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Located in southwestern Massachusetts, Otis Ridge has a long history in developing young ski racers.
The Judsons Start a Ski Area
David and Hooker Judson |
The lineage of Otis Ridge dates back to the Great Depression era, when writers David Judson and Mary Hooker Woodward married in 1936. After a skiing honeymoon in South America, the Judsons settled in Old Lyme, Connecticut and ran the The Connecticut Shore. Just prior to World War II, the couple relocated to Otis, Massachusetts.
Following their service in the 10th Mountain Division in Italy, David Judson and Bartow Holbrooke returned to Otis and started construction of a ski area on November 15, 1946. The goal of their enterprise was to provide skiing without crowded lifts or trails.
Clearing Otis Ridge in the 1940s |
With the start of the ski season delayed due to a lack of snow, Otis Ridge formally opened on January 5, 1947 to Hartford Ski Club members skiing the expert Ridge Run trail, served by tiered rope tows. Though conditions were initially poor, decent snowfall finally arrived in March, allowing Otis Ridge to operate at least through the end of the month.
The sophomore season likely started around New Year's Day and saw the addition of the novice Meadow slope and rope tow.
For the 1948-49 season, Otis Ridge operated on weekends with three trails and the Meadow slope. Ellsworth "El" Newberry served as ski school director, while Lester Woolley headed the ski patrol. The season kicked into gear over Christmas weekend on the Meadow slope with a crowd of 150, as the main mountain had inadequate snow. The season continued into March, often on less than a foot of base, but likely came to a close before the start of spring. The Berkshire Eagle later referred to the season as being in a state of "perpetual thaw."
The original Otis Ridge Ski Camp area (1949) |
Meanwhile, the 1948-49 season also saw the start of the Otis Ridge Ski Camp. The camp was initially operated by George and Carolyn Dillman at their Hackmatack Farm, a summer camp located off Miner Road, a few miles south of Otis Ridge. The camp was outfitted with its own rope tow and slope and had ski instruction offered by Harry Gilmore. Gilmore moved the camp to the Maplewood to the north of Otis Ridge for the 1949-50 season.
1950s Struggles with Snow
The 1949-50 season likely got underway on the Meadow Slope on December 10. El Newberry continued as ski school director. Though the season likely saw extended portions of poor or no skiing, Otis Ridge made regional headlines in April when David Judson staged what he called the world's first trout slalom. Reopening following a fluke mid-April 10" snow storm, kids skied down a slalom course, then raced to catch the first trout, using their ski poles. Seven-year-old Carolyn Erbe completed the course and caught a fish in 25 minutes, winning a fishing basket for first place.
Otis Ridge operated on weekends and holidays during the 1950-51 season, which may have started in late December. It is not known if the rope tows actually operated before rain arrived just after New Year's. Operations briefly resumed by mid-January on a two-inch base with three inches of powder on top. The poor season may have come to a close in mid-February.
Despite the poor winters, Otis Ridge pushed forward. The Otis Ridge Ski Club was formed in the fall of 1951 and soon sanctioned by the United States Eastern Amateur Ski Association. To host races, a new slalom slope was cut adjacent to the rope tow line by David Judson and Max Henry.
The 1951-52 season likely kicked off in mid-December with limited skiing in the Meadow area following a snow storm. Another storm boosted conditions following Christmas, however the New Year's holiday was wiped out by rain. Nevertheless, business through mid-January was "better than the last few," according to the Berkshire Eagle. One early January weekend saw a day with 350 skiers and a full Otis Hotel nearby. Another washout soon followed, putting a damper on the rest of the month and into February. Natural snow returned in time for Otis Ridge's inaugural Southern New England Interclub Slalom Race (later known as the Berkshire Slalom) in mid-February. A 28-gate course was set on the new slalom slope, drawing 41 racers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. A lack of snow limited racers to one run each instead of the planned two runs, and was reportedly 25% shorter in length than originally planned. Multiple rain events in March melted out the season around the end of calendar winter.
Ice chipping at Otis Ridge |
Bernie Neveu took an active role in the ski area for the 1952-53 season, leveraging his United States Eastern Amateur Ski Association instructor certification to help the ski camp. The season kicked off in early January, but was again plagued by many rain events. The Berkshire Eagle noted, "Often we hear the comment that things just ain't like they used to be. This may be so, but it offers no consolation to the guy trying to earn a buck with a ski tow." The 1953 Berkshire Slalom in mid-February attracted more than twice as many competitors as the inaugural race and resulted in a capacity crowd at the area, despite subpar conditions. Days later, Otis Ridge likely closed for the season due to lack of snow.
The 1953-54 season likely didn't start until the second weekend in January. Though Otis Ridge was able to hold its third annual Berkshire Slalom, the season was likely washed out in mid-February.
The struggles continued in 1954-55, as Otis Ridge likely didn't open until the end of January, and then only on 1 to 3 inches of snow. The lack of snow continued in February, leading to the cancellation of the Berkshire Slalom. Timely snowfall resulted in crowds of 200 skiers per day over Washington's Birthday weekend. Rain and warm weather returned soon thereafter, inspiring David Judson to chip 45 tons of ice to keep the ski school slope open. The season came to an end in mid-March.
The trend of January openings likely continued with the 1955-56 season.
The Poma circa the 1950s |
Otis Ridge became a "major area" by contemporary standards in 1956-57, when it installed its first non-rope-tow surface lift. Advertised as the first lift of its kind in Southern New England, the top to bottom Poma lift was installed near where the present day chairlift is located. At the time, Otis Ridge hailed it as "the safest, most comfortable, easiest riding lift available today."
Otis Ridge worked to appeal more to beginners and intermediates for the 1958-59 season. In addition to reworking the Dutchman Trail and enlarging the ski school slope, it installed a new J-Bar next to the former and a new rope tow on the latter. The J-Bar was likely built in conjunction with a similar lift at Dutch Hill.
A Larchmont snowmaking system was installed for the 1960-61 season.
Otis Ridge in the 1960s |
The late 1940s rope tow adjacent to Ridge Run was replaced in 1962-63 with a T-Bar, leaving Otis with a variety of surface lift types (rope tows, J-Bar, T-Bar, and Poma lift).
Following the 1964-65 season, Ski School Director Frank Weston departed for Brodie. Jim Day took over the Otis Ridge ski school for the 1965-66 season.
The Poma circa the 1960s |
Jim Ryan was named Ski School Director for the 1967-68 season.
The Grouse House was built circa 1968, allowing for multi-day skiers to rent a bunk at a reasonable cost.
Otis Ridge circa the late 1960s or early 1970s |
Trees were cut for the 1971-72 season, as the Bushwhacker trail was cut from the top of the T-Bar to the Meadow complex and the Acorn trail was widened.
New Ownership
Otis Ridge circa the 1980s |
As was the case throughout most of New England, rough winters in the 1970s and early 1980s hit Otis Ridge hard. Foreclosure hit during the winter of 1981-82, resulting in the ski area ending up in the hands of R.S.M. Management, Inc.
A refurbished double chairlift was installed for the 1982-83 season, replacing the aging Poma lift.
In May of 1987, R.S.M. Management, Inc. sold Otis Ridge to Otis Associates, Inc. for $470,000.
In 1992, manager Alden "Al" Hewett was fired from his job as New Hartford police officer, following accusations of sexual abuse of a male minor in the 1980s. Members of the community came to his defense. Hewett remained at Otis Ridge. Nearly a decade and a half later, new charges of sexual abuse emerged. In April of 2008, Al Hewett (who sometimes used the name Al Hewitt) was convicted of raping a boy in Otis during the 1990s. Hewett was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in jail. Part owner Jamie Carr took over as General Manager of the ski area.
Butternut to the Rescue
The Dutchman trail in 2016 |
On January 6, 2011, Ski Butternut General Manager Jeff Murdock formed Stoney Management LLC. In March, Otis Ridge took out a second mortgage for $350,000 with Stoney Management. Facing foreclosure, Otis Associates agreed to transfer the ski area to Murdock's Otis Ridge Properties, LLC on December 31, 2016 for $195,000. Months later, Murdock also acquired nearby Ski Blandford, rescuing it from closure.
Otis Ridge remains in operation with some of the lowest prices for chairlift-served skiing in New England.
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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 | $55.00 |  | $319.00 | | 5.8 days | December 9 | March 10 | | | | | 2022-23 | $50.00 | | $289.00 | | 5.8 days | December 17 | March 26 | | | | | 2021-22 | $45.00 | | $249.00 | | 5.5 days | December 18 | March 20 | | | | | 2020-21 | $40.00 | | $230.00 | | 5.8 days | December 19 | March 21 | | | | | 2019-20 | $40.00 | | $220.00 | | 5.5 days | December 7 | March 15 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $40.00 | | $220.00 | | 5.5 days | December 8 | March 24 | | | | | 2017-18 | $40.00 | | $220.00 | | 5.5 days | December 9 | March 25 | | | | | 2016-17 | $40.00 | | $220.00 | | 5.5 days | December 17 | March 25 | | | | | 2015-16 | $40.00 | | $220.00 | | 5.5 days | December 12 | March 13 | | | | | 2014-15 | $35.00 | | $220.00 | | 6.3 days | December 13 | March 29 | | | | | 2013-14 | $35.00 | | $220.00 | | 6.3 days | December 14 | March 22 | | | | | 2012-13 | $30.00 | | $200.00 | | 6.7 days | December 15 | March 17 | | | | | 2011-12 | $30.00 | | $200.00 | | 6.7 days | December 17 | March 11 | | | | | 2010-11 | $30.00 | | $220.00 | | 7.3 days | December 18 | | | | | | 2009-10 | $30.00 | | $220.00 | | 7.3 days | | March 20 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $30.00 | | $220.00 | | 7.3 days | | | | | | | 2007-08 | $30.00 | | $200.00 | | 6.7 days | | | | | | | 2006-07 | $30.00 | | $200.00 | | 6.7 days | | | | | | | 2005-06 | $30.00 | | $200.00 | | 6.7 days | | | | | | | 2004-05 | $29.00 | | $200.00 | | 6.9 days | | | | | | | 2003-04 | $25.00 | | $200.00 | | 8.0 days | | | | | | | 2002-03 | $25.00 | | $200.00 | | 8.0 days | | | | | | | 2001-02 | $24.00 | | $200.00 | | 8.3 days | December 26 | | | | | | 2000-01 | $22.00 | | $200.00 | | 9.1 days | | | | | | | 1999-00 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1996-97 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1995-96 | $22.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1994-95 | | | | | | December 17 | | | | | | 1993-94 | | | | | | December 18 | | | | | | 1992-93 | $22.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1991-92 | $22.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1990-91 | $29.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $20.00 | | $220.00 | | 11.0 days | | | | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1987-88 | $18.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1985-86 | $15.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1984-85 | $13.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1983-84 | $13.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1982-83 | $12.00 | | | | | December 5 | March 25 | | | | | 1981-82 | $12.00 | | | | | | March 28 | | | | | 1980-81 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $8.50 | | $95.00 | | 11.2 days | | March 24 | | | | | 1976-77 | $7.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $6.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1974-75 | $6.50 | | $90.00 | | 13.8 days | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $6.50 | | | | | December 16 | | | | | | 1972-73 | $6.50 | | $90.00 | | 13.8 days | | | | | | | 1971-72 | $6.00 | | $75.00 | | 12.5 days | November 27 | | | | | | 1970-71 | $6.00 | | | | | | April 11 | | | | | 1969-70 | $6.00 | | $75.00 | | 12.5 days | | April 6 | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $5.00 | | | | | November 13 | | | | | | 1967-68 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1966-67 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1965-66 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1964-65 | $4.00 | | $55.00 | | 13.8 days | | | | | | | 1963-64 | $4.00 | | $40.00 | | 10.0 days | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $4.00 | | | | | December 22 | | | | | | 1961-62 | $4.00 | | | | | December 22 | April 1 | | | | | 1960-61 | $4.00 | | | | | December 17 | | | | | | 1959-60 | $3.50 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1950s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1957-58 | | | | | | | April 13 | | | | | 1953-54 | | | | | | January 9 | February 14 | | | | | 1952-53 | | | | | | January 4 | | | | | | 1951-52 | | | | | | December 15 | | | | | | 1949-50 | | | | | | December 10 | April 15 | | | |
| 1940s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1948-49 | | | | | | December 25 | | | | | | 1946-47 | | | | | | January 5 | | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "Thank goodness they persevered through those early years. If you ever want to experience skiing the way it was, including the lodge, or if you are younger, wonder about what those stories were about, this the place. With, modern grooming, excellent snowmaking, and very adequate lift conveyance. Great learning areas for beginners as well." | | Rick Payer, Jul. 27, 2022 | | "Remember well the Grouse House after a great ski day or evening! Also, took a skiing course from Northwestern Connecticut Community College many years ago. Loved it, learned a lot, great fun! So happy to see a small friendly ski area still thriving and doing well! " | | Valeria Morck, Jan. 30, 2021 | | "Otis Ridge. "This use to be my playground". My folks, Anne and Bill Roach, were counselors/instructors at Camp. I was allowed to come when I turned 5 yrs and I never looked back. It was a dream life growing up at Camp. There were a bunch of us counselor kids: the Brooks, Vincent, Nevue, Putnam, Greenleaf. Every single weekend and holiday in the winter, we must have terrorized everyone. But wonderful memories and what a wonderful upbringing. I think just about all of us became incredible skiers, most of us went on to become certified instructors ourselves. As I look back now, I can honestly say my years at Otis was the best time of my life. Thank you Dave and Hooker, where ever you are!" | | Andy McMahan (Roach), Dec. 16, 2017 | | "I will always have fond memories of Otis, as it is where I started my career in the ski business. I started out as a part-time cross-country instructor and helped out occasionally on the alpine side. The next year I also worked part-time but mostly taught alpine lessons. I worked fulltime the next two years, during which I received my PSIA alpine certification. Those years were a lot of fun, and I did nearly every job on the mountain. I, along with a great and motivated ski school staff, had the pleasure of teaching Jamie Carr how to ski. She started from a never-ever, sometimes taking two lessons a day. There were also many nights in the Grouse House for apre' ski, some that were then and more so now, a blur. It was a great start to the ski business and, even after 40 years, I can still say that I'm still looking for a 'real' job." | | John Cossaboom, Nov. 14, 2013 |
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External Links
Otis Ridge - official site
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Last updated: April 30, 2024
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