Laurel Mountain Ski club History
It All Began in 1939.
Laurel Mountain Ski Club traces our history back to the founding of Laurel Mountain Ski Resort in the 1939. The original club was based out of the Laurel House Lodge, and appears to have had a hand in operating the mountain - certainly they were a force for community organizing and the promotion of skiing (sorry, boarders - your sport hadn’t been invented yet!).
As the years went on the resort was given to the State of Pennsylvania to be operated as a State Park year-round, and a ski resort in the Winters. The Club eventually morphed into the Laurel Mountain Ski Patrol, an organization that is still going strong today.
The next iteration of the club that we know of came in the 1980s with a focus on youth ski racing and access to winter sports on the mountain. This is the club that many of us remember, and the conduit through which many in our community first fell in love with skiing and snowboarding.
As the mountain struggled to find an operator in the late 2000s the resort ceased operation and along with it went the Laurel Mountain Ski Club.
In 2023, with Laurel Mountain having been back open for several years, and now under the operation of Vail Resorts (who purchased Hidden Valley and Seven Springs in 2021, and along with them assumed the lease to operate Laurel Mountain) there was significant interested in resurrecting The Laurel Mountain Ski Club once again.
A group of passionate community members came together for listening sessions, and to understand the community vision, and in Spring 2024 The Laurel Mountain Ski Club was re-incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are here to advocate for the community, the mountain, and outdoor recreation at Laurel Mountain.
We hope to honor the past, while ensuring the future of this place and community.
From the Archives
Here you will find some selected items form the rich history of Laurel Mountain Ski Club
1947 Trail Map, Showing The "New" Laurel House. This lodge sat at the bottom of Tamecat/The Top of Broadway
Hand-written notes, recording snow depth in the 1930s and 1940s
Hand-written notes, recording snow depth in the 1930s and 1940s
A form from Laurel Mountain Ski Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, dated November 1925, with handwritten notes at the top right corner.
A typed document from the Laurel Mountain Ski Club in Ligoniar, Pennsylvania, detailing the season's events, membership dues, benefits, and officers for 1954-1955.
Schedule and membership info for Laurel Mountain Ski Club from the 1952-1953 season, including events, dues, and officer details.
Membership form for Laurel Mountain Ski Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
A document announcing the Laurel Mountain Ski Club's events and memberships for the 1955-1956 season, including ski events, dues, and contact information.
A membership application form for Laurel Mountain Ski Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. It includes sections for dues, season tow subscription, and contact information.
A typed notice from the Laurel Mountain Ski Club announcing events and membership details for the 1953-1954 season, including ski races, parties, lessons, and dues.
A typed letter from the Save Our Slopes Committee in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, dated April 26, 1972, discussing financials, legal actions, and plans for Laurel Mountain Ski Slope.
A typed document in purple ink discussing ski events and schedule for the 1960-1961 season, including race dates, locations, and organizational acknowledgements.
A typed memo from the Pennsylvania Ski Federation, Inc. regarding their 1960 annual fall meeting and frolic, including event schedule, rates for overnight guests, route from Philadelphia area, and reservation instructions.
A vintage letter from the Laurel Mountain Ski Club, Ligoniar, Pennsylvania, for the 1949-1950 season, detailing membership dues, events, and club activities.
A vintage ski resort newsletter from Laurel Mountain Ski Area Inc. dated August 1964, featuring articles about new lifts, trails, and improvements, with a Laurel Mountain logo at the top, and a small map labeled 'Ski Capital of Pennsylvania' at the bottom right.
A black-and-white newspaper page with various articles about skiing, ski clubs, and local events, including mentions of Laurel Mountain Ski Club, European ski trips, and holiday plans.
Vintage newsletter from Laurel Mountain Ski Area, August 1964, featuring ski resort updates, lift improvements, and seasonal ticket promotions.
A newspaper page with news about Laurel Mountain Ski Club, ski classes, ski trip, and local events.
A letter from Laurel Mountain Ski Club inviting support for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team with details of a film showing event and ticket purchasing information, dated December 29, 1959.
A registration form for Laurel Mountain Ski Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, from 1956-1957, with sections for dues, family and individual memberships, and season tow and lift subscriptions.
A vintage invitation card from 1956 for a skiing event at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort, including details about an open house, ski movie, and skating preview, with a Laurel Mountain Ski Club header and address.
A vintage ski resort advertisement from 1948-1949 for Laurel Mountain Slopes in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, listing new slopes, activities, and event dates with colorful text and ski-themed border.
A press release letter from Laurel Mountain Ski Club dated January 11, 1956, announcing Warren Miller's presentation of a ski film at Ligonier Senior High School to benefit the U.S. International Ski Team Fund, with details about the event, ticket prices, and additional activities.