(Picture from NewEnglandSkiHistory.com)
Before we get into the article, we would like to note that there are not any current plans to reopen these ski areas.
Atlantic Forests – Amesbury, MA
Closed 1992 due to the area dying out
Atlantic Forests was a small local skiing operation that was able to survive in northeastern Massachusetts for almost 50 years. With much larger ski areas within driving distance Atlantic Forests shut down as the 331-foot hill could not compete. There is currently housing on the former ski area.
Chances Atlantic Forests returns: 1%
Beartown Mountain – Lee, MA
Closed 1964 due to low attendance and a lawsuit
Beartown was once one of the bigger ski areas in New England before its technology started falling behind the competition. Beartown could not compete with chairlift operated ski areas while they only had T Bars and a $100,000 lawsuit filed by a skier put an end to the mountain. The area had attempts to reopen it but they did not get close. Today the area is overgrown and has some remnants of buildings on it.
Chances Beartown returns: 5%
Benjamin Hill – Shirley, MA
Closed 1970s due to the oil crisis and a fire
Benjamin Hill was once a small local area with a lot of rope tows. The end of the ski area came about during the oil crisis which would not allow them to operate and then a fire burnt down the base lodge. Today it is Benjamin Hill Park and part of the old ski trails are now a sledding area.
Chances Benjamin Hill returns: 6%
Berkshire Snowbasin – Cummington, MA
Closed 1989 due to being placed on the market and a fire destroying the area
This small ski area survived having a state highway placed through the parking lot and base lodge but it could not overcome being behind in technology. While the ski area was on the market the lodge burnt down and the T Bar has since been removed. It is currently abandoned and overgrown.
Chances Berkshire Snowbasin returns: 0.8%
Ski Blandford – Blandford, MA
Closed 2020 due to COVID-19
Ski Blandford was a recent closure and was one of the oldest ski areas in the United States having been around for 83 years. The Springfield Ski Club sold Ski Blandford to Butternut in 2017 but the area continued to lose money and COVID-19 put an end to the ski area. Blandford remains idle to this day. Some good news for the ski area, there were two others (Granite Gorge and Tenney) who had to close after COVID-19 for a few seasons but now they are back.
Chances Blandford returns: 60%
Boston Hills Ski Area – North Andover, MA
Closed 1993 due to it being sold
Boston Hills was a groundbreaking ski area in a way as they survived a lot of bad weather and also introduced turfskiing to the mountain which was not normal. Boston Hills was then sold with the chairlift being taken down and all the buildings being demolished. The land currently has Brightview North Andover Senior Living facility on it.
Chances Boston Hills returns: 0.3%
Brodie Mountain Ski Area – New Ashford, MA
Closed 2002 due to Jiminy Peak not wanting to operate it
Brodie had a rough start but then roared back with the addition of night skiing and the Blarney Pub to bring in crowds. Brodie became the victim of small-town politics in New Ashford and was eventually taken over by Jiminy Peak before it lost them too much money. Most of the chairlifts and lodge are still there while the snowmaking systems have been removed.
Chances Brodie returns: 28%
Chickley Alp Ski Area – Hawley, MA
Closed 1980s due to financial issues and snow drought
Chickley Alp was able to capitalize off the interstate highway in the area to drive skiers to the area. A combination of bad winters and rising costs let to Chickley Alp’s closure. The area currently has overgrown, and the lifts have since removed.
Chances Chickley Alp returns: 0.1%
Eastover Resorts – Lenox, MA
Closed 1990s due to financial reasons
Eastover was a small operation that was able to last at a recreation resort that had so much to offer. It became too much to operate the resort which eventually caused Eastover to close, but it reopened as a holistic retreat center under new ownership.
Chances Eastover Returns: 1%
Jericho Ski Area – Marlborough, MA
Closed 1998 due to poor winters and lack of funding
Jericho was a small rope tow area that was able to operate for almost 50 years. Bad winters and lack of funding caused for Jericho to close and it was redeveloped into Joseph A. Ferrecchia Park at Jericho Hill and the area is used for sledding.
Chances Jericho Ski Area reopens: 5%
Jug End – South Egremont, MA Closed 1980s due to bankruptcy
Jug End was once a prominent Massachusetts ski area before competition in the area along with bad winters and energy crisis caused for the decline in Jug End. They would eventually file for bankruptcy and the area would become Jug End Reservation.
Chances Jug End reopens: 6%
Klein Innsbruck – Franklin, MA
Closed 2000 due to financial trouble
Klein Innsbruck was in a tough spot to be set up for success but was able to open for a while. The mountain ran into financial issues and was forced to sell. Today the ski area is completely gone and The Villages at Oak Hill is currently on the property.
Chances Klein Innsbruck returns: 0.1%
Mount Mohawk Ski Area – Shelburne, MA
Closed 1980s due to snowless winters
Mount Mohawk was a T Bar operation that eventually fell because the winters became bad. A large part of the property was sold to Bill Cosby’s wife but both of the T Bars are still standing.
Chances Mount Mohawk Returns: 2%
Mount Tom – Holyoke, MA
Closed 1998 due to ownership wanting to focus on operating a quarry
Mount Tom used to be a very popular ski area that even offered year round skiing at times. After closing a lot of the infrastructure was sold along with parts of land that made up the ski area. The base lodge is still standing but it is abandoned.
Chances Mount Tom returns: 1%
Mount Watatic Ski Area – Ashby, MA
Closed 1983 due to competition with Wachusett
Mount Watatic was a medium sized operation that eventually fizzled out due to the competition with Wachusett. There was a chance it would reopen but it never actually got off the ground and the area became conservation land. Today there is hiking on the mountain.
Chances Mount Watatic returns: 8%
Pine Ridge – Barre, MA
Closed 2006 due to a T Bar fire
Pine Ridge was a small ski area that had some troubled times and had two prior closures before the final one. There was a fire in 2006 that damaged the T Bar beyond repair which would end all skiing at Pine Ridge. Today there is currently a solar energy plant on the mountain and the lodge is now Upper Deck Sports Bar.
Chances Pine Ridge returns: 0.2%
Thunderbolt Ski Area – Adams, MA
Closed 1960s due to plans falling through
Thunderbolt had a very brief history and there is not much known on what happened to it other than expansion being cancelled.
Chances Thunderbolt returns: 0%
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