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Hilltop Youth Rope Tow

1962 to 1967
Name of Ski Area: Hilltop Youth Rope Tow
Location: Anchorage, east of the Old Seward Highway northeast of the intersection of Lake Otis Drive and O'Malley Road, at the site of the present ball fields
Type of Area: Ski Hill
Dates of Operation: 1962 to 1967
Who Built It?: Hilltop Youth Inc.
Elevation:

~200'

Lifts: 1 rope tow
Facilities:
Miscellaneous: In the 1950's a non profit corporation called Hilltop Youth, Inc. was established.  The purpose of the corporation was to provide community services that had not reached the area in any other form.  The primary focus of the corporation was to provide recreation and educational opportunities.

One of Hilltop's first ventures was alpine skiing.  In 1962 a rope tow powered by a surplus military troop carrier motor was installed in a gravel pit east of the Old Seward Highway, at the end (at the time) of Abbot Road.  This rope tow was acquired from the Arctic Valley (Military) Ski Area.  
Sources of Information:

Hilltop Youth, Inc., "Proposed Multi-Use Sports Recreation Center", February 1994, Part 2 - Hilltop Ski Area History; Jim Mahaffey; Jim Dalzell; John Woodbury
Photos: Does anyone have pictures of skiing at the Hilltop Youth Rope Tow that they would like to contribute to ALSAP ?

~  AERIAL VIEWS  ~

This 2002 aerial view shows the former location of the Hilltop Youth Rope Tow in Anchorage.

(click on view to expand it)

 

This zoomed in aerial view shows the general location of where the the Hilltop Youth Rope Tow was located. 

(click on this view to expand it)

 

 

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

[Jim Dalzell - 03 February 2009 email] 
 

FIRST, CONGRATS ON A GREAT SITE!
THERE ARE SEVERAL 'HILLTOP TERMITE' RACING CLUB MEMBERS STILL IN TOWN.
I PERSONALLY REMEMBER RIDING IN THE BACK OF THE SWAMP BUGGY AS WE TOWED, ON WOOD SKIDS, THE ORIGINAL ROPE TOW FROM WHAT IS NOW THE BALL FIELD AT LAKE OTIS AND O'MALLEY, UP AND OVER TO IT'S NEW PERCH AT ABBOTT/HILLSIDE.  FOR A DOLLAR YOU GOT A RAFFLE TICKET STAPLED TO THE HEM OF YOUR COAT AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.    PICTURES AND STORIES TO FOLLOW IF INTERESTED. GREAT MEMORIES.  THX-JD

[John Woodbury - 03 February 2009 email excerpt] 
 

Jim: Maybe Gordy or Ozzie has some shots of the infamous swamp buggy dragging the tow shack up the road? That was one crazy ride, eh? Or perhaps Roger Head?