NewEnglandSkiHistory.com SkiNewEngland.net
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
   Maine: Mt. Abram: Expansions
Ski Area Expansions
 
Duane's Retreat at Mt. Abram
Duane's Retreat Details
Duane's Retreat
Status:Abandoned
First Season of Operation:1965-66
Lifts:1 T-Bar
Terrain:3 novice trails
Return to Mt. Abram Profile
Perhaps in response to the recently opened Mixing Bowl area at nearby Sunday River, Mt. Abram developed its own new novice area for the 1965-66 season.

A complex of three gradual novice trails was developed east of the main mountain, dropping about 200 vertical feet. Serving this new complex was a 1,650 foot long Hall T-Bar (though some publications claimed it was a 1,800 foot Poma T-Bar). The area became known as Duane's Retreat.

It is not known how popular the complex was, but it is thought the development of the chairlift served novice West Side area may have made it redundant. By the 2000s, Duane's Retreat became advertised as a cross country ski area. The T-Bar was likely removed after the 2002-03 season, ending the pod's alpine skiing era.



A 1965 trail map of the new beginner area
A 1965 trail map of the new beginner area

A 2010 Google Earth rendering of the former beginner area
A 2010 Google Earth rendering of the former beginner area

The T-Bar base terminal building in 2010
The T-Bar base terminal building in 2010

Looking up the former T-Bar line in 2010
Looking up the former T-Bar line in 2010

Mt. Abram Expansion History
Project NameSeasonStatus
Duane's Retreat1965-66Abandoned
West Side1988-89Open
Return to Mt. Abram Ski History

Last updated: April 19, 2014

Topics       Links       What's New       Feedback
NewEnglandSkiHistory.com Copyright 2002-2024, All Rights Reserved. SkiNewEngland.net