Upon experiencing the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid in 1932, William Merk, Founder of HoliMont, was inspired to pursue his passion for skiing in the Ellicottville, NY area. After skiing for years with the Ellicottville Ski Club on Fish Hill and throughout the Greer and Holiday Valley areas, he decided to start a private ski club. In 1961, Merk successfully initiated options to purchase various land parcels along Route 242, with the support of local investors. The name HoliMont, coined by the investors, was derived from the phrase "Holiday Mountain." The first trail was cut in 1961 with seven more to follow. Skiers were towed up the steep hill on a fashioned sled behind a Tucker Sno-Cat.In the '70s and '80s, HoliMont's popularity expanded and additional terrain and chairlifts were added. In 1995, the Greer Hill chair was added in the original location of the Greer Hill Rope Tow of earlier times.With every improvement HoliMont makes to its incomparable skiing experience, from its revolutionary snowmaking technology to the upcoming Canfield Development Project, William Merk's vision of a top-flight, family-friendly private ski area is realized.See you on the slopes!