Highmount, New York — To become one of the top ski resorts in New York, Belleayre Mountain has had to endure many ups and downs.
The first seeds were planted in the 1880s when land across the Catskills was protected from logging. In 1929, Maltby Shipp and his son were the first to ski Belleayre. This feat led to interest in building a ski resort there. The New York State Conservation Department and the CCC built the first runs in the 1930s, and the first chairlift opened on January 22, 1950.
The following decades brought transformation, but it also faced the threat of closure in the 1980s. However, millions of dollars in infrastructure investments by the state, along with The Coalition to Save Belleayre, kept the mountain open. Recent investments from the state-run Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), like an eight-person gondola and the Overlook Quad (which opened last winter), have made it one of the most beloved ski resorts in New York. This summer’s improvements include renovating the Discovery Lodge, snowmaking upgrades, and a new learning area at the summit.
It should be noted that there was a separate ski area next to Belleayre. Highmount ski area operated from 1947 until the early 1990s. However, the ORDA has considered reviving the ski area and making it part of Belleayre. These plans have been approved, but it’s unclear when and if it’ll become part of the ski resort.
Click here to learn more about the comprehensive history of Belleayre Mountain.
Image/Video Credits: Olympic Regional Development Authority
