History of Stowe, Vermont | Green Mountain Inn

Stowe was chartered as a town in 1763, although the first settlers did not arrive until 30 years later in 1793. By 1800, most of the land was sold and settled and the population had grown to 316. Today, Stowe is the largest town in land area in the state with over 50,000 acres and a permanent population of over 3,000. Vermont’s highest peak, Mt. Mansfield, and some of the finest agricultural and woodland in the state are located within this land area.

Agriculture and lumber were the essential industries of the town in Stowe’s early years. At one time, over 75% of the land in Stowe and most of Vermont was open land that had been cleared for lumbering and agriculture - primarily sheep farming. As many as 8,000 sheep grazed the hills and valleys of Stowe in those days.

Stowe’s farming fortunes fluctuated with the rest of New England agriculture. Eventually, most of Vermont shifted from sheep to dairy farms with more than 100 farms located in Stowe alone. Only nine of these operating farms exist today. Over the years, this change allowed 75% of the cleared land to reforest with only 25% remaining as cleared land.

Unlike most of Vermont, Stowe’s history does not center exclusively around farming. By the mid-1800’s, Stowe had developed into a famous summer resort due to its good transportation connections and spectacular mountain scenery.

The Toll Road to the top of Mt. Mansfield was completed by 1870, the Summit House on the top of Mt. Mansfield was finished just as the Civil War broke out and the stately 300 room Mansfield House occupied most of the present village. Known as the "Big Hotel", the Mansfield House burned to the ground in 1889.

A large stable housing over 100 horses, tack, carriages and stable hands, was located behind the "Big Hotel" at the present site of the Green Mountain Inn’s Annex wing. This barn was eventually torn down as a fire hazard in 1953, and several of the original beams were used in constructing The Whip Bar.

The Depot Building, located next to the Green Mountain Inn, was built in 1897 as a depot for the Mt. Mansfield Electric Railway. Running the 11 miles between Waterbury and Stowe, this train carried both passengers and freight until 1932. The Depot Building is now connected to the Inn by bridge, housing 16 guest rooms and a variety of shops on the lower levels.

Summer tourism remained an important part of Stowe’s economic life until World War I, before eventually declining. A new era was then born in Stowe. In 1913, three resident Swedish families had taken to traveling around town on long, narrow, wooden boards with upturned ends. The local citizenry was curious about this new means of transportation. A few townspeople became hooked on this strange new sport and skiing found a home in Stowe. This turning point was perhaps the beginning of Stowe’s real destiny.

In 1921, Stowe held its first Winter Carnival with ski jumping, skating, and a variety of fun-filled events. However, downhill skiing never truly developed in Stowe until after the Great Depression when the Civilian Conservation Corps established camps and began clearing ski trails on Mt. Mansfield. The first, constructed in 1933, was the Bruce Trail that lead from the present site of the Octagon to Ranch Camp. This trail is now incorporated into the Mt. Mansfield Ski Touring trail system. That same year Austrian legend Sepp Ruschp came to America to create the now-legendary Stowe Ski School. In 1934, the next and perhaps most famous ski trail was cut - the Nose Dive. In the early days, skiers hiked the 2.5 miles to the summit. In 1937 Stowe hosted the first Eastern Downhill Championships. Eventually, there were rope tows and the construction of the single chair in 1940. The chair operated until 1986 when it was replaced by a high speed detachable quad.

Skiing and the town of Stowe expanded steadily over the years as interest in the sport grew. In the process, Stowe established its reputation as one of the premier ski resorts in the world. Today, Stowe offers guests an outstanding variety of year round recreational activities, attractions and special events.