Essex Street Ski Area Bangor, ME
FACTS: |
Years of operation:
|
|
History:Located off Essex Street in Bangor you'll find the site of the former Essex Street Ski Area. Once a landfill - then a ski area is now the site of the current PAL Center and the Essex Street Recreation Area. Although the area no longer functions as a ski area there are many activities available such as hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. The area featured a 800-foot ski slope, T-Bar, base lodge and sledding hill. The base lodge (which isn't open to the public) still stands. In the woods you'll find various remains of the lift such as concrete slabs and parts of the bull wheel. Unfortunately most of the trails are grown in and not distinguishable. In recent years, Bangor's First Dog Park has opened a top the sledding hill.
A Bangor Daily News article Dated September, 1971 states that the area was managed by the Bangor Jaycees. The area would feature a lodge, T-Bar, and lights for night skiing. It was listed as being open for the winter of 1972. Roland Perry a member of the Jaycees who oversaw the development of the ski area stated that development of the ski area involved clearing out the 50 acre Essex Street landfill. The landfill would be cleared out to provide access to the whole land for sliding, snowmobiling, and skiing. Roland Perry boldly stated that "if this comes out as planned, were going to have one of the finest municipally owned winter recreation facilities in the state." In a Bangor Daily News article dated December of 1972, Dale Theriault a recreation director for the City of Bangor stated that the Essex Street Ski Area would offer ski lessons for novice skiers. The ski lessons would begin in January and last for five weeks. Lessons would be available to novice skiers between the ages of 6 and 18. Instructors would be from the Hermon Mountain Ski School. Classes would have less than 10 students and the costs were nominal to join. A benefit of the package was that if Essex Street lacked snow students would be bused to Hermon Mountain for their lessons. A Bangor Daily News article dated January, 1976 states that the Essex Street Recreation area would be open for public skiing Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m. A lift ticket was $1. For $8 beginner lessons were available for novice adult skiers. A Bangor Daily Article dated March, 1972 states that the City of Bangor proposed a $50,000 investment into Essex Street Recreation Area. The biggest investment was to add a base lodge (which still stands). The lodge would be heated, supervised, and available for winter recreation enthusiasts. It would feature food vending machines, lounge area, first aid station, and a lift ticket booth. During the summer months, volunteer crews helped clear a new 800-foot ski slope adjacent to the existing sliding area. The new slope would be steeper and longer then the sledding hill. It would feature a lift and lights for night skiing. |
Pictures
 Satellite view of Essex St. Ski area.
The white line represents where ski lift used to be |
Did I miss something? Feel free to leave a comment. Please put your name in the top box and comments in the bottom box. I reserve the right to edit or delete any posts in this comment section. DO NOT put any personal information in the comment section as others will be able to see it. Spam or other abusive language will not be tolerated. Thank you for your comment!
HTML Comment Box is loading comments...
Related Links
Nelsap - The New England Lost Ski Area Project (NELSAP) provides additional information on this area
Essex Street Recreation Area - This link will bring to the Bangor Parks and Recreation website which oversees the many hiking, biking, and walking trails
Bangor Dog Park - Essex Street is now home to Bangor's First Dog Park
Essex Street Recreation Area - This link will bring to the Bangor Parks and Recreation website which oversees the many hiking, biking, and walking trails
Bangor Dog Park - Essex Street is now home to Bangor's First Dog Park
