Saturday, February 12, 2022

The Pittsburgh Ski Club was founded on December 10, 1937

The resort dates to the mid-1930s, one of the oldest ski areas in the United States, founded by German immigrants Adolph and Helen Dupre. The couple bought 2.5 acres in 1932 and dubbed it Seven Springs Farm, so-named because of the seven springs on the property. 

The “Packard” rope tow was put into operation in 1935 with the assist of a group of people who became the Pittsburgh Ski Club, and helped Adolph Dupre install the first rope tow at “Seven Springs Farm” by obtaining an old Packard 

At one time there was a sign at the loading zone that stated that Seven Springs’ first rope tow was near that spot. The tow was powered by an old Packard. “With the car jacked up on blocks, the rear wheels drove the tow, and the front wheels guided the line.” 

The resort took off, with chairlifts, night skiing and lodging added over the years.

Herman Dupre took over the resort in 1955 after his father’s death, and became a pioneer in snow-making technology, earning dozens of patents and founding HKD Snowmakers.

In 2006, Dupre sold Seven Springs to the Nutting family, who also own the Pittsburgh Pirates and Ogden Newspapers, a chain of mostly small publications, including more than a dozen papers in Ohio.

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