Berkshire East Ski Area
| Berkshire East Ski Resort | |
|---|---|
The Main Lodge and Summit Triple Chairlift
|
|
| Location | Charlemont / Hawley, Massachusetts, USA |
| Nearest city | Greenfield |
| Coordinates | 42°37′15″N 72°52′37″W / 42.62083°N 72.87694°W |
| Runs | 45 |
| Longest run | 2.5 mi |
| Lift system | 4 chairs: 2 Quads, 1 Triple, 1 Double, 2 Surface Lifts |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Website | Berkshire East Ski Resort |
Berkshire East Ski Resort is a medium-sized alpine ski area located on Mount Institute in Charlemont and Hawley, Massachusetts.
Organized skiing started on Mt. Institute in the mid-1950s when Arthur Parker opened a small rope tow operation. Due to weather and other difficulties, it closed after one short season.
Parker spent the balance of the decade gathering investors for a much larger operation on the same mountain. The first double chairlift, a Mueller, was installed for the grand re-opening 1961-62 season. A second double chairlift, another Mueller, was installed in 1962.
Notable skiers during this time included former Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.
New ownership took over in late 1965, changing the name to Berkshire East at the end of the decade.
The ownership group struggled, trying a variety of ill-fated expansion plans. By 1975, Berkshire East was bankrupt and outdated with two partially installed chairlifts and two antiquated Mueller chairlifts. Current management soon took over and began a steady series of investments.
A Hall double chairlift was installed in 1978. A fourth chairlift, an SLI, was also installed in the late 1970s.
In 1995, the first Mueller double chairlift was replaced with a Poma triple chairlift. A Hall double chairlift was added in 2001. In 2003, the second Mueller double chairlift was replaced with a Borvig-Leitner quad chairlift.
In 2008, Berkshire East replaced a novice handle tow with a magic carpet lift.
As of 2008, the ski area has 45 trails and five lifts, in addition to the tubing slope and lift. Berkshire East is currently the only alpine ski area in Franklin County open to the public.
In 2010 the Diamond Express Hall double chairlift (1978) was replaced with a Poma triple chairlift.
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Wikipedia