Industry News
One of the most historically significant properties in American skiing is now for sale. Gilbert’s Hill in Woodstock, Vermont, recognized as the birthplace of lift-served skiing in the United States, has hit the market for $2,395,000, according to a recent report by Dwell.
Located at 1362 Barnard Road, roughly two miles north of Woodstock Village, the 112-acre conserved property is where the first rope tow in America was installed in 1934. That simple mechanical lift changed winter sports forever, making uphill travel easier and launching the era of lift-served alpine skiing.
As reported by Dwell, the property includes more than 13,000 square feet of buildings across five structures. At its center sits a circa-1855 Greek Revival brick farmhouse featuring six bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two half-baths. A mid-19th-century clapboard addition houses the kitchen and garage. The surrounding historic buildings include a 1934 cottage guesthouse, a carriage barn, a dairy barn, and an original milk house with an attic loft.
Many of the buildings underwent a substantial renovation in 2020 that included structural restoration, updated utilities, and refinished interiors, blending preservation with modern livability. The land itself is conserved by the Vermont Land Trust, ensuring the open pastures and rolling terrain, including the original ski hill, remain protected.
The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, further cementing its role in ski history. In addition to its alpine legacy, the current owners have introduced a 700-vine vineyard that produces both wine and verjus, adding a new layer to the estate’s agrarian identity. The listing is held by Christopher Lang of Bravynia.
While today’s ski industry revolves around high-speed lifts and mega-resorts, Gilbert’s Hill represents the humble mechanical beginning of it all—a rope tow stretching uphill in rural Vermont that sparked a national movement. Now, nearly a century later, that same hill is waiting for its next steward.
