Three chairlift served areas have not operated since the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020.
Saturday, January 29, 2022, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Ski Blandford, January 2022
Ski areas across New England closed in mid-March 2020, whether by operator decision or government ordered shut downs from COVID-19. Virtually all ski areas reopened for the 2020-21 season, many enjoying increased visitation. However, three chairlift-served ski areas did not come back.
Ski Blandford
Ski Blandford, January 2022
Ski Blandford in Western Massachusetts was originally developed by the Springfield Ski Club in the 1930s. Though the area's visitation grew enough to warrant the installation of three double chairlifts and a T-Bar during a ten year period ending in the late 1970s, momentum faded to the point of closure in 2017. The ownership of Ski Butternut formed Blandford Properties LLC and acquired the area in 2017, reopening it in December 2018. Citing continued losses and uncertainty from COVID-19, the ownership announced the closure of Ski Blandford in late March 2020.
Ski Blandford, January 2022
Blandford Properties still owns the ski area, however the slopes have not been recently mowed. It is not known what the future holds for this defunct ski area.
Granite Gorge
Granite Gorge, January 2022
Reopened in 2003 on the site of the former Pinnacle ski area east of Keene, Granite Gorge perhaps peaked around 2011, when a chairlift was in operation with snowmaking and night skiing. Financial and equipment struggles resulted in operations being limited to surface lifts in recent years.
Granite Gorge, January 2022
Owner Fred Baybutt passed away unexpectedly in early August 2020, leaving the future of the ski area in doubt. Granite Gorge did not operate during the winter of 2020-21. Its web site has subsequently gone down and its e-mail address is no longer functional. In December 2021, Baybutt's brother John told the Keene Sentinel that he had "pretty much decided to move on from it." Though it is possible that a lease agreement to could be developed, for the time being, the slopes are being reclaimed by vegetation.
Tenney Mountain
Tenney Mountain, January 2022
Michael Bouchard formed Tenney Mountain Development Group and acquired the defunct Tenney Mountain ski area in the fall of 2014. After years of work on the trails, lifts, and lodge, the ski area reopened in February 2018. Tenney remained in operation on mostly natural snow in subsequent winters before shutting down in March 2020.
Tenney Mountain, January 2022
In December 2020, Tenney announced it had suspended operations citing "concern for the health and safety of all, and with the consideration that we are a small privately-owned business with limited resources." The slopes remained open for backcountry skiing, with periodic grooming. In the fall of 2021, Michael Bouchard left the role of general manager, though he still remains listed as the registered agent for Tenney Mountain Development Group. Santo A. Insolia is listed as manager of the company.
Tenney Mountain, January 2022
Soon after news emerged that Tenney would not operate this winter, the base lodge was partially boarded up. The trails are open to skinning, but have not seen any brush clearing or grooming. It is rumored that there are behind the scenes efforts to try to reopen the ski area in the future.
