Worcester Living: New England’s family-owned ski resorts add local flavor to winter sports

Not to detract from the bigger chain owned ski resorts that populate New England’s winter playgrounds now. Indeed, without that big money input, the snow sports industry here couldn’t survive the enticement to visit snowy terrain to the west and north of us. Still, with some of the oldest ski resorts in the country located in New England, the smaller, family-owned resorts, even if they are small chains, give a sense of tradition and roots — even individuality and a vintage feel. But, of course, even these snow sports resorts have to keep up with the times, maintaining all the high-tech gear needed to remain competitive and offer top-notch skiing and snow boarding experiences. Add a stay in a unique New England hostelry for a truly memorable winter experience.

Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Princeton

(499 Mountain Road. (978) 464-2300; wachusett.com)

Wachusett Mountain Ski Area is situated on the highest mountain in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River. In fact, you can see the Boston skyline from the mountain’s summit at 2,006 feet, that is, if your skiing chops are honed enough to make the trek. Wachusett is among the state’s most popular snow sports resorts. It boasts a 1,000-foot vertical drop and 27 trails, split evenly from beginner to advanced level, all served by eight lifts. There are skiing and snowboarding lessons for kids and adults; and a lively restaurant and a café in the base lodge. Night skiers can enjoy a racing schedule throughout the season. Of course, there’s nothing like your own bed, but for anyone wanting an all-in fun staycation, add an overnight at Great Wolf Lodge Water Park (150 Great Wolf Drive. (866) 678-9653; greatwolf.com), less than five miles away in Fitchburg. And if you do, remember to pack your swimsuit along with your snow gear.

Cranmore Mountain Resort, North Conway, New Hampshire

(1 Skimobile Road, North Conway. (603) 745-9396; cranmore.com)

Cranmore Mountain Resort is among New Hampshire’s oldest ski areas, dating back to 1937, when it opened with just one rope tow. This sister resort to Bromley in Vermont and Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts has certainly grown since then! The 170-acre spread in the magnificent White Mountains is anchored by pro base lodge facilities and offers 56 trails, and impressive terrain parks, too. There’s a snow tubing slope, vintage mountain rollercoaster, and at the mountain’s summit is the Meister Hut, which offers food and drinks. For the less ambitious, the base lodge pub is a fun hangout. The added bonus is being just a mile out of wonderful North Conway Village, presided over by Zeb’s General Store, offering the largest collection of New England-made products in the country. The village is packed with places to stay, including the newly renovated White Mountain Hotel & Resort (87 Fairway Drive. (603) 356-7100; whitemountainhotel.com), the Cranmore Inn, a delightful boutique B&B with a hot cooked breakfast (80 Kearsarge Road. (603) 356-5502; cranmoreinn.com); and the historic Eastern Slope Inn (2760 White Mountain Hwy. (603) 356-6321; easternslopeinn.com), which has suites with kitchenettes and the excellent Flatbread’s pizza just off the lobby.

Pats Peak Ski Area, Henniker, New Hampshire

(686 Flanders Road. (888) 728-7732; patspeak.com)

Pats Peak is a 115-acre snow sports resort that's been in the same family for over 50 years. The mountain boasts a vertical drop of 770 feet, 28 trails (half of which are beginner slopes), nine glades, and three terrain parks, all served by 11 lifts, and all with 100 percent snowmaking capability. Helping to ease those dreaded lift lines, the three separate beginner areas have their own lifts, including two carpet lifts. Though many New Englanders learn the ropes here, the mountain offers challenging terrain to test skills, including two F.I.S. race trails. The newly renovated base lodge has a massive rental shop with self-service digital check-in, and an elevator and ski boot-friendly stairs to ease getting around off-slope. There’s a snow tubing park, too. Make a weekend of it with a stay at The Centennial Hotel (96 Pleasant St. (603) 227-9000; thecentennialhotel.com), 20 minutes away in Concord. This beautifully renovated 1876-built grand red brick Victorian includes the lauded Granite Bar and Restaurant, which makes for some stylishly cozy and tasty apres ski.

Mohawk Mountain, Cornwall, Connecticut

(46 Great Hollow Road. (860) 672-6100; mohawkmtn.com)

Family owned for over 70 years, this northwestern Connecticut ski area was founded by Skiing Hall of Fame member Walt Schoenknecht. Given the southerly location, Schoenknecht had to help Mother Nature along a little, and developed one of the first snowmaking systems in the country. Some 40 miles northwest of Hartford, and some 25 miles south of Springfield, Mohawk Mountain sits in the foothills of the Berkshires and offers day and night skiing with 26 trails, seven lifts and snowmaking coverage on 95 percent of the mountain. There’s also snow tubing on weekends. The encompassing Mohawk State Forest has trails at the top of the mountain for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, but those are not maintained by or connected to the ski area. For an extra special winter treat, add a stay at Winvian Farm (155 Alain White Road, Morris. (860) 567-9600; winvian.com), less than half an hour’s drive south. This luxury Relais et Chateaux retreat, set around a 1775 farmhouse, offers unique and unusual individually designed cottages, a truly superb restaurant with glowing fireplaces, and a spa in a beautiful farmland setting.

Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Westford

(9 Powers Road. (978) 692-3033; skinashoba.com)

It might not have the biggest mountain, but Nashoba Valley Ski Area is where Olympic skier Pam Fletcher learned her notable skills, practically growing up on the slopes after her father opened the resort in 1964. Now much expanded, the facility includes a wonderful base camp and the Outlook restaurant and lounge, a smart full-service restaurant whose windows literally overlook the slopes, a view that is particularly fetching during night skiing sessions or during the many competition races. Otherwise, the 50-plus-acre resort offers a 240-foot vertical drop with 17 trails, nine lifts, and two terrain parks, all of which are fully equipped for snowmaking. Don’t forget New England's largest snow tubing slope is next to the ski area. Less than 10 miles away, The Groton Inn (128 Main St., Groton. (978) 448-6600; thegrotoninn.com) is the newest incarnation of the 1678-founded original inn, deemed America’s oldest inn, which burned to the ground in 2011. There are fireplaces in the lobby and at the secluded rear courtyard, which has one built into the three-storey brick chimney. There’s a cozy fire pit at the restaurant, Forge and Vine. Next door but not part of the inn, Gibbet Hill Grill (61 Lowell Road. (978) 448-2900; gibbethillgrill.com) is another excellent spot to drink and dine, and take in winter’s wonder.

Bolton Valley Resort, Bolton Valley, Vermont

(Bolton Valley Access Road. (802) 434-3444; boltonvalley.com)

Set in Vermont’s beautiful Green Mountains, Bolton Valley Resort Bolton has rigorous backcountry program, including a Backcountry for Beginners, and cross-country skiing, which operates from the nearby Nordic and Sports Center, which has an indoor play area with Ping-Pong and pool tables, bouncy castles, an indoor skate ramp and an indoor pool and hot tub. Stay onsite at The Inn at Bolton Valley, a no-nonsense, but very comfy ski lodge, and eat at the resort’s Fireside Pizza, which has fresh-from-the-oven pizza, or the James Moore Tavern, which has a progressive bar program and food. Or stay in Burlington at Hotel Vermont (41 Cherry St. (855) 650-0080; hotelvt.com), where a large wood-burning fireplace and comfy modular seating in the open-plan lobby adds a big welcome; and the restaurant, Juniper, is the perfect place to explore Vermont beers, cider, spirits and food.

Ski Ward Ski Area, Shrewsbury

(1000 Main St. (508) 842-6346; www.skiward.com)

Once known as Ward Hill Ski Area and Union HillI, the slope has been in operation since 1939, and is one of the oldest continuously operating ski/snowboard areas in the country. It has a 220-foot vertical drop and 45 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain. There are 9 trails and 4 lifts — including a triple chair, T-bar and a 250-foot carpet lift — and 8 tubing lanes. Slopeside Bar & Grill serves lunch, dinner, beer, wine and ice cream both indoors and outdoors on a patio with fantastic views.

Ski Bradford, Haverhill

(60 S. Cross Road. (978-373-0071. skibradford.com)

Located in historic Haverhill, Ski Bradford offers 12 trails and a terrain park spread across 48 skiable acres, and is serviced by eight lifts. All trails and terrain have snowmaking equipment. The mountain has a 248-foot vertical drop, nine lifts serving 15 trails, glades, and a terrain park, and all spread over 60 acres. Much of the resort’s trails are more suitable for advanced skiers, but there’s plenty of room for beginner and intermediate skiers — skiing and snowboarding programs for both children and adults are available. The base camp includes rentals, and a snack bar for lunch breaks. Make a staycation of it at the recently renovated Exeter Inn (90 Front Street. 603-772-5901. theexeterinn.com) in the pretty town of Exeter, New Hampshire, and dine in the inn’s Epoch gastropub, a relaxed dining experience with upscaled menus.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Living: N.E. family-owned ski resorts a boon winter sports