| Wildcat Mountain Ski Area | |
| Location: | Pinkham's Grant, New Hampshire |
| Nearest City: | Jackson, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates: | 44.2631°N -71.2383°W |
| Status: | Operating |
| Owner: | Vail Resorts |
| Number Trails: | 49 25% Beginner 45% Intermediate 30% Expert |
| Lift Capacity: | 6,700 skiers/hour |
| Snowfall: | 200 in (5.1 m) |
| Snowmaking: | Yes, 90% |
| Terrainparks: | No |
Wildcat Mountain Ski Area is a ski area located on Wildcat Mountain near Jackson, New Hampshire, United States, in the Mount Washington Valley. Its vertical drop of 2112feet is the second largest in New Hampshire and the ninth largest in New England.
Wildcat is one of the best-known alpine skiing resorts in New England, with lifts from the base on NH 16 in Pinkham Notch up to the summit ridge. The area has 49 trails on, including the 2.75miles Polecat Trail — the longest ski trail in New Hampshire.[1]
The Wildcat Valley Trail, an ungroomed cross-country ski trail, leads from the summit down to the town of Jackson, New Hampshire as part of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation trail network, dropping in .[2]
Wildcat is home to one of the oldest ski-racing trails in the United States.[3] The original trail was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[4]
Wildcat's 1950feet base elevation and proximity to Mount Washington produces an annual natural snowfall of over . As a result, the ski and snowboard season generally lasts from mid-November through early May.
In recent years, Wildcat has worked to improve its summer and fall activities. In addition to replacing the aging gondola lift with a new high-speed chairlift (which is converted to a gondola during the summer and fall), the area has added a zip line, served by a triple chairlift.[5]
The resort was acquired in 1986 by Pat Franchi and family. In October 2010, they signed a deal to sell the ski area to Peak Resorts subject to approval by the U.S. Forest Service which owns the underlying land.[4] The new operators decided to not honor lifetime passes sold under previous ownership, resulting in possible legal action.[6]
In 2019, Wildcat and its sister resort, Attitash (in the town of Bartlett), were purchased by Vail Resorts.[7] Tickets may be used at both mountains regardless of where they are purchased. The Epic Pass can be used at these mountains, and all other ski areas operated by Vail Resorts.
Wildcat currently has four operating chairlifts,[8] with one detachable quad.
| Name | Type | Builder | Year Built | Vertical | Length | Ride Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Express | High-Speed Quad | 1997 | 2041 | 6616 | 6 | Most vertical drop from one single lift in New England. | |
| Tomcat | Triple | 1987 | 1390 | 4430 | 9.8 | ||
| Bobcat | 1982 | 762 | 2772 | 6.4 | Used for ski racing and training. | ||
| Snowcat | 1974 | 237 | 1444 | 4.1 | Main lift for the beginner area, and is the oldest lift on the mountain. | ||
Wildcat Mountain was the first ski area in North America to have a gondola lift, which opened on January 25, 1958. It was the first of many aerial lifts installed by Carlevaro-Savio in New England, and was the first lift constructed by the company in the United States.[9] The gondola was known for its unique and colorful "cocoon" design, with each cabin holding two passengers each. Upon its decommission in 1998, the lift line was dismantled and the summit terminal was torn down in the following years after. The gondola cabins were saved and sold off, with many scattered across the state and throughout the east coast. The lift has since been replaced with a Doppelmayr high-speed chairlift known as the "Wildcat Express". Separate 4-person gondola cabins are used for summer scenic operations, however since Vail's acquisition of the mountain in 2019 the cabins have not been used.[10]