He also partnered with General Electric’s Pittsfield Plant to outfit the mountain with floodlights installed on poles in 1936 to illuminate runs, introducing the concepts of night skiing. Also, the ski area was still very much in operation in '73 and not "abandoned" (as evidenced by the Batchelder photos). The sale, finalized Friday, includes 115 acres spread across four parcels on Bousquet Mountain, including the summit of Yokun Ridge, 22 trails, multiple buildings and operational equipment. “We know that the Berkshires are home to some of the region’s best opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the outdoors in a number of ways,” said Caroline Holland, also a managing director at Mill Town. "They are going to provide us with operational support," said Mill Town CEO and managing director Tim Burke. Five future U.S. Olympic downhill skiers, including Pittsfield natives Kim and Krista Schmidinger and Heidi Volker, all have been members of Bousquet's Ski Racing team. 8,946 were here. Wright was 87 then, but he did indeed visit the Bousquet property. In 1936, Bousquet and a group of engineers from General Electric invented night skiing when they mounted floodlights on the slopes so they could ski on Christmas Eve. The ski area was sold to the owners of Ski Butternut by the Springfield Ski Club, which has owned it for more than 80 years, in 2017. We think there is a great future here,” the Schaefers said. The ski area was successful. Later in the 1930s the area had one of the world’s longest rope tows. About: Bousquet Ski Area & Family Fun Center is a regional amusement and recreation facility for all seasons. Jesse Stewart. The Schaefers have made a significant capital investment in the ski operations at Catamount since they purchased that ski area for $3 million in May 2018. “We are thrilled to partner with Mill Town to ensure Bousquet will be a respected skiing and outdoor recreation asset for years to come. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Congratulations to the new owners of Bousquet Mountain! The management of those two ski areas will advise Bousquet's new owners on capital and operational decisions and investments. Has previously covered education and state government and wrote about natural resources and state government in Colorado and Maine. New Owners Have Taken Over Bousquet Ski Area. ... BOUSQUET. USD Choose your currency. A home away from home – find the best, most accessible hotel for you. Among the ski area’s innovations was the rope tow gripper that protects the arms and hands of skiers, which Bousquet marketed and sold 500,000 units. In the Bousquet lodge in 2019. In 2009, a Berkshire Superior Court Judge removed a restriction of the sale that allowed the Berkshire Natural Resources Council to purchase 80 acres on the top of Bousquet Mountain. Bousquet Ski Area is preparing for reopening with a new chairlift and other upgrades. We have a plan. 4 months ago. and I are very excited," Roberts said about the sale. Positioned between Berkshire East and Catamount, we feel that Bousquet will provide significant value to Berkshire Pass holders as another great skiing and riding option in Western Massachusetts. We're not ready to release it yet, but over the next few weeks and months we will be very transparent about what we're doing.". Bousquet was placed on the market by then-owner George Jervas in 2007 for $3.2 million. We are excited about the sale of Bousquet Ski Area to Mill Town. Prior to its use as a ski area the property was a mink farm belonging to Clarence J. Get it insured, Millennial Money: Try touchless payment to avoid dirty money, Carla Fried: How keeping a car 15 years can pay you $230,000, Wait for refund drags on for some Americans, Calls for resignation of Malta town official after Capitol siege, Albany County COVID-19 vaccine sign-up for those over 75 starts Monday, I drank a gallon of water every day for a week. Bousquet ski area in Pittsfield has been sold to a local investment group and will be working with Berkshire East and Catamount, in a season pass collaboration. As the legend goes, Clarence Bousquet installed a rope tow in the spring of 1935, increasingly the area rate from 25 cents to $1.00. "Clare" Bousquet founded the ski area in 1932 when the mink farm he operated on the property went under during the Depression. "I had made a commitment when George passed that my goal was to find someone to continue it as a ski area. Fresh Powder is the operating entity of Blue Chair LLC, both Mill Town Capital-related entities that purchased the real estate and assets of Bousquet Ski Area back in June. You have permission to edit this article. Bousquet is green at the moment but is expected to open for skiing in mid to late December. Clarence J. Bousquet, the ski area's founder, sold Bousquet Ski Area to NYC lawyer and entrepreneur Donald Soviero in 1956. Bousquet sold the ski area in 1956; it has changed hands twice since then. Located in Pittsfield, Bousquet is one of the few ski areas in the country located in a city. "It will be a joint effort. is being sold to Mill Town investments. Bousquet met all of these criteria. The Schaefer family has owned Berkshire East since 1975. “A significant focus of our work is to invest in and improve businesses, real estate, and outdoor recreational assets in Pittsfield to make it a stronger city and an appealing place for families and employers. To keep growing, he installed area-wide snowmaking in 1956. Mahanna Cobble did not have an easy birthing. "Our immediate plans are make sure access to the mountain and the lodge is safe and high quality. Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield has been sold to investment firm Mill Town Capital, which intends to keep the facility operational. "I will tell you that P.J. Bousquet also was sold in 1955 and 1967. She took sole ownership of the ski area after Jervas died suddenly in August 2012. The Springfield Ski Club sold the Blandford Ski Area in 2017 to to the owners of nearby Ski Butternut in Great Barrington. It is a historic mountain with a long legacy of innovation. Bousquet Ski Area sold to Mill Town Capital; will remain operational PITTSFIELD -- A capital investment firm is purchasing Bousquet Ski Area and plans to keep the ski operations running. Founded in 1932 by the late Clarence J. The developer claimed that it had reached agreement to buy the ski area, including the Mahanna Cobble tract under contract to BNRC. Rick Karlin covers the environment and energy development for the Times Union. Mill Town builds and renovates housing units, and invests in promising businesses and it aims to improve the quality of life for residents and attract more families and business to the area. Ski trains in the 1930s brought visitors from Grand Central Station and the New Haven Railroad. In 1940, in a single day, buses carried 2,600 passengers from Pittsfield station to Bousquet’s. Bousquet Ski Area is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the heart of Berkshire County. On its way to being sold to BNRC in 2007 by Bousquet Ski Area owner the late George W. Jervas, a would-be developer entered the picture. E. Epicone Well-known member. Mill Town has made numerous investments in downtown Pittsfield; it owns several properties along North and Tyler streets and became the venture capital partner for the Berkshire Innovation Center in October. Bousquet Ski Area dates to 1932 after Clarence J. Bousquet’s mink farm failed during the Great Depression, and he started a ski club there. sold. Both parties agreed to not publicly disclose the purchase price, but the property sold for $1.07 million, according to documents filed at the Berkshire Middle Registry of Deeds in Pittsfield. A second tow was added for the 1936-37 season, as Bousquet quickly became a well-known ski area. Mill Town also has entered into a collaboration agreement with Jon and Jim Schaefer, who own two other local ski areas — Berkshire East in Charlemont and Catamount in Egremont. At this point, there is no record of a deed exchange in the Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds. This is what happens when you drink a gallon of water a day, Lodge cast iron skillets are just $20 at Walmart, If you're looking for 'The Office,' it's on Peacock now, These Prime Video fitness classes are just 99 cents a month. The ski area was successful. Among the ski area’s innovations was a rope tow gripper that protects the arms and hands of skiers, which Bousquet marketed and sold 500,000 units. Bousquet was the inventor of the rope tow gripper which protected the arms and hands of skiers using rope tow lifts. It precedes Big Boulder (originally called Hazard), which was founded in 1946 and was sold a couple years later to become the Pocono's first commercial ski operation (and where snowmaking was first pioneered in PA). The company's recent focus has been on outdoor recreation projects, providing funding for the Berkshire Natural Resources Council's Trails App development, rehabilitating the trail network in Pittsfield's Springside Park through a partnership with Greenagers, and supporting free outdoor recreation programming for Pittsfield's 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival. Bousquet sold the ski area in 1956; it has changed hands twice since then. It is possible that it was called "Big Devil" after skyline since "Big Devil Stairs" is a prominent gorge just north of the old ski area in what is now … After his mink farming operation failed during the Great Depression, Bousquet, responding to the interest of the Mount Greylock Ski Club who had been using a steep pastureon his property as a practice run, allowed the club to cut a 750-foot (230 m) ski slope to the northern summit of Mahanna Cobble (part of Yokun Ridge) in 1933. After more than a dozen years on the market, Massachusetts’ Bousquet Mountain sold late last week for just over $1 million, a touch more than the median price of a one-bedroom Manhattan apartment and a huge discount to the $3.2 million initial … It’s plenty for us (Seniors). They will advise Bousquet on capital and operational decisions and investments. A native of Spencer, Massachusetts, Bousquet served in the 329th Battalion Tank Corps in World War I, where he sustained severe injuries in battle. "Clare" Bousquet, the ski area had also been sold in 1955 and 1967. A private investment group from Pittsfield has purchased the venerable Bousquet Ski Area and plans to keep one of the country's oldest ski resorts operational. Everything [Mill Town] said was community-oriented, and that really touched my heart. The ski are… Tony Dobrowolski can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-281-2755. TimesUnion.com reports, the Mill Town community impact fund is buying the ski area from the Tamarack Ski … We plan to invest in the ski operation infrastructure and the lodge, and we are excited to work with strong partners to enhance the on-mountain experience.”. More details on the ski pass plan will be released soon. Bousquet also invented the rope tow gripper, a device that protects the arms and hands of people riding on rope tows. “We are working to make these outdoor experiences more accessible and to highlight our natural environment as a driver for a great quality of life in the Berkshires. Bousquet marketed and subsequently sold 500,000 of his grippers. New Owners Of The Berkshire Mall? Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield has been sold to investment firm Mill Town Capital, which intends to keep the facility operational. ... Mill Town will be very invested in making it a success. Bousquet is a great Place with small lift Lines , economical prices and family atmosphere. 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