In December 1939, Fred Pabst, of the Pabst Brewing family, while looking for places to encourage people to ski, and promote the sale of his lift product, SKi Tows, Inc. cleared and opened Pine Mountain. Mr. Pabst's tow design involved tow ropes that were powered by an automobile and attendant controlling the speed with the accelerator pedal. M Pabst, being of significant means, also offered train trips from Chicago and Milwaukee to Pine Mountain on the weekends to make Pine Mountain one of the most premier hills of the late '30s and early '40's.