History

Over the past 50 years Sunday River has grown from a small local ski hill to a world class winter resort, and this season we're celebrating the resort's history as well as its bright future. Below you'll find a timeline covering key points on Sunday River's journey.

1947	A T-bar is erected on a small hill on Vernon Street in Bethel which would be the inspiration to build a bigger and better ski area.
1958	A small group climbs Locke Mountain and determines where the first lift and trails will be built. Sunday River Skiway Corporation is incorporated with 25,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $10 per share.
1959	December 19, 1959 marks the first opening day for Sunday River Skiway.
1961	A second T-bar is installed and new trails including Upper Cascades, Upper Sunday Punch and Lazy River are added.
1963	A beginner area called Mixing Bowl is added, which becomes an instant hit with new skiers.
1965	The Viking Village residential area is established. The first lot sells for $300.
1968	Sunday River opens for the season with ten trails, three T-bars and nearly three feet of snow. Mount Washington reports nearly 500 inches of snow by spring and cars have bumper stickers proclaiming, “We survived the winter of 69.”
1970	Sunday River becomes the first resort in Maine with a snowmaking system.
1971	A new 5,100-foot double chairlift is installed on Barker Mountain and Three Mile Trail is added. Adult lift ticket are $7 weekend, $6 midweek.
1972	The Shelburne Company, owner of Killington, purchases a controlling interest in Sunday River. A 23-year-old graduate of Killington’s management training program is sent over as assistant manager. Following the 72-73 season, Les Otten becomes general manager for Sunday River.
1974	The Ecstasy trail is added and the Barker lift line is renamed Agony, playing on the popular movie that year, “The Agony and the Ecstasy”.
1976	Sunday River hosts the NCAA Championships and the Canadian American Intercollegiate Alpine Series.
1978	Construction for South Ridge Base Lodge begins. Mixing Bowl is extended down to the new base along with snowmaking. A platter lift is installed next to T-1 for additional uphill capacity.
1980	Shelburne Corporation sells Sunday River to Les Otten and loans him the money to make the purchase.
1982	Maine Handicapped Skiing is established at Sunday River.
1983	Skier visits hit 65,000. The Locke Mountain Triple is installed over the summer.
1985	The North Peak Triple and Fall Line Double are installed, adding approximately 40 acres of trail are added.
1988	White Heat is added as the steepest longest widest trail in the East.
1990	The mid-mountain Peak Lodge is built on North Peak and 10 acres of new trails, a race arena and additional snowmaking capacity are added.
1991	Aurora Peak is added with a new quad chair and trails. The Perfect Turn ski school is created.
1992	The slopeside Grand Summit Resort Hotel and Conference Center opens.
1993	The Sunday River Silver Bullet is introduced as the only ski train in the east.
1994	Jordan Bowl opens with a new high speed quad serving 100 acres of new terrain.
1995	Oz is opened as Sunday River’s eighth peak with a fixed grip quad serving 40 acres of new terrain.
1996	The Gould Academy training and competition center is opened.
1997	The Perfect Turn Express replaces the North Peak Triple and five new trails are added. The Jordan Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center opens.
2000	The resort opens with 127 trails including a new double diamond glade, in-ground halfpipe and expanded tubing park. Sunday River hosts its first major international event, a Freestyle World Cup.
2001	Sunday River hosts a Freestyle World Cup.
2004	The Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Sunday River Golf Club opens.
2008	Simon Dumont breaks the Guinness Book of World Records at Sunday River jumping 35.5 feet out of a quarter pipe. Sunday River joins the Boyne Resorts family.
2009	The only Chondola in the Northeast and 12-hour skiing are added as part of a $14 million investment in the resort. Sunday River hosts a Snowboarding World Cup and NCAA Nationals.