Wachusett was expanded in the 1980s to become a 1,000-foot vertical drop ski area, and is considered the best of the suburban Boston ski areas (versus Nashoba, Blue Hills, Ward, etc.) It has had to overcome numerous legal and environmental hurdles to grow taller, expand snowmaking operations, cut down a tree, and/or stay relevant. I remember endless fights over a stand of old-growth forest somewhere on the property. Brief history:
https://www.newenglandskihistory.com/Massachusetts/wachusett.php
Wachusett is also a giant magnet for racing. New York City would be fortunate to have something similar within 90 minutes of the city. It does in the form of Vernon Valley-Great Gorge/Mountain Creek, NJ, but I am unfamiliar with programs there. Those ski areas, combined with Action Park, were mismanaged and mostly a semi-death trap, especially Action Park. The Catskills are too far, and other suburban NY areas are really bad: Sterling Forest, Big Bich/Thunder Mt., Mt. Peter, etc. OK for learning, a park, or some racing.
Wachusett also ran an incessant radio jingle that almost anyone can imitate after a winter in Eastern Massachusetts ("Waaaa-wa-wa-chusett"). That and "Sunday River Snow". (Les Otten was brilliant in his non-stop Boston marketing, making Sunday River seem close by. Reality: Stowe or Sugarbush were the same driving distance, and no need to go to Sunday River for less snow, or its snowmaking.
However, Wachustts is not located inside the Rte. 128 (I-95) or I-495 beltways, and is 75 minutes or more away from the city with traffic. I found it much better to travel to Southern New Hampshire (90-100 minutes to Gunstock, Mt. Sunapee, and Ragged Mountain), as there was better snow, temperatures, and terrain (in terms of trails, lifts, and vertical drop). But for night skiing or a snow day when there's no work from home, Wachusetts is great!
The 5 Best Ski Resorts Near Boston, 2024/25
https://www.snowpak.com/massachusetts/closest-ski-resorts-near-boston
Mostly agree with this list.
Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are significantly better in terms of size, snow quality, views, elevation, and more. Likely, almost 30-50% of winter storms might result in some rain at Wachusetts, and most of the mountain is relatively flat except for its "Summit Chair." Compared to the southern New Hampshire day mountains mentioned above and linked.
Someone on Reddit marked up the Wachusett trail map.
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