This was a small ski area located in Fort Fairfield Maine, that first operated in the late 1970's. There was a T-bar and 2 trails. White Bunny's heyday was during the 1960's until the mid 1970's. In 1976, Wendell Pierce, who had bought Burnt Meadow Mountain and currently runs Mars Hill, purchased the area. Unfortunately, it closed around 1979.
Many people living in the area of Fort Fairfield fondly remember this ski area. The best way to describe this area is from the recollections of two skiers who enjoyed skiing at Fort Fairfield. Here are three of them:
Kevin
Lynch:
I am
a former resident of Fort Fairfield, Maine and was an avid skier of White
Bunny or the ski toe which we used to call it for short. The hill was called
Higgin's Hill on Currier Road in Fort Fairfield about three miles out of
town. It featured a T-Bar for lift to the top and had night skiing. It
sticks in my mind so well because as a young boy starting in 1965 (six
years old-self taught) I learned to ski there, along with many of my friends.
The town of Fort Fairfield subsidized the area so youths could learn to
ski and enjoy it for recreation. When I and a friend started out, it was
ten dollars for a season ticket pass night or day skiing. Back then we
had tons of natural snow and plenty of powder. We just had to pack the
snow down.
There was a small ski hut at the bottom of the hill which we used to warm up and use the snack bar which today couldn't compare to the larger ski areas, but was certainly nice for a small town youth to enjoy. The hill was about 800 feet high with a northeast facing slope. 1978 or 79 were probably the last years the town ever operated the area because insurance rates were sky rocketing with all ski areas and they couldn't afford to subsidize with that high rate of liability. The town recreation budget was where the funding came from. We had lace boots and harnesses back then which many ski buffs today don't even know about.
White Bunny operated many years and put many smiles on the faces of youth in the area. My entire family skied and enjoyed that slope. I have about twenty minutes of movie tape which I put on videotape because some of our family pictures were taken there by my father. White Bunny is lost, but not forgotten to me! Only wish the kids of today could have what we had at that time. Average temperature during those months was about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The T bar is still there today, but has aged in time and the trees are growing up around it ,but for those of us who remember it is still there.
Barry
Gill:
I personally
skied here between 1966 and 1974. I was first introduced to skiing here
by Himi Towle. I later became a member and captain of the Fort Fairfield
High School ski team in 1973 and 1974. Our team was the 1974
State of Maine Ski Champions for class D. Our Coach was "Chub" Clark
and Dallas McCrea both currently of Fort Fairfield. I as well
as all members of the ski team were both tow patrol and ski patrol of the
slope. If I remember correctly the lift ticket prices were in the
neighborhood of 75 cents per day or night. The town operated the
ski area and Wayne Thibeau was the president for that period and the T-Bar
was operated by a person named Augie who was employed by Merle Johnston
a local farmer who also was a state representative during this time.
I will never forget the White Bunny Ski Slope and the background that it
provided me today.
I believe the vertical drop was close to 500 feet. The only trails that existed while I was there was the main slope, simply straight down the hill with about two rises and a trail which went down the left side of the hill when facing up the slope which was only about 15 feet wide through the trees and was fairly flat as far as the grade is concerned.
Jenny
Hunt: My name is Jenny Sage Hunt. I
grew up in Fort Fairfield, Mane and learned how to ski at the White
Bunny. I was born in 1954, so
started
skiing there when I was 6 or 7, in 1960-61 (I really can't remember).
I remember that they had a rope tow that tore your gloves and ski parka
to pieces.
When my brother Tom Sage, and I started to ski the people in charge thought
we were too young to take the tow, so he and I walked to
the
top (of a very small hill). After that we were allowed to take the
lift, which really wasn't that difficult (although it made skiing even
more
expensive
replacing ski clothing at least once during the season.) I also remember
skiing at night - that was a cold experience, but they had a
wood
burning stove in the 'hut', so we spent a lot of time indoors that
night - especially if certain boys showed up to ski, and they were inside,
too
(if
you get my drift). I was also in a winter carnival in 1962 (8 years
old) ski race that I won - there were only 3 racers.
But the minister of our
church
(the United Parish Church), )(which was putting on the carnival) had a
heart-attack during the events and no one ever recognized my
achievement
(OBVIOUSLY, given the situation - but I will always remember my "big" achievement).
Here's a few listings from various guidebooks.
Late
1940's
(First
Tracks)
White Bunny opens
with a rope tow
1966
(America's
Ski Book)
300 foot vertical
drop
T-bar lift
1969
(Eastern
Ski Map)
T-bar lift, 2 trails
(nov and int)
1971
(Maine
Skiing Guide)
1750 foot T-bar, 2
trails, open slopes
Night skiing Tues,
Wed, Fri, Sat.
Ski school, warming
hut with snack bar
Ski patrol
1979
(Eastern
Ski Map)
T-bar, 2 trails (nov
and int)