Gibson Cabin Ski Exhibit
A piece of ski history at the summit
Perched at the summit of Cranmore Mountain, the Gibson Cabin is a historical ski exhibit dedicated to the story of the mountain and the events that shaped it. Built in 1939 as a private retreat for Harvey Dow Gibson, the cabin now welcomes visitors to step inside and connect with nearly 90 years of Cranmore history.
Plan Your Visit
The Gibson Cabin Ski Exhibit is located next to the Meister Hut atop the Ledges and Koessler trails. It is open daily throughout the summer season. After Labor Day, the exhibit is open Thursday–Sunday, through mid-October.
Ride the Scenic Chairlift up to the summit, and step inside the cabin where you’ll find the original stone fireplace and one of Cranmore’s iconic Skimobile cars that once carried skiers up and down the mountain.
The Story Behind the Cabin
Harvey Dow Gibson had the cabin built in 1939 to serve as a quiet retreat for himself and his wife, Helen. As the story goes, Gibson didn’t even make it one night before calling for a Skimobile to take him back down to the base. Helen decided to put the space to better use, hosting lunches and gatherings for friends and guests for years to come. By the 1960s, it had been converted into storage.
During the winter of 1986–87, the cabin briefly served as the Gibson-Schneider Ski Museum, curated by Herbert Schneider, son of Hannes Schneider. Later that year, the museum was moved down to the base and the cabin sat vacant for nearly four decades.
Today, the restored Gibson Cabin stands as an exhibit dedicated to preserving Cranmore’s history and celebrating the vision, innovation and determination that helped establish North Conway as one of the country’s most influential ski destinations.
