Cumberland, Rhode Island — While many closed ski areas exist throughout the world, not all of them are rotting away. In Rhode Island, a once-beloved ski hill has now become a recreation hub, with a new lodge to boot.
Earlier this year, WJAR News 10 analyzed what remains of the Diamond Hill. They analyzed its history, the reasons for its closure, and the efforts made to revitalize this spot.
Downhill skiing at Diamond Hill began in the 1930s, but its development as a ski area started with the installation of rope tows in the early 1940s. The ski area’s infrastructure continued to modernize in the decades that followed, with the installation of double chairlifts in 1970. Interestingly, the ski area was located next to Ski Valley, another shuttered ski area. Unfortunately, warm winters led to Diamond Hill’s closure in the early 1980s.
After years of sitting abandoned, locals stepped up to make it usable for recreation again. The town purchased the former ski area in 1997 and began cleaning it up. In addition, local Chris Ratcliffe created the Friends of Diamond Hill Facebook group, which helped build hiking and biking trails. A new lodge opened earlier this year, which will be used for events. In addition, The Valley Breeze reported in April that pickleball courts have opened at the park.
In terms of Rhode Island’s ski industry, only one active ski area exists today: Yawgoo Valley. While the Rhode Island ski area has seen some warm winters recently, colder weather and more visitation returned for the 2024-25 season. There are several ski areas in Rhode Island that weren’t as lucky. According to NELSAP, four ski areas were ultimately shuttered in the state, including Diamond Hill.
Image/Video Credits: Friends of Diamond Hill, WJAR News 10, Town of Cumberland, Rhode Island
