Beginnings
Skiing on Pleasant Mountain began in the mid-1930s, when skiers were granted permission by local farmers to tear down fences during the winter and use the hill for recreational skiing. The first ski trails were cut by students from nearby schools.
Official Opening
The mountain officially opened on January 23, 1938 as the Pleasant Mountain Ski Area. The ski area featured a 1,100-foot rope tow, and 500 people showed up on the first day of operation.
Expansion
In 1946, Russ Haggett became the general manager of the Pleasant Mountain Ski Area, a job he kept for thirty years. He added two rope tows and acquired more land for recreational development.
Modern Development
The first chair lift was installed in 1969, and a new lodge was built three years later. In the mid-1970s, Pleasant Mountain Ski Area's name was changed to the Shawnee Peak Ski Resort.
Features
After a year with no natural snow, the resort installed snowmaking in 1981. Several years later, night skiing became available. As of 2010, Shawnee is a mid-sized ski area with two bases, 44 trails, five lifts and extensive night skiing.
Article Written By Henri Bauholz
Henri Bauholz is a professional writer covering a variety of topics, including hiking, camping, foreign travel and nature. He has written travel articles for several online publications and his travels have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Latin America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
