Incorporated in 1962 out of the town of Lisbon after considerable litigation, Sugar Hill is the most recently incorporated town in the state. The name "Sugar Hill" comes from the large groves of sugar maples within the town limits. Offering clean air and panoramic views from atop Sunset Hill Ridge of both the White Mountains and Green Mountains, the community became a fashionable Victorian resort. First attracted by paintings of White Mountain artists, the wealthy arrived by train to escape the heat, humidity and pollution of summers in Boston, Hartford, New York and Philadelphia. Several hostelries were built, including the Hotel Lookoff. But the grandest was the Sunset Hill House, built in 1880 after rail service arrived in neighboring Lisbon Village. With the longest porch on a single side in New Hampshire, the Second Empire hotel accommodated 350 guests and 300 staff. Patrons found amusement in the casino, bowling alley, or on carriage rides touring nearby Franconia Notch. Built in 1897, the 9-hole Sugar Hill House Golf Course, together with its 1900 clubhouse, are the oldest in the state and today listed on the National Register. Bobby Jones played the links. With the advent of automobiles came a decline in grand hotels, however, as tourists were no longer restricted by the limits of rail service. The Sunset Hill House remained open until 1973, longer than many of its type in the region. But it closed at season's end, when the furnishings were sold at auction. The aging structure was demolished in 1974, although its annex survived and was purchased in 2013 by new owners, to reopen in 2015 as "The Inn at Sunset Hill".
Peckett's-on-Sugar Hill
Robert P. Peckett, Sr. acquired land on Sugar Hill around 1900 and founded the Peckett's-on-Sugar Hill Inn. While hosting winter guests early in the century, the need for increased clientele prompted him, with the assistance of his daughter, Katherine "Kate" Peckett, to establish the first resort-based ski school in the United States The first two ski instructors were German; they introduced the Arlberg technique developed by Hannes Schneider St. Anton. In 1931, Sig Buchmayr joined the staff. Kate Peckett brought in several more European instructors including Otto Lang to teach the Arlberg system. Among pupils were Nelson Rockefeller, Averell Harriman, Lowell Thomas, Minot Dole and Roger Peabody. Subsequent efforts by Kate, the CCC and others resulted in the development of the Taft Ski Trail and other facilities on the Cannon Mountain Ski Area.
As of the census of 2000, there were 563 people, 258 households, and 164 families residing in the town. The population density was 32.9 people per square mile. There were 385 housing units at an average density of 22.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.40% White, 1.24% Asian, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.18% of the population. There were 258 households out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.72. In the town, the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $49,219, and the median income for a family was $60,288. Males had a median income of $36,667 versus $25,714 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,743. About 4.3% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
