Abenaki Ski Area

Abenaki Ski Area is operated by the Town of Wolfeboro's Parks & Recreation Department; the department's own staff listing includes an "Asst. Director of Parks & Recreation | Abenaki Operations Manager" position, per the Town of Wolfeboro Parks & Recreation Department's own Recreation page. Hike-up skiing at the site preceded organized operation, occurring in the 1930s according to New England Ski History, and Abenaki's first season of lift-served skiing was 1940-41 -- which New England Ski History says makes it "one of the oldest ski areas in the country." Abenaki's ski operations closed during World War II, one of the "idle periods" New England Ski History records for the area, attributed there to variable snowfall and funding challenges. Night skiing was added after the war, likely for the 1946-47 season per the same source, which hedges the exact year rather than stating it as certain. A ski jump was installed at Abenaki circa 1970 and remained in use for about two decades, according to New England Ski History. A temporary, "makeshift" snowmaking system was assembled in 2007, followed by a permanent HKD snowmaking installation in 2011, and a new base lodge was constructed for the 2015-16 season, all per New England Ski History. The Friends of Abenaki, a volunteer group whose efforts helped fund snowcat and snowmaking upgrades, was started in 2005, per the same source. The hill shares its municipal site with the Pop Whalen Ice Arena/Arts Center, run under the same Parks & Recreation umbrella, per the Town of Wolfeboro's own Recreation page.