The History of Gunstock:

Gunstock, or the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, as it was originally known, was a product of the Great Depression.  With the rampant unemployment of the 1930's, the Works Progress Administration was conceived by President Franklin Roosevelt to provide a source of employment for worthwhile state and local projects ranging from flood control with dams, to road construction.

With great foresight, the Belknap County Legislative Delegation sought and received support from its representatives in Congress and the Senate for an ambitious recreation project in the Belknap Mountain range that would initially include a chairlift, four rope tows, cross country trails, camping facilities, hiking trails, an impressive main lodge, and several smaller buildings.