Groton Hill and Country Club

History
Groton Country Club was a typical golf course ski area that existed in the mid 1940's through the 1950's. It offered skiing on a 600' wide slope served by two parallel rope tows. George Putnam describes the ski area below:

"The Country Club had two rope tows on a broad, gentle slope. I wish I had more information on it, but I just remember that it was fun skiing there in a day when rope tows were the standard at many areas.

There was a certain pride in being able to stay on those things to the top of the hill!"

Here's a Terraserver picture of the golf course, showing where the ski area was located.

George Putnam's picture of the slope, looking towards Lawrence Academy. Circa 1950.

The bottom of the ski area in 1950, with one tow in the middle and one on the far right.

Here's a more distant view of Groton Hill and Country Club from Lawrence Academy in 1998. You can just barely make out the trails above the sign.

Bruce White: Groton Country club is/was an odd beast. Prior to the Groton Country Club was the Cross Country Club. This was a riding club - of the hunt or steeplechase variety. Remains of their trails were in existence until the late 70's early 80's. By the way, across the street from Johnson's and (You guessed it) Weiwal's rope tow. Sometime before I was born the Country club was started and 9 holes built over the old riding trails. The ski hill was two sided. One shallow the other steep. More on this later. Remember skiing there as a kid ('65). Lawrence (Academy) ski team still used it to practice, but there were no tows. One of the teacher's (Jack Burkess -sp?) was friend's with my folks. His daughter Marty (who was doing some racing, think with LA) gave me some basic lessons there when I was 5. In the mid to late 70's it was still referred to as the "LA ski hill." I was on the cross country (running) team. Our coach's favorite hill work out was run from the high school to the hill, then run up the steep side, and down the shallow side (where the tows had been) and back up. 10 times. Then run back to the high school. Steep side was about 40-50 degrees.

Year	Lifts	Trails	Other Info	Source
1947-1948	2 600' parallel rope tows	800' slope, 600' wide, novice and intermediate	Warming hut, canteen, parking, 150-200' drop, NW Exposure	Where to Ski in New England
1949	Same as above	Open slopes for novices and intermediates	Season: Christmas - Mar 1, Exposure: north Operated by: Dana C. Sherlaw Rates: $1.50/day Coffee available at Club House, equipment rented	Where to Ski
1951	Same as above	Same as above	Vertical drop 150-200', exposure NW, ample parking	MA Ski Guide