Yeovil Alpine Village. Abandoned Ski Slope

[@yeovil50]

I grew up in Yeovil, my home town in the 80s and 90#, in fact I had some great e endings in the ski place bar - especially watching World Cup 1990, it was packed. Yeovil was a fantastic town then, great bars and clubs. Fantastic shopping, no shops closed.. I moved abroad and returned to Yeovil a couple of years ago. It made me so sad to see it now. It is just falling apart. I still love it because it's my home town but sadly it's beyond repair now.

[@westcountryexplorer]

I used to make the occasional visit to Yeovil about 20 odd year ago; it wasn't too too shabby back then. Nowadays it does unfortunately live up to its nickname of Yobvil. I can't see it being rescued; at least, not any time soon

[@mergatroydfrooch]

When you crested the ski slope and looked out toward the horizon, the view was beautiful. The village nestled below with some striking lombardy poplars looked like a Van Gogh scene. I also noticed some gorgeous flowers - the butterfly shrubs have lovely purple blossoms. And I LOVED the little golden yellow wildflowers you show at about the 5:15 mark and afterward. Just lovely. I wonder if they are one of your native English wildflowers called the birdsfoot trefoil? Thanks for another walk along the countryside. I always look forward to them and to visiting the UK one day.

[@westcountryexplorer]

It was a beautiful view from the top of the ski slope :) I'm not massively good at identifying flowers but they could've been birdsfoot trefoil.

[@westcountryexplorer]

@@memlagu I do so love the way the poets capture beauty of creation in their words :)

[@sidavis9380]

Yep I think you’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head Yeovil was a great place 40 years ago like so many other British towns…

[@westcountryexplorer]

Town centres as I knew them growing up will never really make a comeback, won't really be able to compete with the internet/online shopping. I'm not sure what the town centre of the future will look like. They need to have some kind of a comeback.

[@SINTD_666]

I moved to Yeovil 20+ years ago. The ski slopes were open but there was little to no advertising or even locals speaking about the place. I spotted it by accident driving along and seeing it through a gap in the trees. It looked abandoned even then. The town centre needs to be levelled and started again. The town council and its hired contractors need to stop ripping of the tax payers and get on with the job. There are plenty of local companies and people willing to work on their town centre. I have spoken to several trades people that said they would be on board doing whatever they could. They wouldn’t be charging £300 per hour per person. They would just do it for a good days wage.

[@westcountryexplorer]

Drastic action needs to be taken with the town centre to sort it out. Honest traders would definitely do a better job of sorting things out than contractors I reckon.

[@4000ChacoRoad]

I briefly visited downtown Yeovil in September 1991. I don't recall being impressed and I haven't been back since.

[@westcountryexplorer]

You're not missing anything at all. I wouldn't recommend a revisit anytime soon lol

[@helentrove620]

Oh Crikey..this makes me sad to see, I had no idea it had closed down. We took our eldest son & some friends there many years ago for his Birthday treat to go sliding down the slope on inflatable sit in Donut rubber rings. It was on a very hot day in June; they loved the whizzing down the slope but got so worn out & sweating buckets then having to climb the umpteen steps to the top again every time. so they didn't really think too much of it. (It was quite expensive too). As it was called Alpine Village they should have provided a chair lift back up to the top at least! .😆Hopefully the lovely 'Nine Springs 'Walk just after the abandoned site is still open. That is a lovely walk but sadly the town itself has gone to pot over the years with so many shops closing down.

[@westcountryexplorer]

That sounds a bit naff, having to constantly climb umpteen steps to the top. As far as I'm aware the Nine Springs walk is still open and walkable; next time I'm over that way I'll give it a look see :) The last year or so the town centre has been little more than a construction site; I've no idea what's going on there.

[@primafacie6442]

Better to cover Jack the Treacle Eater statues that surround Little Barwick House.

[@westcountryexplorer]

The 'Jack the Treacle Eater' folly would make a good video I reckon😊

[@siocas]

Spot on Yobville or crackie central. The whole centre of Yobville needs bulldozing especially Kebab alley down near the spoons. think there was a brothel shut down near the bail hostel ? says it all about Yobville doesnt it ? Did go to the ski slope once but cant believe its been shut for 17 years ? A really nice place to go not far away is the Ham hill country park lovely walks and amazing views and more importantly an amazing pub open all day for drinks and food . Oh and we wont mention Shabbey manor( Abbey Manor ) will we lol !

[@westcountryexplorer]

They've made a very good start at digging up the centre of Yobville; it's been a construction site for frigging yonks now. Lol, I'll keep quiet about Shabby Manor lol. Does seem strange to think the slopes been closed almost as long as it was open. I've been to Ham Hill Country Park only once briefly about 8 year ago; that's something I need to rectify. T'is one nice place I want to explore properly.

[@rachelt-s]

Yeovil: In Summary; Love the area, hate the town.

[@westcountryexplorer]

I too think the area is lovely. The best part of Yeovil is getting out of it and exploring the surrounding countryside :)

[@minmog]

What happened to the lodge? Got hammered in there once drinking steins of Guinness

[@westcountryexplorer]

If I remember rightly, it was demolished because it kept being vandalised.

[@colinlaw9752]

I remember using that ski slope early 2000s. I can only remember 1 slope Shame what's happened there

[@westcountryexplorer]

A part of me would quite like to have seen what it was like when it was still in use.

[@jeanhopman5659]

It's amazing what gets abandoned and you might never know. I've never been to Yeovil and now....I probably never will....

[@westcountryexplorer]

Aye, there's so much that has become abandoned and lost to time, things people will be none the wiser about. You're not missing anything by not having been to Yeovil.

[@douglasgosney9172]

Try looking at some videos of Yeovil in the early 70s Yeovil was a mess then and unfortunately still is

[@westcountryexplorer]

I will try and see if I can find some videos of Yeovil in the 70's. I somehow can't imagine it being as bad as it is now.

[@GordonBird]

I,m 77. I was at Yeovilton. Best pub was "The Dolphs"!. Nine-Springs was lovely! Mysteriously lovelt was Clifton Maybank! I got Deja vue there big time!. Chetnole is where I smoked my first joint of Kenyan Bush!.The pub in Chetnole is disgusting! I was almost finished a rather expensive, but otherwase good dinner whan the L:andlady took my plate and said...."We Are Closed!"...This was 9-25pm.....She is off her tiny mind!....In short....TO BE AVOIDED!....Once; so friendly and pretty! (1970) Now?? Don,t be daft!....Me? 77 Ex RN LA5 9RA England

[@westcountryexplorer]

One day I'll go for a stroll through Nine Springs; it looks like a nice place for a walk. I definitely won't be going to the pub in Chetnole any time soon then if the landlady is like that

[@jaaaxson]

No need to be nice. Just tell your truth.

[@westcountryexplorer]

I do like to try and be polite in the way I tell my truth. Not always easy to be polite talking about a place when my opinion of it is so low lol

[@siocas]

@@westcountryexplorer its a dump dont need to defend your views

[@ParanormalPaul]

Try a Paranormal visit to that place Dave, you may be surprised.

[@jeanhopman5659]

Now there's an idea......

[@westcountryexplorer]

I will have to give that a go one day soon Paul :)

[@SINTD_666]

I have been out after dark in Yeovil. No paranormal activity but there were zombies.

[@memlagu]

@@westcountryexplorer That's a big mistake. You and your "paranormal" friend are flirting with demons. It's not Paranormal, but Preternatural. Yes, you'll get responses, but they won't be coming from aliens or ghosts. Believe me!

[@westcountryexplorer]

@@SINTD_666 There's zombies in Yobvil 24/7 lol; it's got its own zombie apocalypse going on lol

[@colinlaw9752]

Nine Springs is nice

[@westcountryexplorer]

I haven't really explored Nine Springs yet. A few people have mentioned it's nice so I'm definitely going to explore it.

[@colinlaw9752]

@westcountryexplorer I use to work there years ago. There are loads of paths. Absolutely lovely park

[@carinaliberato6945]

9 Springs should be a not miss.

[@westcountryexplorer]

I am going to get to 9 springs at some point 👍

[@daveberry2177]

i once met eddy the eagle there

[@westcountryexplorer]

What was he like? I imagine he's quite a nice down to earth man :)

[@daveberry2177]

@@westcountryexplorer very genuine i have his autograph , maybe ill dig it out and get it tattooed on me,

[@westcountryexplorer]

@@daveberry2177 That would make a pretty cool tattoo :)

[@siocas]

@@westcountryexplorer he was a complete idiot embarrassment to Uk sports