Sugar Mountain history

In 1961, Doctor Brigham started the process of acquiring property on Beech Mountain.

Although the first Southern ski area was Cataloochee, development in earnest began in 1965 with the opening of Bryce Mountain, VA. For the next five years, the development of new ski areas proceeded at a rapid pace.

At the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France, all watched Jean- Claude Killy win three gold medals on his Dynamic VR- 17 skis.

Actual construction of the resort started in early 1969 with the ski slopes opening for the first time on December 19, 1969.

By 1972, lots were developed in Western Highlands, Mushroom Park and Grouse Forest.

By 1973, construction of the Sugar Hollow Golf Course and the Glen condominiums had begun.

Play on the golf course began in Spring of 1974.

In the Spring of 1975, Roger Hard, who had guided Beech Mountain through its bankruptcy, became Sugar’s new President.

In March 1976, Atlanta developer Earl Worsham bought controlling interest in the Company.

Less than two years later in 1981, US Capital Corporation announced the construction of Sugar Top Resort at the Peak of Little Sugar Mountain.

A referendum was held among the registered voters within the proposed Village municipal limits and on August 27, 1985, the Village of Sugar Mountain officially became a municipality.

In 1989, the Village was granted ABC privileges by the North Carolina State Legislature.