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| Ski Bradford |
| Haverhill, Massachusetts |
| Status: |
Open
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| First Season: | 1949-50 |
| Vertical Drop: | 248 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | 3 triples, surface lifts |
| Past Lifts: | Surface lifts |
| Left: Hornet (2014) |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
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Located in northeastern Massachusetts, Bradford has long been a popular ski area.
Bradford Ski Tow
A Bradford sign likely from the 1970s |
Ski Bradford dates back to the winter of 1949-50, when the Bradford Ski Tow was constructed on Dead Hill, serving mostly local skiers. Hugh Pearson and Ken Boyd reportedly cut the first trail.
In August 1951, Boyd, Pearson, and their wives survived at sea for more than 22 hours when Boyd's amphibian plane ran out of fuel off the coast of Maine. The couples, with no drinking water and only a sandwich to share, were rescued by a Coast Guard cutter after an extensive 7,500 square mile search.
Circa 1956, Roger and Evelyn Sawyer purchased Bradford Ski Tow. The Sawyers later purchased the land on which the ski area operated, then gradually acquired adjoining parcels.
By 1965, Bradford featured night skiing and 3 rope tows.
After over two decades of rope tow service, Bradford installed the Hornet T-Bar in the center of the ski area for the 1971-72 season.
Sawyer Enterprises, Inc. was formed in October of 1972, owned by the Sawyer family and led by Roger and Evelyn's sons, Neil and Brad. In December of that year, Roger and Evelyn transferred ownership of Bradford to Sawyer Enterprises, Inc.
Snowmaking was in place in the mid-1970s. Later that decade, a used T-Bar was purchased from Stratton and installed on the Wasp slope.
Circa 1980, ski instructor John Moody became Bradford's general manager.
On March 10, 1982, Bradford hosted the Massachusetts state championships (MIAA). Haverhill enjoyed the home field advantage, defeating Western Massachusetts schools for the boys' championship. Future Warren Miller movie star Dan Egan of Milton came in fourth.
Chairlift Age
The 1980s at Bradford |
Bradford moved into the chairlift age in 1983, when it installed the Hornet triple chairlift in the center of the ski area.
Improvements for the 1985-86 season included expanded snowmaking, base lodge upgrades, and a new surface lift. Snowmaking was improved yet again for the 1987-88 season. The area's second triple chairlift was installed in 1988 on the Wasp slope.
In January 1991, Bradford reported that it had averaged 89 days per season in recent years, notching between 80,000 and 100,000 skier visits.
A snowboard halfpipe was reportedly constructed for the 1993-94 season.
The mild 1994-95 winter was a challenge at Bradford, as by February, the ski area reported only three good days below 25 degrees for snowmaking. Co-owner Brad Sawyer told the Boston Globe, "This is an equipment-buying business and it gets expensive." Bradford's goal remained the same, "offer a lesson, rental and lift ticket that is less expensive. Basically, we teach people how to ski and then they go across the border."
Bradford rebounded for a strong 1995-96 season, boosted in part by snowboarding. Ski school director William Hegarty told the Boston Globe, "The increase in snowboarding is amazing. It's attracting a different clientele than you would get with skiing."
The 2000s
The base area (2014) |
A third triple chairlift was installed on the southeastern side of the ski area for the 2003-04 season, providing access to the terrain park and other terrain.
In a March 2005 article in the Boston Globe, owner Neil Sawyer noted, "In the '70s, people skied around bare spots on the mountain; now if you have a bare spot, you might as well close. People expect perfectly groomed snow. It's a very different business than it was 30 years ago."
Matriarch Evelyn Sawyer passed away on February 15, 2009 at the age of 92.
The expert Hugh's Run was cut for the 2009-10 season, served by the Wasp Chair. Owner Neil Sawyer said the trail was "like skiing back in the '50s," due to its steeper, narrower design.
Circa 2014, the area reportedly logged about 60,000 ski and snowboard lessons per season.
Bradford co-owner Brad Sawyer passed away on September 5, 2016 at the age of 71. Former general manager John Moody passed away on December 10, 2018 at the age of 77.
At present, Bradford features snowmaking and night skiing on all of its terrain.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Maps
Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass. Window price, including RFID fee and taxes when known.
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2023-24 | $73.00 |  | | | | January 7 | March 3 | | | | | 2022-23 | $69.00 | | | | | December 28 | | | | | | 2021-22 | $65.00 | | $700.00 | | 10.8 days | January 6 | March 6 | | | | | 2020-21 | $58.00 | | | | | December 20 | March 14 | | | | | 2019-20 | $58.00 | | $665.00 | | 11.5 days | December 21 | March 8 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $55.00 | | $665.00 | | 12.1 days | December 11 | March 17 | | | | | 2017-18 | $52.00 | | $665.00 | | 12.8 days | December 16 | March 18 | | | | | 2016-17 | $52.00 | | $665.00 | | 12.8 days | December 17 | March 19 | | | | | 2015-16 | $50.00 | | $665.00 | | 13.3 days | January 6 | March 7 | | | | | 2014-15 | $48.00 | | $665.00 | | 13.9 days | December 13 | March 29 | | | | | 2013-14 | $48.00 | | $695.00 | | 14.5 days | December 13 | | | | | | 2012-13 | $45.00 | | $670.00 | | 14.9 days | December 26 | | | | | | 2011-12 | $45.00 | | $670.00 | | 14.9 days | December 22 | | | | | | 2010-11 | $43.00 | | | | | | March 13 | | | | | 2009-10 | $42.00 | | $670.00 | | 16.0 days | | | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $42.00 | | $670.00 | | 16.0 days | | | | | | | 2007-08 | $38.00 | | $630.00 | | 16.6 days | | | | | | | 2006-07 | $38.00 | | $630.00 | | 16.6 days | | | | | | | 2005-06 | $33.00 | | $600.00 | | 18.2 days | | | | | | | 2004-05 | $33.00 | | $550.00 | | 16.7 days | | | | | | | 2003-04 | $30.00 | | $500.00 | | 16.7 days | | | | | | | 2002-03 | $30.00 | | $500.00 | | 16.7 days | | | | | | | 2001-02 | $28.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2000-01 | $28.00 | | $500.00 | | 17.9 days | | | | | | | 1999-00 | $27.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | $25.00 | | | | | December 19 | | | | | | 1997-98 | $25.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1996-97 | $25.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1995-96 | $25.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1994-95 | $23.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1992-93 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1990-91 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $18.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $18.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1987-88 | $16.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $15.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1985-86 | $13.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1962-63 | $2.00 | | | | | | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "I have been skiing all over New England on some of the toughest terrain that the region has to offer. I suffered my first major ski injury at Bradford (a concussion when I was in fourth grade) as did my sister (broken middle finger)! That said, I have very fond memories of doing Ski Club through the Rupert Nock Middle School and then the ski team from Haverhill High School, namely the camaraderie, the friendly races, the mogul field between races, and the icy chute that is the Honeycomb. I hope to get my kids over to Bradford so that they too may cut their teeth and pay their dues (but hopefully not get beat up in the process!) before tackling the bigger areas." | | Dan Kilgour, Dec. 10, 2017 | | "I Remember during the summer Chris Petro and his shoe shop lobster party
(cooks
Dennis Laubner & Ross Turco) Start breakfast at 8 a.m., continuing all day Until early evening, Neal & Diane Saywer over seeing the event,
the good old days
Ross" | | Ross Turco, Dec. 25, 2016 | | " In 1949 my grandfather hue Pearson along with his great friend Ken Boyd built Bradford. My mom and my dad met at Bradford my mother the daughter of Hugh Pearson was working in the warm-up shack and my father was a ski instructor his name was Duke Gage. Today there is a trail named for my dad called Dukes yard and a trail for my grandfather Hugh's run. In 1950 my grandfather took a couple of barn boards off the back of his house painted them white and then used the red paint which his current home still is today a red cape with white trim and he painted the original Bradford ski tow sign. About 15 years ago my mom was in an antique shop and she found the original sign which hangs in my home today!!" | | Justin Gage, Sep. 9, 2016 | | "I can vividly remember Buddy Werner league racing when I was 7 or 8 years old. Mid-1970's. Our coach was the esteemed Roger Buchika. We were incredibly lucky to have him. He made us walk up the hill instead of taking the rope tow. Hard core for a 7 year old. I miss those days. Thanks, Roger..." | | Kristen Durocher, Feb. 23, 2015 | | "In order to be a skier, you needed to first pay your dues...on a rope tow..on your side with your mittens going up the rope ahead of you..as you tried to figure out how to get back up on your feet..get at least one mitten back and grab your poles to continue the ride to the top..What a great place to learn the joy of skiing on a Friday night under the lights with your friends.." | | Jay Cleary, Jan. 27, 2015 |
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External Links
Ski Bradford official site
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Last updated: October 29, 2024
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