THE SKI & SPORTS CLUB OF WASHINGTON, DC

90th ANNIVERSARY OF SCWDC

In 1936, the Ski Club of Washington DC was formed by skiers interested in establishing a club of members that would seek skiing options better than some limited local choices like Rock Creek Park and closer than the New England ski resorts.   In time, the SCWDC would build its own ski slope near what is now Canaan Valley Ski Resort in West Virginia.  The ski slope named "Driftland" expanded into a larger project called the Cabin Mountain Ski Area operated for about 10 years, 1951-1961.  

In the D.C area, Skiing did exist. When Washington would receive its small annual allotment of snow, a handful of skiers could be seen on the area golf courses and in Rock Creek Park, performing what could only be considered a combined form of cross-country and downhill, depending on the nature of the terrain. But that was the extent of Washington skiing, and there were no nearby ski resorts.

The winter of 1935-36 proved to be the catalyst that was to lead to the forming of a Washington ski club. Two critical elements came together to create the nucleus: a group of ski enthusiasts and snow — lots of snow.  On January 12, 1936, an ad hoc group gathered at Union Station for the first ski trip of what was to become the Ski Club of Washington, D.C. Twenty skiers boarded the Baltimore and Ohio train to travel to a small Pennsylvania town called Glencoe.

90th Anniversary events are being considered by the President and Board of Directors. 

Bill Johnston, Historian
703-597-6310
email:  bjohnston2@aol.com