Big Boulder - Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania - ski resort in the Pocono Mountains

Located in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, Big Boulder is a ski resort that has roots in the area's mining industry. This area was originally owned by Josiah White and Erkine Hazzard, who built a railroad to transport their company's goods and employees into and out of the mountains. In the 1940s, they decided to build the Split Rock Club on the shores of the lake to be a company retreat, and when the lodge was sold in 1949, it was named Big Boulder Ski Area. This was the first commercial ski slop in the state, and was a pioneer location for snowmaking machines in the 1950s.

The Big Boulder ski resort is often called Jack Frost and Big Boulder, as the Jack Front ski slopes were built nearby to provide a companion resort area. At Big Boulder, there are two very easy slopes, called Lower Sitxmark and Little Boulder. There are also bunny slopes and ski school slopes. Intermediate slopes at this area include Edelweiss Triple, Tannenbaum, Merry Widow I, Merry Widow II, Black Forest, and Big Boulder. There are also three black diamond slopes - Upper Sitzmark, Mittle-Weg, and Draufganger, as well as a number of park areas, such as Snowdrift, Boulder Park, The Plaza, Central Park, Love Park, Tannenbaum, and Freedom Park. The lodge is found at the bottom of the hill and has snow tubing available for those who aren't interested in skiing and snowboarding.

For guests who don't know how to ski or snowboard, there are a number of lessons, clinics, and educational programs available. For those over the age of nine, the lodge has adult lessons, as well as one-on-one private lessons with certified instructors. In addition, there is the Snowmonsters class, for children aged 3 - 10. Every weekend during the winter season, guests can also head to the nearby Jack Frost lodge for adaptive lessons for guests with disabilities. Every year, visitors can attend Tuesday's Ladies Clinics, Ski for a Cure with proceeds going to the Susan G. Kormen for the Cure (a fundraiser for Breast Cancer research), and Senior Day for older skiers who want to get on the slopes.

The closest accommodations to the Big Boulder ski resort are the rooms at The Resort at Split Rock, which is directly in Lack Harmony. There are also vacation rental homes located in the resort area for guests who want a more high-end experience. In addition, there are a number of lower-budget places to stay in the area, including Pocono Inn & Resort, Ecolodge, Blakeslee Inn, Sullivan Trail Motel, and Harmony Lake Shore Inn.

The prices at Big Boulder depend whether you visit the slopes on a weekend or mid-week. Adult snow passes to the slopes, which also include access to Jack Frost, are available at $42 to $48, while youth snow passes and senior snow passes cost $32 to $38. There's also the night snow pass, which is good from 3:00 PM to closing time, for $28 to $30, and equipment rental costs $24 to $32, depending on what guests want to rent. In addition, guests can purchase the Discovery All Area Package, which includes an adult snow pass, rental, and free lesson, all for $75 to $85, and private lessons can be added to any pass for just $75. To learn more about the hours of operation or for current trail reports, guests can call 570-443-8425.