I attented IUP in the mid 1980s and worked for the co-op. We taught ski lessons for IUP students and staff along with running the shuttle back and forth from campus. I recall one year of having a run of 47 straight days of skiing. Not bad for a (correct me if i am wrong) a hill that did not face north. 2 rope tows and 250 vertical was still fun, it was skiing.

I worked for the Co-Op at Mount IUP the winter of 1995-1996, when we had a huge blizzard. I think we were open for 29 days in a row that season. It was a great job! We groomed the hills with a snowmobile; the lodge was really nice. I know that the rope tows have been removed and that it's used for sled riding in the winter and Frisbee golf in the summer. Good memories.

Back in the mid-70's we called it "College Lodge". It was the very first place I ever skied. I borrowed a pair of skis that were waaay to long for me, but picked it up with ease on the first run! I decided right then that I must have learned to ski in another life. I have loved skiing ever since - all thanks to this little slope.

They also had cross country trails here in the 80s (and maybe still). Was a good little spot.

Or, perhaps i could read the entire description, and see that cross country is listed right there. Duh. :)

I started to ski at the College Lodge in the mid '70s. It was a great place to learn. Back then there was only one rope tow which served the left side of the hill (looking up), and you could rent some skis from the Co-op for a few bucks. I think the second rope tow was added around '81 or '82 and the addition of the extra lighting was also nice. There seemed to be a lot of snow in the '70s...much more than in the '80s. Also, there was a good learn to ski program that was offered for at least a few years...too bad it's closed now (for skiing). It was a lot of fun, even though it was really small.

I really think that they should re-open the hill to snowboarders and skiiers, it would be a lot of fun and I think that it would be very useful to students for something to do in the winter without having to buy a $60 lift ticket to go to seven springs. They would also be able to use the money to add things to the park

I went to school there from '92-'96, and lived in Indiana for a couple years after. They had a meeting for people who wanted to work there one winter (I think it was '95). We were taught CPR and first aid. But it never opened. They depended on natural snow. I raced xc mountain bikes during that idustry's growth spurt and the trails there were awesome! Smooth and fast, lots of hills and turns. I need to get back up there for a ride someday.

IUP College Lodge Ski Run Glory Days

I last visited here in the summer of 2018 returning from college tours with my daughter. I attended IUP from 1981-1984. In my freshman year I joined the ski patrol at the lodge. We had a lot of snow that year and were open somewhere around 45 days. I worked many hours and spent much time tuning the rental skis - with their Spademan bindings. 

For The following year I was promoted to Student Supervisor. I did all the hiring and managed the area. That year we started our National Ski Patrol aspirations and were affiliated with Laurel Mountain ski area. That's where we did our training and got NSP certified. I forget how much first aid training was required - either 50 or 100 hours. Additionally we became officially certified Spademen technicians. We also introduced the official IUP maroon & slate powder shirts with the NSP yellow cross for the patrollers. Before that we wore bright yellow construction bibs. We were a professional shop! It was another good year for snow. We opened for a couple of days before winter break and I believe had snow through all of Feb and well into March.
 

One day in Feb 1983 I had off and was out and about with my roommate (lived in Whitmyre) and we decided to stop by the lodge. It so happened that earlier that day the left hand tow rope had separated and the place shut down - not enough snow on right hand side to run that tow. My Boy Scout training kicked in and I was able to splice the rope back together. Not the neatest splice it was about 18" long but strong enough to get things going again. It would kick up snow as it dragged up the hill so we called it the snow rat. For fun we would all position ourselves along the towline and dive on the rat to grab it and be dragged up the hill. After a few weeks the Co-op brought in some Amish workers that cut out my splice and put in a much better permanent one. "The Rat" was presented to me by the patrol at the end of the season. It may have been mounted on a board and displayed in the old ski hut. Memory fuzzy on that detail. 
 

I wound up taking a gap year and returned in fall 1984. I rejoined as a patroller but ended up transferring to another school for the winter/spring semester. Lots of fond memories of IUP and especially my times at the lodge. Too bad it folded.

 

Duggan C