Near Woodstock in Windsor County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)

Site of First Ski Tow in the United States

Woodstock, Vermont

Photographed by Paul Crumlish, December 24, 2011

1. Site of First Ski Tow in the United States Marker

Inscription. In January, 1934, on this pasture hill of Clinton Gilbert’s farm an endless-rope tow, powered by a Model “T” Ford engine, hauled skiers uphill for the first time.
This ingenious contraption launched a new era in winter sports.

Erected 1984 by Vermont Board of Historic Sites.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. In addition, it is included in the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Markers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1934.

Location. 43° 38.824′ N, 72° 32.436′ W. Marker is near Woodstock, Vermont, in Windsor County. It is on Barnard Road (Vermont Route 12) one mile east of Pomfret Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Woodstock VT 05091, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Vermont’s Connecticut River Valley

and in the Green Mountains.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Fisk Trophy Race of 1937 (approx. 1.1 miles away); Abbott Memorial Library (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion (approx. 1.6 miles away); Laurance Spelman Rockefeller and Mary French Rockefeller (approx. 1.6 miles away); Paul Revere Bell (approx. 1.8 miles away); Marianne Gaillard Faulkner (approx. 1.8 miles away); Woodstock History Center (approx. 1.8 miles away); Middle Bridge (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Woodstock.

Also see . . . New England Lost Ski Areas Project: The Ultimate Lost Ski Area!!!. (Submitted on December 24, 2011, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)

Wide-View of the Site of First Ski Tow in the United States Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Crumlish, December 24, 2011

2. Wide-View of the Site of First Ski Tow in the United States Marker

Looking toward Gilbert's Hill, the site of the first ski tow. Located just outside of the village of Woodstock, it is not far from other Vermont ski resorts such as Killington.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2011, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,371 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 24, 2011, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.