Enchanted Mountain (ski area) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Enchanted Mountain |
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An aerial view of Enchanted Mountain, 1968
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| Location | Coburn Mountain, Upper Enchanted Township, Maine, United States |
| Nearest city | Jackman, Maine |
| Coordinates | 45°27′58″N 70°7′5″W / 45.46611°N 70.11806°W |
| Top elevation | 3,200 feet (980 m) |
| Base elevation | 2,200 feet (670 m) |
| Runs | 8 |
| Lift system | 3 |
Enchanted Mountain was a ski area in Maine, United States. It was known for its beautiful views, like the "Switzerland of Maine." But it was also very isolated and windy, which made it hard for the ski area to succeed.
It had eight ski trails: two for beginners and six for more experienced skiers. To get up the mountain, skiers used a double chairlift, a T-bar lift, and a Poma lift. Today, you can still see parts of the old ski area on the side of Coburn Mountain. This mountain is about 3,717 feet (1,133 m) tall.
Contents
The Story of Enchanted Mountain
How Enchanted Mountain Started
Enchanted Mountain was planned by E.H. Lord-Wood Associates. It was built in 1965 by North Haven Construction Company. The land for the ski area was rented from Scott Paper Company. This company later owned another nearby ski resort called Big Squaw Mountain Resort.
The ski area first opened in February 1966. At first, it had two lifts. There was a T-bar lift that served only two trails. These trails were above the main lodge. There was also a small poma lift for the beginner ski area below the lodge.
Growing the Ski Area
The next year, a long double chairlift was built. This lift went all the way to the summit (the very top of the mountain). This made the number of trails grow to seven. One wide trail was right under the lift. Six other narrower trails spread out from the top.
The mountain's height difference from top to bottom was about 1,000 feet (300 m). Some brochures said it was much more, but that wasn't quite true. The ski area proudly said it had the deepest snow and the shortest lines for the lifts. In 1968, the lifts were open every day. A ticket for an adult cost only $5.50.
By 1971, Enchanted Mountain had more to offer. It had a ski school where you could learn to ski. There was also a shop, a lodge, and a snack bar. For families, there was a nursery. A ski patrol was also on hand to help anyone who needed it.
By 1974, even more things were added. These included a restaurant and a place to rent and fix ski gear. There were also warming huts and parking for up to 600 cars. The area around the mountain had places for over 300 people to stay. Enchanted Mountain did not have snowmaking machines or night skiing.
New Owners and New Ideas
There were big plans for the future of Enchanted Mountain. These plans included adding more trails and lifts. However, the ski area ran into money problems in 1969. It was put up for auction. The Small Business Administration sold it to three private owners. These owners were Willis LeFavour, Robert LeFavour, and Terry Tyler. Terry Tyler had also started Maple Valley Ski Area in Vermont.
The mountain opened again under the new owners in February 1970. They hoped that new and unique ideas would bring in more visitors. They offered nighttime snowshoe tours. They even offered free lodging for anyone who brought a sleeping bag. A full-day lift ticket on weekends cost $6.00 from 1970 to 1972.
Why Enchanted Mountain Closed
Unfortunately, Enchanted Mountain faced tough competition. Other ski resorts like Sugarloaf and Saddleback were growing. Also, Enchanted Mountain's isolated location and strong winds continued to be a problem. These issues led to its closure in the mid-1970s.
The last known season it was open was 1972-1973. After that, the area was put up for sale in a magazine for ski areas. No one bought it by 1974. So, the ski area was closed down. The lodge and lifts were taken apart.
Today, you can still hike the mountain. There's a trail that goes all the way to the Coburn summit. You can still see where the ski resort used to be. However, it has changed a lot because of logging projects that started in the early 2010s. You can find the hiking trail from the old Enchanted Mountain parking lot. This lot is on Enchanted Mountain Road, off of U.S. Route 201.
Images for kids
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An aerial view of Enchanted Mountain, 1968
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Enchanted Mountain Ski Area logo
