When Was Hawksnest a Ski Resort?

The original ski resort at Hawksnest dates back to the early 1950s when the area was first developed by Hans and Sallie Gensmer. When they purchased the land in 1951, they had a vision of creating a family-friendly ski resort. Over the years, they improved the slopes and added amenities such as chairlifts, lodges, and restaurants.

By the late 1960s, Hawksnest had become one of North Carolina’s premier ski resorts with seven chairlifts, two terrain parks, a tubing park, and over 25 miles of trails. The resort was known for its beautiful views of Grandfather Mountain and spectacular sunsets over the Appalachian Mountains.

The resort thrived until 1986 when it was sold to a real estate development company who planned to develop it into a residential community. Fortunately, this plan never came to fruition and Hawksnest remained a ski resort until 1995 when it was closed due to financial difficulty.

This marked the end of an era for Hawksnest as a ski resort but not its history as an outdoor recreation area. In recent years, Hawksnest has become one of North Carolina’s premier ziplining destinations with over 20 ziplines spanning more than 3 miles across the resort’s property. The resort also features snow tubing in the winter and many other outdoor activities such as ATV tours throughout the year.

When Was Hawksnest a Ski Resort? Hawksnest was a premier ski resort from 1951 until 1995 when it closed due to financial difficulties.

Since then it has become one of North Carolina’s premier ziplining destinations offering other outdoor activities such as snow tubing and ATV tours throughout the year.

Conclusion: Hawksnest was an iconic family ski-resort from 1951 until 1995 when it closed its doors due to financial difficulties. Today it is still an important outdoor recreation area offering visitors ziplining experiences alongside snow tubing in winter and ATV tours all year round.

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Alex Wright