Pico's History
In the beginning...
Pico Mountain is as rich in history as it is in ski and snowboard racing and terrain. One of Vermont's first mountain resorts, Pico opened on Thanksgiving Day, 1937 with a 1,200' tow powered by an engine from an old Hudson automobile. The slope was the 2.5-mile-long Sunset Schuss trail, New England's widest ski trail at the time with an average width of 65 feet.
Pico's first ski race was held in January 1938, and over the following decades the mountain has produced its share of downhill legends. Olympic gold medal winners Andrea Mead Lawrence, Suzy Chaffee, Rebel Ryan and Megan and Kristy Brown were all based here. Pico continues to serve as training ground for up-and-coming racers.
Lift improvements, wartime closures, new trail cuts and several changes of ownership followed in the 72 seasons of this New England skiing legend. Today's big mountain with high-speed lifts and a terrain park has lost none of its classic Vermont charm and, thanks to numerous improvements, including the latest snowmaking technology, will continue to thrive for years to come.
