Ski Jump program, trek grounded

Two programs by local historian Dick Perue, one sponsored by the Saratoga Friends of the Library and another sponsored by the Saratoga Museum, have been cancelled. The Friends of the Library program, which was scheduled for Aug. 15, was intended to relate the history of the Barrett Ridge ski jump and Ryan Park Ski Club and would lead into the museum trek, which had been scheduled for Aug. 31.

Due to what Perue described as considerable interest in the two events, the local historian related a portion of the history in a press release to the Saratoga Sun. Perue also hopes to write about more history of the ski areas in future issues of the Sun.

According to articles from the 1940s, the second annual Wyoming Winter Sports Tournament, which was held at Barrett Ridge ski course on March 17, 1940, had an attendance of approximately 1,200 spectators and had "plenty of lively competition" and "was declared an entire success." The event saw participants from Laramie, Jackson, Casper, Steamboat Springs, Colo. and Denver. Laramie would end up taking home a majority of the trophies during that event.

Downhill, slalom and jumping events were held at the event and, following the meet, trophies were awarded at Ten Mile Inn before several hundred people. Wyoming Governor Nels H. Smith awarded the trophies, along with his wife, to the winners of the men's and women's combined slalom and downhill events and the jump winners.

The president of the local ski club, Dr. Ray A. Corbett, made the rest of the presentations.

The Barrett Ridge jump and Ryan Park Ski Course were built in the late 1930s by enrollees from the Civilian Conservation Corp camp in cooperation with local volunteers and Forest Service personnel.

"With two jumps, one 100-foot and one 175-foot; a tricky downhill course a trifle over a mile in length, a slalom course probably second to none in the state, the Barrett Ridge course is deal for contests," noted a 1940 Sun article. "Then, too, Saratoga is most strategically located for the meet, being literally at the hub of highways leading from Jackson, Lander, Casper, Laramie and Cheyenne, and the various 'ski centers' of northern Colorado."

The Barrett Ridge ski jump was abandoned around 1950 and Ryan Park Ski Course was closed in the 1970s.