Industry News
Massachusetts may soon see the reopening of a classic ski area. Brodie Mountain, which has not been open since the early 2000s, has been sold at auction to four investors based in Florida. The sale closed for $975,000 after initially being listed for nearly $2 million.
Skiing at Brodie Mountain dates back to the 1930s when the first ski run was cut. A rope tow was installed sometime during the 1940s and was reportedly operated throughout World War Two. A double chair and a T-bar were installed in the mid-1960s, with several more chairlifts being installed in the subsequent years. At its peak, Brodie Mountain operated four chairlifts and two rope tows, servicing 1,250 vertical feet. The resort was also known for offering extensive night skiing and was one of the first in the region to utilize artificial snowmaking. Throughout its history, Brodie Mountain faced numerous hurdles and challenges from the town of New Ashford and from the state of Massachusetts. In 1975, Brodie’s sign was removed, causing the longtime owner Jim Kelly to paint “SKI BRODIE” on a cow grazing in a roadside pasture.
After a few rough seasons, the Kelly family sold Brodie Mountain to Jiminy Peak in 1999, who intended to operate Brodie as a sister mountain to Jiminy Peak. Skiing operations only lasted a few years under Jiminy Peak management, who sold the resort to Silverleaf Resorts for $2.6 million in 2002. While tubing operations persisted for a few more years, skiing at Brodie Mountain was finished.
Though the exact details are unclear, the sale of the property includes a covenant that forbids the use of Brodie Mountain for public downhill skiing. A similar covenant was included in the 2004 sale of Brodie, which at the time was operated by longtime rival Jiminy Peak. Perhaps this covenant is still in place to limit competition. The Berkshire Eagle quoted one of the buyers, Todd Oifer, as saying “Everybody knows Brodie Mountain. We’ve got big plans for it. Brodie’s going to be back.”
