Bald Hill (Farmingville, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bald Hill |
|
|---|---|
Photo by Joe Maddalone
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 331 ft (101 m) |
| Geography | |
 Bald Hill
Location in New York
|
|
| Location | Farmingville, New York, United States |
| Parent range | Ronkonkoma Moraine |
| Topo map | USGS Brookhaven |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Road |
Bald Hill is a high area of land located in Farmingville, New York, which is part of the Town of Brookhaven on Long Island. The highest point in the Bald Hill area is 331 feet (101 m) above sea level.
Many local people think Bald Hill is the highest spot on Long Island. However, the true highest point is Jayne's Hill in the Town of Huntington, which is 401 feet (122 m) tall. Also, a nearby spot called Telescope Hill is a little higher at 334 feet (102 m). It's important not to confuse this Bald Hill in Brookhaven with another one in Riverhead.
Discovering Bald Hill's Past
The Bald Hill area is part of something called the Ronkonkoma Moraine. This is a ridge of hills and dirt left behind by a huge glacier. It shows where the glacier stopped moving across Long Island a long, long time ago.
When people first settled here in the late 1700s, they called the area "Bald Hills." The views from the top are quite impressive for Long Island. Even George Washington passed through here in 1790, but he thought the hills were "trifling," meaning not very important.
In 1897, a special Bicycle Path was built across Long Island. This path went right through the Bald Hill area, making it a popular spot for cyclists.
Around 1970, a road called Patchogue-Mt. Sinai Road was built. It went through Bald Hill. Two special viewing spots were made along the road. Stone markers were placed there for "Danger Hill" and "Breakneck Hill." These were names given by early settlers to the two hills.
In 1991, a memorial for Vietnam Veterans was opened on the southern viewing spot. Today, the Brookhaven Town Hall and Sachem East High School are on the east side of Bald Hill. North of these buildings, the Glacier Ridge Preserve has 11 miles (18 km) of trails for cross-country biking.
The Bald Hill Ski Bowl: Winter Fun
From 1965 to 1980, Bald Hill was home to a skiing area. It was owned by the Town and called the Bald Hill Ski Bowl.
The idea for the ski area started in 1964. A builder named Henry Taca owned land in the area. He gave 64 acres (260,000 m2) of his hilly Bald Hill property to the Town for free in 1965. In return, he got permission to build more houses on his other land.
The Bald Hill Ski Bowl opened on January 21, 1965. It had a 710-foot (220 m) long tow rope. The main ski slope was 800-foot (240 m) long and had a 123-foot (37 m) vertical drop. People hoped to use snow machines to keep the slopes open for about 70 days each winter.
At first, an all-day ticket cost $3. A half-day ticket after 1 P.M. was $2. A single ski-tow trip cost 25 cents. By 1967, a 800-foot (240 m) T-bar lift was added. There were also three tow ropes and five ski trails. A cozy lodge, built like a Swiss chalet, was also added.
In 1975, The New York Times newspaper reported that about 5,000 people visited the ski area each week. The facility covered 106 acres (0.43 km2). It had a 1,400-foot (430 m) run for advanced skiers. There was also a slope for beginners and a "bunny run" for new skiers. An all-day ticket cost $2.25.
However, there were some problems. Neighbors complained about noise from the snow machines. Some town officials thought the ski area was too expensive to run. It cost about $500,000 each year to operate. But it only made between $100,000 and $200,000 from tickets.
Things got better in the winter of 1976-1977. There was a lot of snow, over 62 inches (1,600 mm) in Suffolk County. This was the first time the Ski Bowl made a profit! But the warmer winter of 1979-80 was very bad. The ski bowl was only open for eight days that season. Only 6,500 skiers visited, and only 11 inches (280 mm) of snow fell. Revenues dropped to $18,000.
The town tried to find a private company to take over the ski area. But it was hard to find someone willing to run it because of Long Island's weather. The ski bowl's budget was cut by over 70%. Bald Hill's time as Long Island's biggest public ski area came to an end.
Today, the old ski bowl site is home to the Brookhaven Amphitheater. The ski lodge building is still there and is now an art gallery.
What to See at Bald Hill
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park: This memorial was dedicated on November 11, 1991. It has a 100-foot (30 m) tall monument. The monument is shaped like a tall, thin pyramid and is painted red, white, and blue. The design was created by Bob Fox, a Vietnam veteran.
- Overlooks: You can reach these viewing spots from Patchogue-Mt. Sinai Road. The Vietnam memorial is also located here. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Fire Island in the south. You can also see Long Island Sound to the north.
- Pennysaver Amphitheater: This is an outdoor concert venue. It can hold over 18,000 people. It is part of the Bald Hill Cultural Center, where many events take place.
