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Mid-Atlantic Lost Ski Areas:
Plateau De Mount
Somerset, Pennsylvania
| Historical Overview - reported by M. Scott Smith, DCSki Editor |
According to Kevin Shearer, a DCSki reader, this resort was located just across the road (Route 31) from Hidden Valley. Kevin reports that Plateau De Mount closed in the mid 1970’s and had a vertical of about 200 feet.
“There was a double chair and it appears that it was an upside-down resort with seven trails,” writes Kevin.
“I have heard that the owner doesn’t want people coming to the ski area,” warns Kevin.
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An overhead shot of Plateau De Mount. Image courtesy of USGS.
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If you have any additional information about this ski area, please contact DCSki's Editor, or add your comments by scrolling below. To view historical information about other lost ski areas in the Mid-Atlantic region, click here. Note that DCSki's Lost Ski Areas section contains recollections pieced together by DCSki readers. We try to continually develop a clearer and more accurate picture of closed ski areas, but understand that some of the details reported on this page may be inaccurate.
| Reader Comments |
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The views and opinions expressed in DCSki Article Comments are strictly those of the comment authors and have not been reviewed or approved by DCSki. If you believe a comment is inaccurate or inappropriate, please contact DCSki's Editor. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by fred from donegal
January 30, 2005 at 9:08 am i last visited this area in the fall of 1999, the ghostly reminders of once was a beautiful lodge still stood, the the bull wheel tower was still in place,when conditions permit, i know of away into the back side of the mountain that provides views of the slopes.i also know of other lost treasures of the laural mts
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
February 10, 2005 at 12:02 pm I have not been to it yet, but would like to see it. My parents have a cabin in that area. If you read this Fred, I am interested in what else you know that interesting on the mountain.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by fred from donegal
February 27, 2005 at 3:17 pm Dustin, if you have the time , and the expierence to wonder back into these mts, there are incredible traesures, from lost trout streams, to old tunnels to explore, backridges to climb, abandoned areas which were once populated, and veiws that can only be expierenced from within the backwoods of these beautiful mts, my true secrets and expierences will only be handed down to my sons and hopefully handed down to there children, that is what keeps secrets ,secrets and to leave what is there, there
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by fred from donegal
February 27, 2005 at 6:07 pm P.S. I also know of several other lost ski areas in the immediate area
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
February 28, 2005 at 9:38 am Fred, sorry, i forgot to check back here. Please drop me a line some time, my email is traillblazer350@yahoo.com, i would love to find some of this stuff...... very interesting to me.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
February 28, 2005 at 9:41 am P.S. I re-read the rest of your post. I respect that you want to keep it a secret. If you could just tell me a little bit about it and maybe some pictures that would be awesome. I roamed a small part of the mountain when i was younger, but once high school and now college have come around, i don't make it up there very much.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
March 1, 2005 at 10:18 pm my main interest is the ski resort, I have been around the perimeter many times, just never realized it. Looked up satellite pictures....
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Greg Nagy
March 22, 2005 at 3:40 pm Would one of those "lost ski areas" be the two uncompleted ski runs overlooking Trent and the bottom entrance to Laurel Hill State Park?
Laurel Hill - posted by Dustin
March 28, 2005 at 11:13 pm Hmmm.... I am trying to place where you are talking about. I don't see that entrance too often, i always enter from Trent road or through the boyscout camp. I would love to take some pictures if you can be a little bit more specific. Drop me an email Greg, its listed in a post up above.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Lindsay From Somerset
April 1, 2005 at 10:29 am Fred, I have also seen the lodge and find things like this to be nearly awe inspiring and would be very grateful if you would let me in on some of the area's other "lost treasures." Thanks!
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by fred from donegal
April 3, 2005 at 1:55 pm Hi greg :there was at lesat 1 and maybe 2 runs directly across frome the main entrance to hidden valley, but new enterprize has destroyed them buy putting in a quarry, there is an old area up on youngstown ridge, which is just southeast of latrobe, it operated in the 60s and there was talk of reopening it i dont know what happened
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by fred from donegal
April 3, 2005 at 2:14 pm Hi lindsay, do you have a good four wheel drive, no i dont mean an SUV something like a jeep wrangler . to get you back off of the main roads, if you do then maybe. then you walk for several miles back in. i have found remnants of entire communities, from foundations of barns, houses, fish hatcheries, and even what i am told is the remnants of an old post office. i am glad that you feel the same way that i do about platue de mount, i remember when it was beautiful, have you ever seen the slopes from the back side. have you ever skied the ghost runs at seven springs, or skied the original tow line, once you find it, the rest of the original area sticks out like a sore thumb. i could tell much about laurel, and chestnut, i also have knowledge of ghost runs that i have skied in vermont but you dont have to go that far, just start exploring your back yard. and learn to look for things that look unusall to the surroundings of where you are, and incredable things start appear
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by fred from donegal
April 3, 2005 at 2:24 pm to all that is interestd, for years i have been inqiuring for information about an entire division of equipment, from cannons, guns, and wagons, and what ever else,that was buried by union soldiers, somewhere up on laural, along rt30 on there way back, to Pittsburgh, after the civil war was over, i dont know if it is true or legend, but i am trying to find out, and i hope it is fact
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
April 5, 2005 at 11:47 am ghost runs at 7 springs and original tow line??? interesting, been there many times and knew nothing of it. What do you mean by ghost runs exactly? just old runs not used anymore?
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by fred from donegal
April 10, 2005 at 6:36 pm Dustin you are absolutely right, all older ski areas have these trails, and if you are not an advanced skier, i would advise not looking for them while sking. they are very narrow. do to the way they skied then and the way we ski now is a differnt sport, plus the were cut narrow, so that the trees could shade the snow to protcet it being there was no such thing as snowmaking. stowe vermont, and mad river glen have magnificent ghost runs but you have to get to know a local , because these are the private areas that are skied, when the slopes are filled with vacationers. the original area at seven springs, was cut directly behind Helens this was the original home place of the dupres. if you walk up blitzen lift line, and look to the right, into the glades, you will see what looks like a straight line. that is narrow and has a rise at the top of the mt this is the original tow line
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Jim from pittsburgh
May 27, 2005 at 7:22 am I have ridden up there alot the stone quarry took alot of the land and messed it up. The building itself is still standing but not the best shape. My uncle and I went in the building and was fasinated by it. The one entrance at the bottm has like a ball room or something but not totally sure but thats still there. need a flashlight since you can see alot of things since theres no lights. Also I am going to check out the basement since they said there are some pretty nice things to see down there. they said the entrance to the basement is hidden and to watch when you go down there. Also advice to anyone that plans to go up there be safe on where you walk.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Jim from pittsburgh
May 27, 2005 at 7:25 am Also some other things i found out about it. That person who owns Hidden Valley is one of the people that owned this resort. His father died and he inherited the money and built Hidden Valley. I talked to my father since he said he used to ski up there that they weren't that narrow but the weren't as wide as they are today. This place is a nice place to ride quads and snowmobiles since thats the only place I ride. If anyone wants to go and view it with me sometime you may email me @ snowmobileextrem@aol.com and i will let you know when i am up there next
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Anthony
July 1, 2005 at 1:31 am Hey everyone, yeah, it's a pretty cool place. I live in the same mountain about five minute walk from the place. I've explored the trails around that area up and down. Most of the slopes lead you do an old road that connects to Bakersville-Eddie Rd. Anyway, there is a cave in that area if you follow the one slope and then go off into the woods. The cave starts out and you have to crawl, but opens up enough that you can stand. It's full of bats and what not. Interesting place. If anyone wants more info ask on here or email at thechristelegacy@gmail.com
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by ggnagy
July 2, 2005 at 8:30 pm I was up there this week, and saw that there was a property for sale in the "plateau du monte" (sic) ski area. Also saw a new housing development going in on the main road leading back there from Rt 31
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Samantha
July 5, 2005 at 8:37 am Fred, my friends and i found plateau de mount when we were four-wheeler riding a few years ago and we were absolutely fascinated by it. We ride through there often. I would love to know a little about the history of the resort and if there are any pictures of it when it was open and running. I find the architecture of the old resort amazing now and would have loved to have seen it when it was in good condition. There are also rumors that someone bought the resort and had planned to fix it up as a house, do you know anything about that?
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Samantha
July 5, 2005 at 8:39 am Fred, I was also wondering if you know anything about the abandoned turnpike tunnel which is now used as a nascar wind tunnel. I've heard some crazy stories about why it was closed and things that had happened in there after it was closed and before it was sealed off.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by ggnagy
July 6, 2005 at 11:11 am Samantha,
I am not sure where you heard the NASCAR wind tunnel story, but the Laurel Hill tunnel is used for salt and PennDot equipment storage. The abandonded turnpike east of Breezewood was used for various training and testing projects by DOT and PennDot, but I doubt any wind tunnel use. Anyway, the Sidling Hill and Rays Hill tunnel are open for mountain-biking. I am not sure if the old sidling hill rest stop is still used as a Police shooting range though. Some urls to start your reasearch: http://p201.ezboard.com/fabandonedpennsylvaniaturnpikefrm1 http://my.athenet.net/mgk920/pennatpk.html Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
July 7, 2005 at 5:37 pm I think I need to get up there and see this for myself and get some pictures of the area. If anyone would like to meet up please let me know.I would also really like to see the cave.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Anthony
July 12, 2005 at 10:32 pm Dusin, yeah I'm up there most weekends. I won't be there this comming weekend (15th), but next Saturday would most likely work. I'll show you the caves also.
For everyone else, I'll get a bunch of pictures in the next few weeks, of both the caves and the platue. If anyone else would like to meet and we could all go as a team, contact me on AOL: thechristelegacy or e-mail me at thechristelegacy@gmail.com Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by jim
July 18, 2005 at 12:26 pm i got caught by the owner of it right now and he told me to tell anyone that rides up the to stay out they got to many bears up there and it become a hazard due to all the constuction around there and if you are caught that its a 350 dollar fine. he said he has caught just about everyone. "SO STAY OUT" as he yelled it at me.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Anthony
July 19, 2005 at 12:28 pm The construction is a good distance from the site itself, not to mention for living up there over 16 years, bears have only been spotted a couple of times. No offense to the owner, but if has caught just about everyone, he must find everyone I know exempt from being caught then.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
September 11, 2005 at 6:34 pm I finally made it up there a few weeks ago and it was amazing. The image above makes so much more sense to me now that i have seen. I have fished the creek right below it many times and never knew I was so close to it. I ended up walking up one of the slopes and didnt realize it until i hit the top. It is truely an amazing place that I hope is left standing for many more years to come. The story I got from my parents about the place was that it was only open for a few years, then shut down. The owner at the time just walked away from it all. They had horses up there and they just released them into the woods and never looked back. I was told that horses were seen in the area running wild for a few years.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Sasha
October 12, 2005 at 5:07 pm Sooo are we going to ski this hidden treasure this winter? I will be moving to Johnstown later this fall and am totally ready for the snow to fall! If anyone is interested in some winter exploring/skiing let me know at sashaski@hotmail.com
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
October 17, 2005 at 7:33 pm All you would be able to do there is some cross country skiing. The slopes are solid trees. And the field up top is all posted private property.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Bill Boucher
December 18, 2005 at 7:37 pm The slopes into Trent , not sure I know where they are but the Red Barn Ski Area and Camp soles Ski area have not been mentioned and are very close to Trent. There was a Real Esate development called Scenic View Park in Trent.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by ggnagy
December 19, 2005 at 9:14 am Indeed, I was referring to Scenic View. The cottages that were built, plus another building are available for rent, but in general the area is concidered private property. If you look at the skyline while driving east on Copper Kettle Hwy near the LH group camp site, you might see a red gazebo. This marks the top of the planned ski slope. There is a v narrow tree lined slope on the north side of that hill. I skied it once in the 80s, but no skiing or sledding is allowed there any more. In a couple of weeks I will post summer and winter shots of the slope.
I have allready mentioned Camp Soles (see Deer lakes entry) but where was Red Barn? Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Bill Boucher
January 9, 2006 at 8:08 pm Red Barn Ski Area was located halfway between Trent and Camp Soles on the right heading towards Camp Soles. The Tow rope poles are still there as is the engine house, actually saw people skiing there about 1965. A big Red Barn sits on the site. Pioneer Park also has a Ski Hill, no tow ever installed, forget the name of the place before Sujansky bought it.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by ghost of Platue De Mont
April 8, 2006 at 12:11 pm I have done my homework and some searching! Platue De Mont closed in the early 70s. It closed because it had trouble keeping snow on the slopes. If you take a closer look you will see that Platue faces the oppisite direction of Hidden Valley. Platue De Mont faces towards the sun.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Sally
May 28, 2006 at 9:13 am I have just visited it yesterday and i was wondering where the basement is located and if it is haunted i have heard plenty of stories about it?
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by N/A
June 20, 2006 at 2:09 pm If anyone knows the owner of the land that Platur De Mount sits on would someonr let me know! I am a local geocacher and would like to place a geocache there and i would like to see if the owner would permit a cache on his/her property!
for info on geocaching visit www.geocaching.com! If anyone has any info on De Mont let me know at wsnipes@aol.com Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Jason from Bakersville
June 24, 2006 at 8:25 pm I grew up in that area & the last I had heard, the resort had been sold - it had been in the local classifieds for some time (cheap, too), but isn't anymore. The old owner/caretaker had/has an old Studebaker Avanti (if he is still alive) & used to shoot at trespassers. I understand that the reason why this resort failed is that it was built on the wrong side of the mountain, before snow makers, & the snow kept melting. As for the tunnel - The Laurel Hill Tunnel - it was closed in 1972 when the 'pike was rerouted. We used to run through it on motorcycles as kids in the '80s. It is still connected to the Turnpike on either side & is a favorite hangout of the Turnpike Police & other workers. There was some talk years back about PSU using it to research mushrooms, but there is no "wind tunnel", Although the ventilation fans in the upper level are fun - they are like huge hamster wheels! Any more info can be shared to excelsior@shol.com
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Jason from Bakersville
June 25, 2006 at 5:16 pm Sorry - I stand corrected, evidently the Laurel Hill Tunnel is being use by NASCAR for some sort of testing.... There is also a lot of relics around this area from work done by the Conservation Corp. if you look closely & off the beaten path....
http://www.rays-hill.com/turnpike/home.htm Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Amanda
September 6, 2006 at 11:01 pm Does anyone have or know where photos of Plateau de Mount can be located? I have been there to see the remains of this resort but am curious as to what it looked like many years ago.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Terry Lannon
August 29, 2007 at 10:41 am My family bought a lot at Plateau in the late 60's. The owner was a guy from Hungary whom my parents became friends with (my grandparents were Hungarian). I have a lot of memories from there. We snowmobiled and went skiing in the winter and swam in the lake and rode horses in the summer. I can still smell the newly built stables with all the wood. The lodge was absolutely magnificant! large stone and huge timbers. From what I can remember the huge fireplace was just inside the front entrance. There was a resteraunt on the upstarrs and a lot of rooms on the lower level including the ski rental area. I had heard that Steve (the owner) had divorced Phyllis who was the co-owner. Steve had lived in the lodge but is no longer there. The lodge from what my sister says is in pretty bad shape and no longer inhabited. I believe Phyllis still lives up there somewhere. I remember too a bunch of small A-frame-type mini-cabins there that were used for rentals. There were also a lot of homes there, some of them very nice. We fished in the small lakes and had a great time. I believe the hatchery that was down the road had also closed. I had heard too that the slopes were on the wrong side of the mountain. Anyway it has been a few years since I had been up there and it must be really sad to see now from what my sister told me.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Carl
February 17, 2008 at 9:08 pm I spotted this area while flying over back in the early 80's. The lodge looked quite nice even from the air. We had a place by 7 Springs and also drove by the White Mountain area which I always thought would make a great addition to 7 Springs. I had an old Pa. map which used to show quite a few ski areas which no longer exist. Not sure if these can be traced down though. Thanks for all the great info.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Lila McCrory
April 28, 2008 at 10:08 pm Me and my friends took a "ghost hunting" trip up to Plateau De Mount the other weekend (we live very very close). It took us about an hour and a half to actually find the resort but once we found it, it was amazing. We had been up there the week before but didn't get a chance to go inside (this was in the dead of night by the way), so we took some more friends, equipped with expensive cameras and sound recording gear. We had heard some stories about deaths in the lodge after its closing so we wanted to see if we could get anything on camera. What we found was frightening...two pictures that scared us pretty badly. We didn't get a chance to look at the pictures until we were back in the car, but we were eager to leave because we knew that we weren't allowed up there. We got a picture of a ghostly face looking upwards into the top section (the stairs were knocked down). I also attempted to take a picture of the full moon beside a tree outside and my camera acted funny, then took a strange picture. If you would like to see pictures of the inside of this lodge as it looks now, contact me at lm100489@yahoo.com and i would be happy to send them to you. Please contact me, my friends and I are eager to learn its history!!! )
Lila M. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Lila McCrory
April 28, 2008 at 10:15 pm Sorry my email didn't post right, there is an underscore between the lm and the 100489. THanks!!
Lila M. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Ken Hicks (Whistler BC. Canada)
May 4, 2008 at 12:56 am I worked at Plateau De Mount in the first two years it was opened. I ran the Ski Patrol and also rented out Ski Doos and worked in the rental shop. I remember Steve & Phillis and the fact that the snow was always "Marginal". The lodge when it was new, was phenominal. It is sad to hear that it has deteriorated. There was to be a large real estate development with it and a few lots & cabins were built. I am very curious to see some present day pictures of any of this and of any news of the whereabouts of Steve &/or Phyllis I can be contacted at kencindy@telus.net
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by gordon
June 25, 2008 at 5:31 pm I use to work and live there in the summer of 1968 and 1969. It was a wonderful experience. The owner was an amazing guy that fought in the 56 Hungarian revolution. Ken, I live in Seattle and get up to Whistler all the time. It would be fun to share Steve stories.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by gordon
June 25, 2008 at 5:48 pm yes, the lodge was spectacular and so was the stable. they rented the A frames. They also had horses. I taught riding and helped do stone work on some of the homes built. When I was there I lived in the house with Steve,Phillis and 3 others. Two of us where high school kids. I did go back in 1975 to visit Steve and Phillis. Ken-- they still had the dogs and the pups (grown). gordonandbev1@mac.com
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by RG
July 4, 2008 at 9:08 pm A local 4WD club rented Plateau De Mount in the mid seventies from Steve (last name sounds like "you pour" - not sure of the spelling) for Jeep races. The main ski slope was used for the hill climb event; an area below the slopes for an off road obstacle course and the field west of the lodge was used for field games. I remember the nice A frame out-buildings to the east used for overnight stays. I was back again in the late seventies to see the old lodge in disrepair and abandoned. In the earlier eighties the lodge and the area around it looked like it was subdivided and homes were being built there. I tried to get back into the area today, but the road into the lodge is posted Private Property - No Trespassing. Would like to see the area again - the satellite views today show a lot of tree growth on the old slopes.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by gordon
July 9, 2008 at 3:55 pm Yea, it is a Hungarian name; ou pour. He was a great guy although pretty tough as a result of his experience with the Nazis and then the communists. He fought in the 1956 revolution then escaped to Italy where he taught math at an University while waiting to get permission to come to the US.. He was an engineer by training.
He had a cool car back in the day, a 2 seater volvo. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by gordon
July 9, 2008 at 11:10 pm Yea, it is a Hungarian name; ou pour. He was a great guy although pretty tough as a result of his experience with the Nazis and then the communists. He fought in the 1956 revolution then escaped to Italy where he taught math at an University while waiting to get permission to come to the US.. He was an engineer by training.
He had a cool car back in the day, a 2 seater volvo. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by debby
October 2, 2008 at 9:51 pm I am so happy to find this post, as I have visited it via horseback for a few years now and wondered what happened to this place. I do have a recent photo of the lodge. email me at dthir2@yahoo.com for a pic.
It has mostly caved in now. I was able to enter the basement where there was huge timbers and stone work, and fireplaces and the thickest most plush red carpet. You could tell this was a spectacular lodge at one time. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dalek
November 11, 2008 at 10:50 am Hey all,
i've been up there many a time. its beautiful. BUT it burnt down. and all there is is the remains. most of it is still standing but it is very unsafe to go in. my friends bothers friend has a house near there and says that suposibly mountian lions live in there but i dont know. i would love to find more history about this. my email is Dalekaufm@aim.com Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Eric
November 13, 2008 at 6:23 am The layout for this mountain looks pretty good. Can you hike and ski? Is there enough natural snowfall in the area?
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dalek
November 13, 2008 at 10:46 am Hey Eric
Its Dalek well heres the thing you can hike there maybe but i wouldnt advise it going alone. however the laural mountain hiking trail is maybe a couple miles up the road. and Kooser state park is across the road. i highly doubt you can ski there because its really over grown. you might be able to cross country but im not that sure there is alot of places to go. you would be better off going to hidden valley which is a mile up the road. -Dalek Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dalek
November 14, 2008 at 9:26 am hey everyone i was just up there yesterday i took a couple pictures and i'll try to post them but i dont think i can. most of it burnt down though...
-Dalek Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by gordon Robertson
December 3, 2008 at 6:29 pm eric, the years I worked there the snow was really bad. I would bet that the lack of snow was a big part of the failure.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Dustin
December 19, 2008 at 9:51 pm Don't go by the above picture from the satellite. That is an old picture. I walked up the slopes from the bottom of the hill and didnt realize I had walked up a ski slope. It is that grown in. Besides, they just logged out the entire bottom side so what used to be the bottom of the slopes where the lift was is all gone now.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by teachski.com
April 4, 2009 at 6:42 pm Ad from 1969 Ski Atlas on teachski.com
http://teachski.com/books/nationalsurvey/paplatuea.jpg Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Joe
December 13, 2009 at 1:53 pm Actually, the MAIN reason they went under was a lack of snow for the first two years. The bottom of the slope abutted my dad & uncles property-We have had 2 cabins on Sheaffer Run Rd. since the early 50's. When they closed we used the chalet as cool place to take girls (was in my late teens) and would bobsled and sled ride the slopes for years after the place closed. IF they would have made it, they would have outclassed Hidden Valley and given 7 Springs a run for their money, as at that time both HV and 7S were no bigger than PDM.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Douglas Hoehn
August 15, 2010 at 4:16 pm I still remember small wooden radside signs, from the 60's? that said, "Ski Plateau De Mont". In 1977 I moved to Stahl Road, next to Plateau De Mont. I cleared the tram roads through the big woods that came out near Plateau De Mont. I had my own private cross country trail that was several miles long. Sometimes, I would take my faithful lab, Greta, with me. She loved the snow as much as we did. There was one "low bridge" natural vegetation archway that seemed like a gateway to the lost ski area world. You then went through a small woods, then raced across an opening to the top of the ski runs. You didn't want Steve to see you. He owned and lived in the lodge and he discouraged visits, even me. You could see the concrete ski lift structure at the bottom. These slopes were true North facing and snow was a sure thing if there was any snow at all. At that time, it was growing in from the edges but still enough open to Telly Ski to the bottom. Then side step back up, manually packing the slope; ready for tommorow's ski/ Tellyho. The runs to the right were not designed Fall Line, but would keep tuning back into the hill. Back the way I came for a short couple hours of the best winter fun to be had. Usually each winter in the Laurel Highlands was great winters, but some years had a winter thaw. Then it was Seven Springs or Hidden Valley Alpine until the base was built up again. Snowmaking was pretty crude back then, but Herman DuPre of Seven Springs was really a pioneer. There was a popular bumper sticker and greeting, "Think Snow". Another popular saying in expressing how good a skier was , He (She) is "neat-of-foot." or if the base was down, "need-a-foot". When Hank Parke had Hidden Valley cross country, part of the 50km was a trail to North woods; you could turn up another trail that took you to the top of Plateau De Mont mountain, Greenbrier Trail. If you knew where to turn, you could bushwack in to Plateau De Mont. You had to sneak around the lodge from the left. I remember showing Zerick Cook the passage, but by 1993, the trail had grown in with young tree whips. Those were the days, boys and girls, when you had time to sneak out for a couple hours of skiing every day. In the meantime "Think Snow". we "Need-a-foot"
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Joel
October 9, 2010 at 8:38 pm I live about a mile from the plateau on stahl road, I used to 4 wheel up there untill they kicked me off. I know a lot about the history of the plateau and I often take walks up there now. If it used to stand 200 feet then there's a lot of floors missing, I've seen 2 floors and there was a basement which I haven't been in. A lot of people hunt pheasant and turkey up there now. The plateau is rundown piece of junk and I know that one of the previous owners tried to burn it down. I know that if anyone wants to go up there and take a look at it, that's fine as long as you don't get hurt and don't destroy property.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Hidden Valley home owner
October 27, 2010 at 10:15 pm I thought the owner didnt like people going over there so Ive stayed away. Altho I think I might go walking up there some time in the spring.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Hidden Valley home owner
October 31, 2010 at 6:32 pm Hey, did you know Hidden valley has ghost runs (abandoned runs).
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by GGNagy
November 1, 2010 at 8:51 am Yeah... Charger. LOLOLOLOL
But seriously, of you know of other examples, please list them in the "lost parts of open areas" threads in the "Lost Ski Area Discussions" subforum. I know I can't think of anything that hasn't been thoroughly reused or renamed for the past 30 years. What's New 2010: Plateau De Mount - posted by Foster
November 1, 2010 at 12:19 pm Several trees have been added to the slopes this year, making for some of the most challenging glade skiing in the Mid Atlantic.
Lift prices have been eliminated, providing a true bargain. But be warned, this is a true "skiers mountain" that even goes beyond Blue Knob and Laurel Mountain with it's rustic facilities. Current owners are not good business people, and are known to shoot at visitors. Other than that a wonderful place to take the entire family for a day on the slopes. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Hidden Valley home owner
November 1, 2010 at 12:52 pm No charger is NOT a ghost run. YOU are thinking of the wrong side of the mountain. If I remember corectly it was open for acouple of seasons. Before it was a ski run it was a tow line
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Hidden Valley home owner
November 1, 2010 at 1:20 pm PS-Im sure you have seen it but didnt realize it. HV also has one other abandoned. Also Foster I like your post above about Plateau De Mount.:)
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Hidden Valley home owner
November 1, 2010 at 5:54 pm PSS-I dont think they ever gave it a name. Im trying not to give its location because I like having runs all to myself! but allot of other people besides me ski on it.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Joel
November 14, 2010 at 10:24 pm If anyone wants to take a hike up there, I advise you to be careful, I killed 4 PA Rattlesnakes up there and one of em was right behind me ready to strike. The Plateau De Mount is a great place, I personally had a chilling experience with the ghost in there. If you didn't know its haunted now you do if your up there and you happen to be back towards the wine cellar i advise you to get out because you'll hear some of the most gruesome noises possible. But other than that its great, I go Pheasant huntin up there behind the lodge near the slopes I have a makeshift campsite up there and its great for pheasant
ghosts - posted by Hidden Valley home owner
November 15, 2010 at 9:17 pm joel what exactly did u hear in the lodge? im am very interested in this. I have heard other stories about demount and its ghosts. also wheres a good place 2 park your car so u dont get fined 4 trespoasing?
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by hidden valley home owner
November 30, 2010 at 3:06 pm I drove up their over the weekend and it was amazing! I didnt stop and park but that lodge is huge considering how big the ski area was and those chimneys are so tall. Would love to walk around up their someday
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by pa bc skier
January 2, 2011 at 3:46 pm Great thread!
A few years ago I discovered this place marked on an old map and had to check it out. Parked my car at the top and went in on my telemark ski gear. That year we had about a foot and a half on the ground and it was great skiing! Glades up top open up wide on the steepest bottom sections. Went back once more and found a threatening note on the windshield of my car. Haven't gone back since but some folks ski over from the North Woods area to avoid parking at the top. I went into the old lodge and loved it. No ghost experience, just dissapointment that it has deteriorated so badly. I want to buy it and turn it into a nordic center! Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Mike
June 2, 2011 at 1:58 pm I can help anyone that is interested in seeing the building and any and all questions I own property directly under it when the lifts where removed they used my road to get to the base the best spot to park is on Shaffer run road and if asked by a local you are fishing or hiking and lost the laurel trail note there are 4 wild dogs that will chase and bite you. And the roumor of bears is bull Ive seen one bear in 24 years any questions I'll be happy to answer also have pics of then and now... Mikepromech@yahoo.com please label att de mount
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Mike
June 2, 2011 at 4:48 pm I can help anyone that is interested in seeing the building and any and all questions I own property directly under it when the lifts where removed they used my road to get to the base the best spot to park is on Shaffer run road and if asked by a local you are fishing or hiking and lost the laurel trail note there are 4 wild dogs that will chase and bite you. And the roumor of bears is bull Ive seen one bear in 24 years any questions I'll be happy to answer also have pics of then and now... Mikepromech@yahoo.com please label att de mount
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by bruce
June 13, 2011 at 7:52 pm fred do you have the location of the other ski resorts in the area i would like to get somee photos of the other areas
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by bruce
June 13, 2011 at 7:52 pm Fred my email is bruce11083@gmail.com
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by marcia s
June 28, 2011 at 2:27 pm I would love to see any pictures of the lodge when it was first built msynan@aol.com
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by adam
September 2, 2011 at 11:12 pm aerial photo
http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww330/ovrkild/skiresort.png Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Brandon pav
October 17, 2011 at 10:31 pm True skiier mountain my ass I've been there more times that I can count never in the winter tho but the main lift line def looks wide enough for boarders to rip down also I have plenty of pictures of plataeu concrete footers for the lift pics of all runs the lodge the lake even a water mocosin with a blue gill in it's mouth swimming threw the pond also if anyone would like to see it I always love hiking up there and would love to show this hidden gem to anybody interested please fell free to email me littlepav420@aol.com
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Ryan
October 22, 2011 at 12:20 pm My grandfather bought A house near the plateau de mount in the early 80's and I have been going up since I was very young. Growing up I have always interested in it's history. I was wondering If anyone has photos of the lodge and ski area when it was up and running I would appreciate it if they could send them to me. Skidoogsx04@msn.com is my email
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Brandon pav
February 13, 2012 at 3:04 am Been waitin all year for big snow to finally come to hike this place and it came over the weekend so me and my friend hit it yesterday and it was great I recomend hiking no lift tickets and nothing but woods runs WARNInG the quad paths tht used to be a run is preety rocky so try and stay off main quad trail second one on the left looking up the hill happy shreading
Tanglwood ski area - posted by DCSki Reader
March 12, 2012 at 5:15 pm Tanglwood ski area is closed and is in need of repair.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Stephanie Kosko
March 30, 2012 at 1:14 am We were in on the ground floor, in 1962 I met Steve Upor, Phyllis & LaVerne in a covered wagon at the Allegheny County Fair. They were drumming up interest in the development. We bought a lot, spent fabulous times there, but stayed at the Oak Hurst Tea room while development was going on. Sadly, never built on it. Later took my parents & stayed in the tentels,, had canoe's, horses, fishing, & great meals cooked in the little house at the corner of Stahl Rd.. & Dumont, the first road up to the lodge. (Not a skier, roads were impassable in the winter). Watched The Smothers Brothers Show in Phyllis cabin, it's still there. Steve married Sandy Weyant, she was with my brother at Duquesne U, but they divorced. Phyllis moved to Florida, after Chancellor Litchfield was killed in a plane crash, he was one of the biggest investors, that $ dried up.That is really why the place folded. Steve ran 3 nursing homes in Somerset, but haven't been able to contact him for a while. Would love to see some pictures of "The Lodge Ghost", there was some fabulous food available back in the day. Sad it is gone. Yes,he protected that place with mean dogs & firearms. Contact me Munhall58@verizon.net
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Sascha Yergin
August 22, 2012 at 10:50 pm I used to live below the main house in what was originally the bathhouse next to the smaller pond. Steve was a little nuts, but what do you expect from a survivor of the nazi concentration camps. I grew up with his dogs, they were Hungarian Shephards.. great dogs. We had moved away from there in 86 or 87 and the last I heard was that his ex wife won all the property in litigation and all Steve retained was the Stahl house where I think he still lives. Shortly after the suit was settled, there was a mysterious fire that pretty much destroyed the place. All the talk of ghosts is ridiculous. I lived in the main house off and on for years and was a regular visitor afterwards. The only thing you had to watch out for in the building was bats.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Shawn
September 9, 2012 at 2:00 am Steve Upor
President Easy Living Management Corp i found it that it is going to be mined by new ent soon. Also took a trip there today and within 45 seconds had a car there on us. everything is gone! the club house is there whats left of it.burned Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by jim
October 6, 2012 at 7:03 pm Plateau de mount has been demolished but still is a beautiful sight property ownership has changed and they dont mind if you pass through but don hang around looking. From what i understand it will not be mined but instead did have a select cut because there is a possibility of someone build another small resort there. Snowtubing and winter Activities as long with summer activities. Time will tell also heard housing was going in. My best guess would be stick to the trail because this is a family's property amd the lady who owns it is a lawyer on the side. The people across the street do not own it
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Anonymous
February 9 at 9:46 pm Also - there were never any bears or ghosts. Fred from Donegal: You are full of it, fella. You don't know this particular area at all!
I know. I live here. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Anonymous
February 9 at 9:49 pm This entire area is Private Property. Please do not tresspass onto Private Property. There is nothing to see anymore - no lodge, no slope, no nothing.
Stuff is still their - posted by A hidden valley local
February 9 at 10:11 pm What are you talking about? Yes the main part of the lodge did burn down but a major portion of it is still their. There is also a small maintnance hut and one concrete lift tower. Also there are still a couple of narrow cuts where the slopes use to be. They arent long but have a decent pitch.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by A hidden valley local
February 9 at 10:15 pm Anonymous, are you the angry owner whom ive heard of?
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Brandon pav
February 12 at 10:44 pm Has anybody made any turns this.year havent been able to make it up there sadly and the rumors r they r making big mansions on the top so all will be lost soon
Dont worry - posted by A hidden valley local
February 13 at 10:24 pm There are mansions being built on the mountain but they are nowhere near the ski area.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Marjorie
February 18 at 9:12 pm I would like to talk to Steven about the day we talked in the "Saddle Shop" in Pgh. when president Kennedy was shot. That was comforting and I remembered the kindness when I visited Hungary years later.
I made friends in Zalaegerzed when I studied with Peter Scabolcs and feel an afinity for the people there. . It would be wonderful to talk with you again. Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Shaffer Run Resident
April 12 at 5:08 am With respect to the owner of the Plateau, I'd ask that no one under any circumstances trespass on the property. It's dangerous, and we've had a lot of problems with ATVers and Snowmobilers up here in recent years. The trails are off limits to anyone.
Comments on Plateau De Mount - posted by Shaulis
April 29 at 9:02 pm My family has lived in these mountains for almost 200 years and some of those old home foundations people refer to would be my ancestors. I've been to the old Shawley Cemetery (or Indian Burial Ground) many times and yet I have NEVER been back to this old ski resort. But you can see it on this map. http://usgwarchives.net/maps/pa/county/somers/usgs/jefferso.jpg
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