Lift-Served Skiing Is Back In Waterville!

rope tow ski Hill

Friends of Quarry Road and Waterville Parks and Recreation have teamed up to develop a safe, fun, and affordable downhill ski experience for the greater Waterville community.

In December 2021, we installed a rope tow at the base of the former Colby Ski Area. The lift serves the lower portion of the historical ski slope, just steps from the existing Quarry Road cross-country facilities. The rope tow is open winter weekends, and select holidays and vacation days. Ski all winter-long for season passes that cost $50 or less. Or try the rope tow for a day with $10 lift tickets for all ages!

Open 4 days a week:
Dec. 30 - Mar. 24

Tuesdays 3pm-7pm

Fridays 3pm-7pm

Saturdays 9am - 7pm

Sundays 9am - 3pm

2024 Quarry Road Rope Tow season passes are now available!
Click here to buy yours today.
Thanks for your support!

A lift ticket is required to ride the rope tow. Before heading to the hill, please stop by the Quarry Road Welcome Center yurt to purchase your rope tow day ticket or rope tow season pass.

It all started when…

The first ski lift at present-day Quarry Road Trails was a 1,200-foot rope tow that opened to the public in January 1938.

Over the next 40 year the ski slope — known initially as Dunham’s Mountain Farm and later the Colby Ski Area — introduced innumerable Waterville-area youth and adults to the sport of skiing.

At its peak, the 250-foot hill featured a T-bar, snowmaking, lights for night skiing, and a spacious lodge.

To the disappointment of many, downhill ski operations were suspended during the 1970s energy crisis. The area was abandoned, but never forgotten by those who had created lifelong memories here.

The Rebirth

In 2007, a small group of volunteers gathered to revive Waterville’s long tradition of outdoor winter recreation. Their first goal was to develop a network of world-class cross-country ski trails at the foot of the old slope.

Now called Quarry Road Trails, the area boasts more than 12 km of cross-country ski trails and is known throughout New England for reliable snowmaking, top-notch grooming, and high-quality races and events. In Central Maine, Quarry Road is known for its affordable and accessible youth ski programs.

On the hill, several of the historical downhill ski trails have been kept clear or maintained as glades. Snowstorms often bring out those willing to hike for their turns, and in February 2021 we ran a snowmobile-assisted alpine ski day.

But something has been missing…

The Plan

Friends of Quarry Road, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been laying the groundwork for still bigger improvements in the future, building toward the goals first laid out in the 2018 Quarry Road Master Plan.

Along with a great team of professionals, Friends volunteers are planning for a full reopening of the historic downhill ski area — including a new lift, a permanent base lodge / outdoor center, and other improvements to the base area in the next 3-5 years.

When completed, the area will serve as a year-round hub for both downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as mountain biking, trail running, and other outdoor activities.

The challenge

Building this back-to-the-future ski area would not be possible without a passionate community of backers. If you are an alpine or telemark skier, a snowboarder, or just someone who wants to help make outdoor recreation affordable and accessible for the greater Waterville community, we need your help.

To date we have raised over $50,000 for bringing lift-severed skiing back to Waterville thanks to a challenge gift from the Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation, lead donors Golden Pond Wealth Management and Ned and Erica Ervin, and a variety of gifts both large and small.

2024 will be the third year of operations for the rope tow. This winter and in the future, we are pursuing projects to add lights for night skiing, expand snowmaking capabilities, and extend the rope tow to the top of the hill.

We need your help to make this project a reality for the Waterville community. Every little bit helps.

If you’d prefer to donate by check, please send to:

Friends of Quarry Road
PO Box 2032
Waterville, ME 04903-2032

Please specify “Alpine Challenge” on your check.

Friends of Quarry Road is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Your donation is tax-deductible.

Other Ways to Help

First and foremost, please tell your friends about this project. Share a link to this page. Help spread the word. This is truly a community effort.

We will also need volunteers for roles in snowmaking, ski instruction, ski patrol, and other operational roles. If you are interested in helping out, please email us with your interest at friends@quarryroad.org or fill out our rope tow volunteer form.

If you’re unable to donate or volunteer at this time, but would like to keep up with our progress, please join our mailing list.

Thank you for your Support

Thanks for getting involved and spreading the word. Together, we will bring lift-served skiing back to Waterville.