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Hornet (2014)
Ski Bradford
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Status: Open
First Season:1949-50
Vertical Drop:248 feet
Standing Lifts:3 triples, surface lifts
Past Lifts:Surface lifts
Left: Hornet (2014)
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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
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.

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 Bradley. In December of that year, Roger and Evelyn transferred ownership of Bradford to Sawyer Enterprises, Inc.

Later that decade, a used T-Bar was purchased from Stratton and installed on the Wasp slope.

Chairlift Age

The base area (2014)
The base area (2014)

Bradford moved into the chairlift age in 1983, when it installed the Hornet triple chairlift in the center of the ski area. A second triple was installed a few years later on the Wasp slope.

A third triple chairlift was installed on the southeastern side of the ski area for the 2003-04 season.

Evelyn Sawyer passed away on February 15, 2009 at the age of 92. Her son and Bradford co-owner, Brad Sawyer, passed away on September 5, 2016.

At present, Bradford features snowmaking and night skiing on all of its terrain. As of 2014, the area logs about 60,000 ski and snowboard lessons per season.

NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
Month Average Percent of Terrain Open
December25%    (1 report)25 Open
January75%    (1 report)75 Open
March80%    (2 reports)80 Open
Recent Conditions Reports
Jan. 31, 2024 by rocket21
Loose Granular, Loose Granular
Mar. 6, 2021 by amicus
Frozen Granular, Bare Spots
Mar. 13, 2017 by beccam
Frozen Granular, Loose Granular
Dec. 17, 2016 by newenglandskier13
Powder, Packed Powder
Ski Bradford on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com


NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News
Recent Articles
Ski Bradford NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News Page


Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Standing Lifts
Installed
Evvy's Double Nickel Chair in 2014
Evvy's Double Nickel
Partek
Chairlift - Triple - Fixed
2003-04
Hornet Chair in 2005
Hornet Chair
Borvig
Chairlift - Triple - Fixed
1983-84
The Hornet T-Bar in 2014
Hornet T-Bar
Mueller
T-Bar
1971-72
The Wasp Chair in 2014
Wasp Chair
Borvig
Chairlift - Triple - Fixed
1988-89

Past Lifts
Seasons
Wasp T-Bar during removal in 2005
Wasp T-Bar
Hall
T-Bar
1978-79
-
2004-05


Maps
2023-24 Ski Bradford Trail Map
1998-99 Ski Bradford Trail Map1999-00 Ski Bradford Trail Map2000-01 Ski Bradford Trail Map2001-02 Ski Bradford Trail Map2002-03 Ski Bradford Trail Map2007-08 Ski Bradford Trail Map
View All Ski Bradford Trail Maps

Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass
2020s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2023-24$73.002023-24 Ticket Price Graph2023-24 Season Pass Price GraphJanuary 7March 32023-24 Skier Visit Graph
2022-23$69.002022-23 Ticket Price Graph2022-23 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 282022-23 Skier Visit Graph
2021-22$65.002021-22 Ticket Price Graph$700.002021-22 Season Pass Price Graph10.8 daysJanuary 6March 62021-22 Skier Visit Graph
2020-21$58.002020-21 Ticket Price Graph2020-21 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 20March 142020-21 Skier Visit Graph
2019-20$58.002019-20 Ticket Price Graph$665.002019-20 Season Pass Price Graph11.5 daysDecember 21March 82019-20 Skier Visit Graph
2010s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2018-19$55.002018-19 Ticket Price Graph$665.002018-19 Season Pass Price Graph12.1 daysDecember 11March 172018-19 Skier Visit Graph
2017-18$52.002017-18 Ticket Price Graph$665.002017-18 Season Pass Price Graph12.8 daysDecember 16March 182017-18 Skier Visit Graph
2016-17$52.002016-17 Ticket Price Graph$665.002016-17 Season Pass Price Graph12.8 daysDecember 17March 192016-17 Skier Visit Graph
2015-16$50.002015-16 Ticket Price Graph$665.002015-16 Season Pass Price Graph13.3 daysJanuary 6March 72015-16 Skier Visit Graph
2014-15$48.002014-15 Ticket Price Graph$665.002014-15 Season Pass Price Graph13.9 daysDecember 13March 292014-15 Skier Visit Graph
2013-14$48.002013-14 Ticket Price Graph$695.002013-14 Season Pass Price Graph14.5 daysDecember 132013-14 Skier Visit Graph
2012-13$45.002012-13 Ticket Price Graph$670.002012-13 Season Pass Price Graph14.9 daysDecember 262012-13 Skier Visit Graph
2011-12$45.002011-12 Ticket Price Graph$670.002011-12 Season Pass Price Graph14.9 daysDecember 222011-12 Skier Visit Graph
2010-11$43.002010-11 Ticket Price Graph2010-11 Season Pass Price GraphMarch 132010-11 Skier Visit Graph
2009-10$42.002009-10 Ticket Price Graph$670.002009-10 Season Pass Price Graph16.0 days2009-10 Skier Visit Graph
2000s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
2008-09$42.002008-09 Ticket Price Graph$670.002008-09 Season Pass Price Graph16.0 days2008-09 Skier Visit Graph
2007-08$38.002007-08 Ticket Price Graph$630.002007-08 Season Pass Price Graph16.6 days2007-08 Skier Visit Graph
2006-07$38.002006-07 Ticket Price Graph$630.002006-07 Season Pass Price Graph16.6 days2006-07 Skier Visit Graph
2005-06$33.002005-06 Ticket Price Graph$600.002005-06 Season Pass Price Graph18.2 days2005-06 Skier Visit Graph
2004-05$30.002004-05 Ticket Price Graph$550.002004-05 Season Pass Price Graph18.3 days2004-05 Skier Visit Graph
2003-04$30.002003-04 Ticket Price Graph$500.002003-04 Season Pass Price Graph16.7 days2003-04 Skier Visit Graph
2002-03$30.002002-03 Ticket Price Graph$500.002002-03 Season Pass Price Graph16.7 days2002-03 Skier Visit Graph
2000-01$28.002000-01 Ticket Price Graph$500.002000-01 Season Pass Price Graph17.9 days2000-01 Skier Visit Graph
1999-00$25.001999-00 Ticket Price Graph1999-00 Season Pass Price Graph1999-00 Skier Visit Graph
1990s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1998-991998-99 Ticket Price Graph1998-99 Season Pass Price GraphDecember 191998-99 Skier Visit Graph
1994-95$23.001994-95 Ticket Price Graph1994-95 Season Pass Price Graph1994-95 Skier Visit Graph
1992-93$20.001992-93 Ticket Price Graph1992-93 Season Pass Price Graph1992-93 Skier Visit Graph
1991-92$20.001991-92 Ticket Price Graph1991-92 Season Pass Price Graph1991-92 Skier Visit Graph
1990-91$20.001990-91 Ticket Price Graph1990-91 Season Pass Price Graph1990-91 Skier Visit Graph
1989-90$18.001989-90 Ticket Price Graph1989-90 Season Pass Price Graph1989-90 Skier Visit Graph
1980s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1988-89$18.001988-89 Ticket Price Graph1988-89 Season Pass Price Graph1988-89 Skier Visit Graph
1987-88$16.001987-88 Ticket Price Graph1987-88 Season Pass Price Graph1987-88 Skier Visit Graph
1960s Ticket Price Season Pass Price
Pass Payback
Opening Day
Closing Day
Skier Visits
1962-63$2.001962-63 Ticket Price Graph1962-63 Season Pass Price Graph1962-63 Skier Visit Graph


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
  • Last updated: October 19, 2016

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