In October 2024, Seven Springs Mountain Resort introduced a new exhibit in its Main Lodge, celebrating the Pennsylvania resort’s rich history. Developed in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Snowsports Museum and Vail Resorts, the exhibit showcases a collection of historical artifacts, including parts from the ski area’s first rope tow, vintage skis and leather boots, and early photographs of the resort.
Seven Springs began its journey as a ski destination when Adolph and Helen Dupre transformed their family farm by installing a rope tow in 1932. The resort stayed within the Dupre family until 2006, when it was sold to the Nutting family. In the 2022-2023 winter season, the Nutting family transferred ownership to Vail Resorts, which now manages eight ski areas across Pennsylvania.
Throughout its 90-plus-year history, Seven Springs has pioneered developments in the region. In the early 1970s, it became one of the first Mid-Atlantic ski areas to implement snowmaking technology. In the 2000s, it gained recognition for its Terrain Park and Halfpipe, establishing itself as a premier snowboarding spot in the East. Today, with activities for every season, Seven Springs remains one of the most popular resorts in the Mid-Atlantic.
To keep the exhibit fresh, Seven Springs plans to regularly introduce new displays and themes, ensuring that visitors continue to experience different aspects of the resort’s legacy.
For those passionate about snowsports history, the Mid-Atlantic region offers several resources. The Pennsylvania Snowsports Museum, which co-developed the exhibit at Seven Springs, has also helped create exhibits at other Pennsylvania ski areas, including Liberty Mountain, Blue Mountain, and Camelback. In West Virginia, the WV Snow Sports Museum in Davis highlights the history of snowsports in that state and is open multiple days each week. Additionally, DCSki features a Lost Ski Areas section, documenting over 100 “lost” ski areas in the Mid-Atlantic region with personal accounts from readers.
M. Scott Smith is the founder and Editor of DCSki. Scott loves outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking. He is an avid photographer and writer.
This is great!
A small exhibit, but it looks like an attractive way to commemorate of the history of snowsports at Seven Springs. According to the National Ski Areas Association List, Seven Springs opened in 1932 - the first Mid-Atlantic site to open as a ski area.
All snowsports areas should follow suit and devote at least a modest amount of space in the base lodge to celebrating their history, ski teams, safety patrol, staff, management and so forth. Serves as a reminder that our visits are only a small part of the stories at each mountain. Thanks for the writeup, Scott.
I also hope that ski areas will develop interpretive signs and displays about their forests, wildlife, weather, geology, water resources, and other aspects of nature that create and sustain the beauty we enjoy. We don't ski in a vacuum. (The best example I've seen of nature interpretation is at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Massachusetts.)
Woody
