murray and his wife Kathy. While Black was able to stay open through the tough years in the 1970s, there was not much growth. Sadly, shortly after celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary with Betty, Bill Whitney suffered a fatal heart attack while hiking a ski trail in October of 1976.
Financial Trouble
The Whitney Slope and J-Bar |
After a few tough seasons in the early 1980s (including a two-day 1979-80 season), a group of local businessmen took over Black Mountain and started a five year investment plan. For the 1982-83 season, the base lodge was expanded by 10,000 square feet.
Black Mountain Resort, Inc. sold the property to Black Mountain Development Corporation in September 1984. Led by Earle Wason, the new ownership hit the ground running, installing top to bottom snowmaking and a new triple chairlift.
Circa 1985, retired General Electric employee Bill Lynn took over as General Manager and then president. Soon thereafter, George Fairbanks took over as president.
In July 1986, Ski Black, Inc. was formed, with both Lynn and Fairbanks as officers. The company leased the ski area from Black Mountain Development Corporation starting in July 1987, as the owners worked on real estate development. The ski area reported back to back record seasons in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Paul Lodi succeeded Chip Taylor as General Manager of the ski area circa the 1990-91 season. Betty Whitney remained involved as a stockholder. The 1990-91 season also saw the construction of a glass walkway between the lodge and restrooms.
Fichera Takes Over
The J-Bar in 2014 |
As the early 1990s progressed, loans began to pile up for Black Mountain Development Corp. On March 3, 1995, the company filed for bankruptcy. As part of the reorganization agreement, John Fichera and Northern Mountain Trust were selected to operate and acquire the ski area. In March of 1996, John and Andrew Fichera formed Alpine Resources Corporation as the owning organization of Black Mountain.
Snow tubing was offered starting with the 1995-96 season.
New glades were added for the 1997-98 season.
Betty Whitney passed away in February 2005 at the age of 102.
Near Closure and Rescue
Upper Maple Slalom in 2020 |
After years of keeping Black Mountain afloat as an independent area surrounded by growing corporate resorts, the Fichera family announced in October 2023 that operations would cease "Due to circumstances beyond our control, including soaring energy costs, unpredictable weather, extreme staffing shortages throughout the region, and many other challenges." One week later, the closure decision was reversed when Erik Mogensen, owner of the Indy Ski Pass, announced he would provide assistance in getting Black Mountain operational while finding a new owner. Despite a warm winter with minimal natural snowfall, Black Mountain managed to open on limited terrain before Christmas and remain in operation through mid-March.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| December | 25% (2 reports) |  | | January | 25% (4 reports) | | | February | 80% (9 reports) | | | March | 76% (13 reports) | |
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| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Mar. 12, 2024 by alpinevillagepres
Spring Snow, Spring Snow |
 | Feb. 10, 2024 by beccam
Spring Snow, Variable Conditions |
 | Jan. 14, 2024 by rocket21
Loose Granular, Frozen Granular |
 | Mar. 25, 2023 by nordicgal
Loose Granular, Frozen Granular |
 | Mar. 12, 2023 by skiit
Loose Granular, Spring Snow |
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| Black Mountain Resort on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com |
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
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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 | $91.00 | | | | | December 23 | March 16 | | | | | 2022-23 | $85.00 | | $649.00 | | 7.6 days | December 27 | March 26 | | | | | 2021-22 | $72.00 | | | | | December 26 | March 18 | | | | | 2020-21 | $62.00 | | $599.00 | | 9.7 days | December 19 | March 20 | | | | | 2019-20 | $62.00 | | $599.00 | | 9.7 days | December 20 | March 15 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $59.00 | | $599.00 | | 10.2 days | November 30 | April 14 | | | | | 2017-18 | $59.00 | | $599.00 | | 10.2 days | December 2 | March 31 | | | | | 2016-17 | $55.00 | | $700.00 | | 12.7 days | December 3 | April 15 | | | | | 2015-16 | $55.00 | | $700.00 | | 12.7 days | January 1 | March 9 | | | | | 2014-15 | $55.00 | | $700.00 | | 12.7 days | December 13 | March 28 | | | | | 2013-14 | $49.00 | | $600.00 | | 12.2 days | December 16 | March 29 | | | | | 2012-13 | $49.00 | | $575.00 | | 11.7 days | December 15 | March 24 | | | | | 2011-12 | $45.00 | | $469.00 | | 10.4 days | | March 18 | 31,700 | | | | 2010-11 | $45.00 | | $469.00 | | 10.4 days | | | 44,900 | | | | 2009-10 | $39.00 | | $499.00 | | 12.8 days | December 18 | March 27 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $39.00 | | | | | December 12 | March 28 | | | | | 2007-08 | $39.00 | | $499.00 | | 12.8 days | December 14 | March 30 | | | | | 2006-07 | $32.00 | | $499.00 | | 15.6 days | December 23 | | | | | | 2005-06 | $32.00 | | $499.00 | | 15.6 days | December 22 | March 19 | 25,000 | | | | 2004-05 | $32.00 | | $499.00 | | 15.6 days | December 17 | March 27 | 25,000 | | | | 2003-04 | $32.00 | | | | | December 12 | | | | | | 2002-03 | $32.00 | | $499.00 | | 15.6 days | December 14 | | | | | | 2001-02 | $32.00 | | | | | December 26 | | | | | | 2000-01 | $32.00 | | | | | December 16 | | | | | | 1999-00 | $32.00 | | | | | | March 26 | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1997-98 | $32.00 | | | | | December 12 | | | | | | 1996-97 | $32.00 | | | | | | March 30 | 30,000 | | | | 1994-95 | | | | | | December 16 | | | | | | 1992-93 | $29.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $29.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1990-91 | $28.00 | | | | | | March 17 | | | | | 1989-90 | $28.00 | | | | | November 24 | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $25.00 | | | | | December 10 | | | | | | 1987-88 | $24.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1985-86 | | | | | | December 14 | | | | | | 1984-85 | $18.00 | | $350.00 | | 19.4 days | | | | | | | 1980-81 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1979-80 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $9.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1977-78 | $8.00 | | | | | December 17 | | | | | | 1976-77 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1974-75 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $8.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $7.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1970-71 | $7.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $7.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1967-68 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1964-65 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1963-64 | $4.50 | | | | | December 7 | | | | | | 1962-63 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1961-62 | | | | | | December 15 | April 2 | | | | | 1959-60 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1950s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1958-59 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1957-58 | | | | | | | April 6 | | | | | 1955-56 | | | | | | December 10 | | | | | | 1953-54 | $3.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1952-53 | $3.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1949-50 | $3.00 | | | | | December 10 | | | | |
| 1940s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1948-49 | $3.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1946-47 | | | | | | November 28 | | | | | | 1945-46 | | | | | | December 7 | | | | | | 1942-43 | | | | | | | February 22 | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "nobody mentioned the Sugaring Off Race and events. ????? Lots of Fun. " | | steve colby, Mar. 9, 2019 | | "My father was in charge of the training, certification and record keeping for the ski patrol as well as maintaining all the equipment for the ski patrol. I grew up spending time around Black Mtn as a kid until the fire of the summit double brought in the Fichera era. I spent time in the off season helping around the base lodge as well being used during ski patrol refresher training and lift evacuation drills. I can't tell you how many times I was strapped to a back board and flipped upside down or stood on my head because the adults thought it was funny. We still have an old center post chair from the double and I remember when the new chairs were installed. The old thiokol groomer caught fire and burned up and our new LMC groomer suffered a catastrophic failure. It was dragged off the mountain never to be seen again as LMC had gone out of business and there was nobody to honor the warranty. " | | Jon Blake, Dec. 22, 2015 |
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External Links
Black Mountain Resort - official site
Black Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
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Last updated: April 23, 2024
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