STAMFORD — For generations of Stamford-area residents, the mountain at 123 Scotch Valley Road was the center of community life. Since opening in 1963 as Scotch Valley ski resort, it was where locals learned to ski, where couples got married in the lodge, where Saturday nights ended with torchlight parades down the mountain, and where families spent winter evenings bowling between runs. For many, it wasn't just a ski hill — it was home.

Scotch Valley operated for nearly two decades before being sold and rebranded as Deer Run in the early 1980s, ultimately closing in the late 1990s. The chairlift has sat dormant ever since — though the property itself has been anything but quiet. Oorah, which acquired the campus in 2008 and opened TheZone Camp, has filled it with hundreds of campers every summer and hosts family and holiday events there throughout the year.

Now, Oorah has restored the Deer Run chairlift to full working condition. And on Sunday, August 30, they're throwing open the gates to invite the community back up the mountain — free of charge.

Guests will enjoy scenic lift rides with sweeping Catskill mountain views and light refreshments as part of a celebration marking this milestone for the storied site. The lift is already in active use throughout the summer camp season, but this event is specifically for the neighbors and longtime community members for whom this mountain holds a special place.

"We know this place means something deep to a lot of people in this area," said Avrohom Brog, TheZone Camp director. "We wanted to give the community a chance to come back, take a ride, and be part of this moment."

Attendance is free but registration is required. Community members can sign up at oorah.org/skiliftevent.

About Oorah/TheZone: Oorah is a Jewish national nonprofit organization whose suite of family, youth and educational programs includes TheZone summer camps in Gilboa and Stamford, New York.