About

Terry Peak Ski Area traces its roots back to 1938, when the Bald Mountain Ski Club installed a rope tow on Stewart Slope, marking the beginning of organized skiing on the mountain. In those early days, club members groomed the slope manually by skiing back and forth to pack the snow. During this period, Bertha Stewart generously donated the land that became known as Stewart Slope, helping to lay the foundation for today’s ski area.

With the arrival of World War II, many founding members left to serve, including Ed Keene, who joined the 10th Mountain Division. After returning home, he helped launch what would become Black Hills Chairlift Company, the organization behind modern-day Terry Peak.

In 1952, Ed Keene, Ken Keller, Ken Stormo, John Finola, Jack Morcum, and Richard Morcom formally established the Black Hills Chairlift Company. The original Ringer Chairlift was installed on Kussy and initially operated only as a summer scenic ride. By 1954, winter ski operations officially began.

Over the following decades, the mountain steadily expanded. The original Ringer Chairlift was replaced in 1967 by the Blue Chairlift (#1), followed by the Empress Chairlift (#2) in 1975 and the Surprise Chairlift (#3) in 1978. In 1985, two surface Poma lifts on Stewart Slope were replaced by the Stewart Chairlift (#4), and in 1986, a second Blue Chairlift (#5) was added to meet growing demand. By 1996, the Beginner Chairlift was installed to better serve ski school programs and new skiers.

Snowmaking technology became essential in the 1970s due to variable Black Hills winters. In 2002, the resort expanded its water resources by acquiring wells and holding ponds through the Golden Reward mine reclamation, providing over 14 million gallons of storage capacity. Today, snowmaking covers approximately 85% of the mountain, supported by a modern high-capacity system.

The base area also evolved significantly. The original lodge, K-2 Bar, and ski school facilities were replaced in 1988 by the Stewart Day Lodge, which later received a major expansion and sun deck addition in 2001.

A major modernization phase began in 1999, introducing high-speed detachable lifts. The Kussy Express replaced the Blue Chairlifts, followed by the Surprise Express in 2002, dramatically improving uphill capacity and guest experience.

Terrain development continued into the early 2000s with the addition of a half-pipe, the establishment of the Terrain Park on Snowstorm, and the expansion of glades and intermediate-to-expert terrain, including North Side Glades, Ben Hur Glades, Maringo, Missing Link, and Lower Black Moon.

In 2013, a major investment in lift infrastructure replaced the #2 chairlift with a high-speed quad detachable lift and improved summit access through terrain shaping. More recently, a significant 2024 investment modernized the snowmaking system with new piping, hydrants, pumps, and snow guns, greatly increasing efficiency and reliability.

Today, Terry Peak Ski Area stands as South Dakota’s largest ski area, offering more than 25 trails across roughly 600 acres of skiable terrain. With multiple high-speed lifts, a triple chairlift, a snow carpet, and extensive snowmaking coverage, it remains a leading destination for winter recreation in the region and a long-standing hub for skiing and snowboarding in the Black Hills.