In 1932, Charles Howes and some friends attended the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Inspired by what they saw there, the friends returned to Stamford, Connecticut, and started skiing the local hills there. One spot in particular became a favorite. Just off Long Ridge Road, the run wasn’t part of a resort and didn’t have an official name, but the locals called it the River Hills.

After a few years of skiing around town, Charles and his friends decided their informal club was ready for the big leagues leagues and incorporated their organization as the River Hills Ski Club. In time the gang (and their appetite for skiing) grew larger and they started sponsoring trips further afield, including to central Vermont. Two favorite mountains emerged in Killington and Pico, near Rutland, VT. Initially the club would rent accomodations near the mountains, but as their numbers grew doing so became increasingly onerous. The club decided that it would be best served by having a home of its own and so a hunt for a suitable candidate was launched. Several winters went by and, still, finding a suitable base proved elusive. At that point a number of members, led by Walt Elliot, decided enough was enough and resolved to buy a suitable plot of land and build one themselves. (Fun Fact: Walt Elliot & other River Hillers were the founders of Glen Ellen Ski Area – now known as Sugerbush North.)

The lodge built by Walt and company served the club well for many years, but as the membership grew yet larger, it was eventually determined that the lodge would need to be expanded. From 1973 to 1976 a major expansion and renovation was undertaken, almost entirely by the hands of River Hillers. Upon the project’s completion the lodge came to occupy its current footprint. Numerous improvements have been made to lodge since then, including up through the 21st century (yes, we have WiFi).

All throughout, River Hillers have skied, hiked, ate, laughed, and partied together. The club may have come a far way from the hills of Stamford, but the spirit of Charles and his friends has been preserved through subsequent iterations and generations of River Hillers. If you’d like to join us in that legacy, come step into your bindings, point ’em downhill, and ski all them hills with us.