Fred AndersonTow

Fred Anderson Tow

????'s to ????'s

Name of Ski Area:	Fred Anderson Tow
Location:	Homer, on the homestead of Fred Anderson, just west of the present day Homer High School
Type of Area:	Ski Hill
Dates of Operation:	????'s to ????'s ? (still researching)
Who Built It?:	Fred Anderson
Base/Top/ Vertical Drop:	Base: ~200' / Top: ~300' / Vert: ~100'
Lifts:	1 Small Rope Tow
Facilities:
Miscellaneous:	There have been two reports of how this rope tow was powered. One was that it was operated by a small electric motor. But more recently (in 2019), it was reported that this tow was powered by an old truck chassis (see pictures and email text below).
Sources of Information:	Fred Anderson (deceased); Ginny Espenshade
Photos:	Does anyone have pictures of skiing on Fred Anderson's homestead (or current pictures of the vicinity) that they would like to contribute to ALSAP ?

~ PHOTOS ~

Photos of rope tow power plant submitted on March 25, 2019 by current property owner Ginny Espenshade.

~ MAP & AERIAL VIEWS ~

This topo map shows the Fred Anderson Tow location in Homer.

(click on this map to expand it)

A 1996 aerial view of Homer shows the location of where the Fred Anderson Tow used to exist.

(click on view to expand it)

A zoomed-in view shows in more detail where this rope tow was located. The Homer High School is the building to the right of the rope tow indication.

(click on view to expand it)

Research Correspondence

25 March 2019 Ginny Espenshade email:

In 2003 my family bought the home and property that was previously owned by Joel Moss and located between the current Homer High School to the east and home of the late Margaret Anderson to the west. Attached are photos of a tractor tow rope that is still located on our property. We understand from Margaret's children Maren Bennett and Rick Anderson that their Dad Fred set up the towing device for a ski hill that is now overgrown with alders and spruce trees. We love having this historical relic among our trees, but if there is a better home for it please let us know. I hope this helps your research. There is also a rich narrative of Margaret's life in her Homer News obituary, August of 2017.

Ginny Espenshade
Paul Gavenus
Homer, AK

Kachemak Ski Club History, 1958-1996 by R.H. Moss

"Jake" John H. McLay Skiing Recollections

Links to Homer Lost Ski Areas:

Fred Anderson Rope Tow

Homer Elementary School Practice Hill

Homer First Rope Tow

Homer Second Rope Tow

Ohlson Mountain Air Force Rope Tow

Svedland - McLay Hill

Do you have further information, stories or pictures that you would like to contribute about this ski area?