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| Temple Mountain Ski Area |
| Temple, New Hampshire |
| Status: |
Lost/Defunct
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| First Season: | 1937-38 |
| Last Season: | 2000-01 |
| Vertical Drop: | 600 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | |
| Past Lifts: | 1 quad, 1 double, surface lifts |
| Left: Temple Mountain in the 1990s |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
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Located just south of Pack Monadnock Mountain, Temple Mountain was home to a regionally popular area for over six decades.
Temple Mountain Ski Forest
The ski origins of Temple Mountain date back to October 1936 when William Glazier established Temple Mountain Ski Forest, Inc. A native of Massachusetts, Glazier attended Phillips Exeter Academy in southern New Hampshire and later earned a Master's degree in Horticulture from the University of New Hampshire, becoming a leader in the wild low bush blueberry industry.
The concept for Temple Mountain Ski Forest was series of cabins accessed by a network of ski touring trails, located east of Peterboro Gap. Eventually incorporated into Temple's nordic trail system, Temple Mountain Ski Forest featured about a half dozen backcountry rental cabins, each of which were equipped with six to eight bunks and custom stone masonry. Trails named Earthworm Circuit, Zip, Undertaker's Paradise, and Undertaker's Loop were advertised for the winter of 1937-38.
Early Rope Tow Years
A 1937 Temple Mountain advertisement |
Meanwhile, Charles Beebe was searching for a place to establish a rope tow operation. A native of Massachusetts, Beebe eventually settled in Hollis, New Hampshire, learning to ski while attending Bowdoin College. After marrying his wife Lucie in Germany, the couple were inspired by the new Woodstock, Vermont rope tow and began searching for a location of their own that would be convenient to Boston. Observing the snow retention offered by Peterboro Gap, Beebe acquired 200 acres of land circa 1936 and co-marketed a rope tow operation with Glazier in 1937. An 800 foot long by 204 vertical foot Ford V-8 powered rope tow was constructed above the gap, requiring a bit of a trek since Beebe's tract didn't reach route 101. Beebe established Temple Mountain Ski Tow, Inc. December of 1937, starting the operation the day after Christmas.
Though skiing initially started with about half a foot of snow, the base increased to nine inches by mid-January. Rain and ice moved in, likely shutting down the area until early February, when it may have reopened briefly on a five inch icy base. The remaining snow was gone by the second week of February, likely ending the season.
According to his son Mike Beebe, in 1938 Charles Beebe was involved in the development of Grandview Mountain in North Woodstock. Beebe likely divested his stake in the area circa 1940 to focus on Temple, as Temple received more natural snow.
The 1938-39 season likely got underway just before New Year's with crusty conditions. Even that skiing was short lived, as Temple was closed before mid-January. Skiing returned at the end of the month and continued into late February, but available snow reports show only a few inches of base throughout. Though there was likely no skiing in early March, a mid-March storm may have briefly restarted the season.
1940s
A five-inch snowstorm likely started the 1939-40 season in early January, with base depths of only a few inches continuing into February. However, fortunes turned in late March, when forty inches of snow were reported at the start of spring.
Temple notched its first November opening with the 1940-41 season, courtesy a nine-inch snowstorm. The snow didn't last long, as Temple likely didn't operate for most of December or January. Skiing resumed in early February, but was often rated as "poor" and even "very poor" with only a few inches of base.
A second rope tow was likely installed for the 1941-42 season, serving a new novice slope on the north side of the ski area. Local physical education teacher Earl Leach served as ski school director. The season got underway prior to Christmas and extended into mid to late March, generally on a few inches of base.
While many areas shut down due to fuel and labor shortages and restrictions, Temple was able to remain in operation as World War II consumed the country. The 1942-43 season may have been another struggle in terms of weather, with Temple possibly only running in January and February with a few inches of base.
The 1943-44 season likely started before Christmas and ran into at least early March. The ski area may have only operated on Sundays.
Temple continued to operate during the final winter of the war, running from mid-December to mid-March with base depths of one to two feet for a good portion of the season.
The 1945-46 season also started circa mid-December, though Christmas week skiing was extremely poor. After shutting down in mid-January, snowpack soon soared to two feet, as operations expanded to include weekday afternoons. The season fizzled by mid-March, with Boston Globe writer Pat Harty noting, "Temple Mt. and the Monadnock region are more suited to tennis or some such at the moment."
The 1946-47 season likely got underway after Christmas. The season limped along with mediocre conditions until mid-February, when base depths began to deepen. Skiers enjoyed around two feet of base until mid-March, when snowpack steadily melted.
Expansion to the Highway
After a decade of requiring a long slog to get to the base of the ski area, Temple finally acquired the rights to extend the ski area toward the highway for the 1947-48 season. A rope tow and novice slope were constructed, resulting in Pat Harty proclaiming, "No more cross-country jaunting to get into the hill." The season had an early start and was blessed with a snow storm just in time for Christmas. Base depths were generally two to three feet from January into early March.
Though Temple had been recognized as the largest ski area in the Monadnock region, the opening of state-operated Mt. Sunapee changed the market in 1948-49. The winter itself was poor, with skiing not starting until late January. The season likely fizzled by mid-March.
STABIL Lift and T-Bars
Temple Mountain circa the early 1980s |
After operating for over twenty years with rope tows, Temple installed a 1,700 foot long STABIL surface lift for the 1958-59 season. Reaching the upper mountain, the platter lift, along with two rope tows, served six trails. Plagued with mechanical issues, the rare lift's tenure at Temple was short lived, as it was replaced with a modern T-Bar in 1967.
A new base lodge was constructed for the 1961-62 season, a fair distance from the parking lot. According to the Boston Globe, owner Charles Beebe stated, "I like it this way...I think a lot of other people do too, too."
Temple's first brand new T-Bar was installed for the 1965-66 season, opening up the West Side of the ski area. Unfortunately for Temple, the weather didn't cooperate that winter, with results coming in at 50% below its best season.
Charles Beebe's son Mike took over the operation circa 1966, managing the ski area and heading up the ski school. Despite the growth of the facilities, Temple remained a weekend and holidays operation.
While other ski areas installed snowmaking in the 1960s and 1970s, the Beebe family did not see it financially feasible to make a significant investment (once telling Ski magazine, "we have snow-making equipment but we never use it." As a result, poor winters hit Temple Mountain particularly hard in the 1970s and early 1980s. The winter of 1979-80 was especially tough, as the weekend-holidays ski area only operated for about a dozen days starting in mid February. 1980-81 was not much better, as the area only opened for 32 days. As a result, Mike Beebe had to take out $50,000 in Small Business Administration loans to avoid bankruptcy.
New Ownership and Expansion
The Temple Mountain quad chairlift during the 1980s |
Peter Martin, Jim Cooper, and Ronald DaSilva's Temple Mountain Ski Corporation purchased the ski area from the Beebe family in April of 1984 and quickly began to make changes. $1.2 million was invested in a wide array of changes for the 1984-85 season, most visible of which was New Hampshire's first quad chairlift. In addition, $90,000 was invested to bring three phase power to the mountain, enabling snowmaking and light to be installed on some 80 percent of the mountain. Finally, the main lodge, trail network, and parking lots were improved, though the base area situation remained awkward. Skiing magazine described the lodge as "marooned among the ski slopes - a short hike, to be sure, but not a comfortable one in street shoes. What the regulars usually do is change to ski boots in the rental shop or in their vehicles, then buy a ticket and ride to the summit before dropping their packs in the lodge for the day."
29 year old local Sandy Eneguess was named General Manager for the new group's first season, which did not get underway until after Christmas due to rain.
Shortly thereafter, 250 acres were purchased with the intention of developing an East Side complex, potentially increasing the advertised vertical drop from 600 to 1,100 feet. Meanwhile, the advertised snowmaking capability was increased to 90%.
Sandy Eneguess became owner of the ski area in 1988, investing in more snowmaking and lighting.
Snowboarding at Temple during the 1990s |
Temple's second chairlift, a used double from Mt. Watatic, MA, and Diamond Hill, RI, was installed to serve lower mountain slopes in 1992.
The mountain hit tough times in the late 1990s with mounting debt and 7 years of unpaid property taxes, resulting in bankruptcy in March of 1997. While an effort was made to get the mountain ready for operations that fall, a bankruptcy judge ordered the trustee to cease spending and return pre-paid pass revenue. As a result, Temple sat idle during the winter of 1997-98.
Night skiing at Temple during the 1990s |
After reverting to its previous ownership, the area was able to reopen for the 1998-99 season with Tim Farrell as General Manager.
Founder Charles Beebe passed away in February 2000 at the age of 91. Unfortunately, Temple Mountain ski area would not survive much longer.
Closure
The Temple Mountain base area (2002) |
On September 17, 2001, the owners of Temple announced it would not open for the 2001-2002 season, due in part to repairs needed to operate. Instead, the 352 acre property was put up for sale. Peak Resorts considered developing the property but ultimately chose to reopen Crotched Mountain in 2003.
John and Connie Kieley of Temple Highlands LLC purchased the ski area in 2003. In 2004, the chairlifts were removed. The quad was sold to Nashoba Valley ski area in Massachusetts, while the double was sold to SkyTrans Manufacturing, LLC. In addition, the base lodge was demolished.
Temple Mountain Ski Forest founder William Glazier passed away on Septemberr 23, 2006 at the age of 92.
In December 2007 the State of New Hampshire, with some federal funds, purchased the 352 acres from John and Connie Kieley for $1 million after a multi-year effort to dismantle the ski area and preserve the land. Only concrete footings, the occasional pipe or light, and a garage remain. The rapidly revegetating ski area is now part of the Temple Mountain State Reservation. It is highly unlikely to ever reopen for lift served skiing.
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
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2000-01 | $27.00 |  | $400.00 | | 14.8 days | | April 1 | | | | | 1999-00 | $27.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1996-97 | $30.00 | | $450.00 | | 15.0 days | | March 23 | | | | | 1995-96 | $28.00 | | | | | | | 80,000 | | | | 1994-95 | $28.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1993-94 | $28.00 | | $400.00 | | 14.3 days | | April 2 | | | | | 1992-93 | $28.00 | | | | | December 12 | | | | | | 1991-92 | $25.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1990-91 | $25.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $22.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1987-88 | $19.00 | | | | | December 19 | | | | | | 1986-87 | $16.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1985-86 | $16.00 | | | | | December 12 | | | | | | 1982-83 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1981-82 | $11.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1980-81 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1979-80 | $9.75 | | | | | February 16 | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1977-78 | $9.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1976-77 | | | $75.00 | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $5.75 | | | | | | | | | | | 1972-73 | $5.50 | | $70.00 | | 12.7 days | November 18 | | | | | | 1971-72 | $5.50 | | $60.00 | | 10.9 days | | | | | | | 1970-71 | $5.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $5.50 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1967-68 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1964-65 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1963-64 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1961-62 | | | | | | December 23 | March 31 | | | | | 1959-60 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1950s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1958-59 | $5.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1954-55 | | | | | | December 4 | | | | | | 1949-50 | | | | | | December 10 | | | | |
| 1940s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1948-49 | | | | | | January 27 | | | | | | 1945-46 | | | | | | December 22 | | | | | | 1940-41 | | | | | | November 30 | | | | | | 1939-40 | | | | | | January 3 | | | | |
| 1930s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1937-38 | | | | | | December 26 | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I remember one time making some short “trick skiiis” I don’t know what they’re technically called but they were approximately 20 inches long . The front of them was triangular they looked horrible.lol. I made them from regular skiis. Used a torch to bend up the tips on the front.
Took them up to temple and skied with them they ended up breaking
I used to be too cheap for my own good lol because I had the money all day long to just buy them
What fun would that be though ,right? The looks I got from the chairlift operator were priceless
" | | Josh Hill, Nov. 5, 2022 | | "Learned to ski on rope tow at Temple in 61 and 62
Was on ski team at unh with mike Bebe 63 to 66
Great memories great ski area
Been in Ca since 1980
Said to here of closing
Now living 10 miles from my rose in Reno Nevada but it all started for me at temple " | | Rich Tansey, Jan. 5, 2020 | | "I grew up skiing at Temple Mountain thanks to the Pine Hill Waldorf School ski program (1985-1992)- if the mountain was open then Thursdays were half-days and the entire school bussed to Temple at 1100 for skiing the rest of the day. And then every Saturday and Sunday were spent there too. Great memories, great skiing for its size and location. Thanks Temple Mountain!" | | Orin Lucas, Jan. 25, 2019 | | "I learned to ski at Temple through the Charlotte Ave. elementary school ski program out of Nashua in the 90's. I went for a hike here today and the memories rushed back. I could picture where everything was. I remember my parents coming to watch me ski and having to hike up to the lodge while dodging skiers coming down. Glad it's a conservation area now but too bad it's not still functioning." | | Joshua Ochal, Oct. 15, 2016 | | "I have wonderful memories of Temple Mountain in the late 80's. I worked in the Ski School and for the NASTAR program. The people there were some of the nicest I have ever known; especially Ski Shop owner Johnny Norton." | | Reenie Keith , Feb. 16, 2016 | | "I worked at Temple mountain in the mid 70's for I think 2 seasons as a lift operator. It is so sad to go through these pages eading about the areas I used to ski at, Crotched, Onset, Indian Head (where I skied hundreds of hours after high school living in Hollis and was ski patrol) Warner Ski hill were I skied for the 1st time at 4 yrs old." | | Bruce Brown, May. 6, 2015 | | "In the eighties I worked as a lift rat at Temple Mountain. I never thought I would have the sad feelings I have after seeing the pictures of the mountain. Those are also pictures of my past. I can only hope that the mountain never gets developed. I'll be hiking around up there this year. " | | Greg Doran, Feb. 6, 2014 | | "I'm a relative to the Beebe family (I believe) and looking for more info. on the Beebe history with Temple Mt and the Peterborough area" | | Peter Bradshaw, Sep. 1, 2013 | | "In 1953 My father purchased a 4 acre lot on the West side of the ski area from Charlie and Lucy Beebe and we built a camp with a great view of Mt Monadnock. Our family all skied, and to access the camp in the winter my brother and I cut a rudimentary trail from the Wapack Trail, which was the westernmost ski trail at that time, toward our camp and then looped back toward the base of the Wapack Trail. Charlie Beebe named it Taggart Trail. The property is now owned by my other son John Taggart since 1992, but the camp has collapsed under snow loads. The Beebe's were good friends with our family and we spent time together other than the ski area. He used his tractor to help haul some of our camp material up 1800 feet from the highway. A lot of it went up the hill on my brother's and my shoulders.When the ski area expanded to the West Area lifts and they put in Spruce, Birch, and Broadway it wiped out the Wapack ski trail and Taggart trail, but the Wapack hiking trail still went through that area. The expansion also wiped out one of the best high bush blueberries anywhere. One could get a gallon of berries just from that one bush.All three of our children did a lot skiing there. We even took a grandson there in about 1996. One of their fun events was the Easter Parade. I used to have a slalom flag with Temple Mt stenciled on it, but has probably rotted by now." | | Bryant Taggart, Aug. 22, 2013 |
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External Links
Temple Mountain - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Temple Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
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Last updated: January 17, 2022
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