Connecticut’s first ski resort celebrates nearly 80 seasons on the slopes

CORNWALL, Conn. (WFSB) - As America celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026, Connecticut’s skiing history runs deep at Mohawk Mountain, where nearly eight decades of winter sports have carved out a legacy.

The Cornwall ski resort holds the distinction of being Connecticut’s first, but its historical significance extends far beyond state lines. Mohawk Mountain is where snowmaking equipment used today around the world was perfected, earning founder Walter Schoenknecht a place in the National Ski Hall of Fame.

“My dad loved skiing, and he loved snow, and he thought everybody should come out and do it,” said Carol Lugar, Schoenknecht’s daughter. “And he had an opportunity after the war, and after marrying my mom and all, to give it a try. And this was what he put together.”

Schoenknecht opened the resort after World War II, driven by his passion for the sport and belief that everyone should experience winter recreation. His work on snowmaking technology put Mohawk Mountain on the map as an innovator in the ski industry.

“That’s kind of a loose term, I think,” Lugar said about the invention claim. “There were a lot of people working on stuff, and there were a lot of things going on, but it happened here—and we do take it as a first.”

The snowmaking process developed at Mohawk Mountain remains fundamentally unchanged — a combination of air, water and the right weather conditions. General Manager Dan Hedden, who has worked his way up through the ranks over 16 seasons, maintains the resort’s commitment to quality.

“I think we hold ourselves to a pretty high standard,” Hedden said. “So our expectations of what the mountain should be, and the conditions and all that. That’s kind of the Mohawk standard.”

Hedden started as a greeter and moved through mountain operations, developing expertise in snowmaking along the way. He’s being prepared to run the resort one day, continuing the tradition of hands-on leadership.

“Our snowmakers are doing quality control,” Hedden said. “So we’re all skiers, for the most part. And we know what we would like to ski. So we try to deliver that to the folks who come skiing with us.”

The ski business faces challenges in Connecticut, where seasons can be short and weather unpredictable. But after nearly 80 seasons, Mohawk Mountain has proven its staying power.

“My dad, going back to my dad, he did a lot with areas. He did a lot with inventing things, if you will,” Lugar said. “But his bottom line was, go out and have fun. Skiing’s about fun. Everybody should have that fun in the winter.”

Schoenknecht was also involved in opening Mount Snow in Vermont. During good years, Mohawk Mountain aims to open by the end of November and operate through early April.