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{{short description|Ski area in Massachusetts, USA}}
{{About|the [[ski resort]]|information regarding the mountain by the same name|Mount Wachusett}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{promotional|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox ski area
|name= Wachusett Mountain
|logo=Wachusettmountainlogo.jpg
|picture=Wachusett Mountain ski aerial.jpg
|caption=Aerial view of the ski area
|location=[[Princeton, Massachusetts|Princeton]], [[Massachusetts]]
|nearest_city= [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
|coordinates = {{coord|42|29|58|N|71|53|11|W|type:landmark_scale:50000|display=inline, title}}
| pushpin_map = Massachusetts#United States
| pushpin_relief= 1
| pushpin_label_position =
| map_caption = 
|top_elevation= {{convert|2006|ft|abbr=on}}
|base_elevation= {{convert|1000|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|vertical={{convert|1006|ft|abbr=on}}
|skiable_area= {{convert|110|acre|km2}}
|number_trails= 26
|longest_run= {{convert|1.3|mi|abbr=on}} 
|liftsystem= 4 [[Magic carpet (ski lift)|magic carpets]] 1 [[chairlift|triple chairlift]] 3 [[detachable chairlift|high speed quads]]
|terrainparks= [[Alpine Park]] Racing venue
|snowfall= {{convert|100|in|cm|abbr=on}}
|snowmaking= 100%
|nightskiing = yes
|external_link= [http://www.wachusett.com wachusett.com]
|}}
'''Wachusett Mountain''' is an [[Alpine skiing|alpine]] [[Ski resort|ski area]] in the [[northeastern United States]], located on [[Mount Wachusett]], in the towns of [[Princeton, Massachusetts|Princeton]] and [[Westminster, Massachusetts|Westminster]], [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]], [[Massachusetts]]. The mountain has 25 trails served by eight lifts, including three [[Detachable chairlift|high-speed chairlifts]] and four [[Magic carpet (ski lift)|magic-carpet]] lifts, and a [[Chairlift|triple chairlift.]]

There is a bus shuttle service to and from nearby [[Wachusett station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wachusett.com/default.aspx?tabid=66|publisher=Wachusett Mountain Ski Area|title=Ski Train To Wachusett|year=2012|accessdate=2012-12-30}}</ref>

Wachusett Mountain has 100% snow-making capacity, and also has night skiing on most of its trails. The mountain is located in the central part of Massachusetts, with the closest major city being Worcester.

== History ==
[[Image:Wachusett Mountain.jpg|thumb|The original Beginners' Area Triple [[chair lift]] ]]
The first ski trails were cut into Mount Wachusett by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] in 1934 and 1937.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wachusett Mountain Ski Area History - Massachusetts |url=http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/Massachusetts/wachusett.php |website=www.newenglandskihistory.com}}</ref> Those trails were called Pine Hill Trail and Balance Rock. Today, skiers can still ski down the upper and lower half of Balance rock. The middle section closed in the 1980s. During [[World War II]], the [[10th Mountain Division]] trained at Wachusett. There is now a plaque at the summit commemorating this. The first lifts installed were a [[T-bar lift|T-bar]] in 1960 (the Oxbow T-Bar) and in 1962 (the West T-Bar). {{convert|3800|ft|m|-1}}.

The Massachusetts State Downhill ski championships were run on the Pine Hill Trail until 1966. The race was called off that year after 3 racers were injured and moved in the years following to the Balance Rock Trail until ski area expansion cut that trail in 1983.

In 1969, Ralph Crowley was granted a lease for a {{convert|450|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} parcel of land on Mount Wachusett by the state to operate the ski area. In 1982, a major expansion was completed, which included the construction of the base lodge.

Stands of old growth hardwood forest on Mount Wachusett became the object of a court ruling in favor of the [[Commonwealth of Massachusetts]] in a joint contract with the ski area regarding plans for a ski slope expansion into an environmental buffer zone around the old growth stand. The [[old-growth forest]] contains trees over 350 years old; the buffer zone contained mature trees about half that age. The [[Sierra Club]] and other conservation organizations criticized the ruling, and two members of [[Earth First!]] staged a [[sit-in]] protest by climbing into the crowns of several of the trees in the area slated to be [[clearcutting|clear cut]].<ref>DeMarco, Peter. "2 Tree-Sitters Staving Off Ax at Wachusett, Massachusetts" ''Boston Globe'' 10 September 2003.</ref><ref>''Sierra Club, et al. v. Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Management.'' 439 Mass 738 (2003).</ref> As of 2007 wording on the website of the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area included strong language prohibiting skiers and snowboarders from entering the old growth area: "Anyone found entering old growth areas will have their lift ticket revoked. Subsequent offenses will be subject to fines."<ref>[http://wawa.wachusett.com/mountain_info/environment/protect_forest/default.cfm "Protect the Old Growth Forest"] ''Mount Wachusett Ski Area''. Retrieved October 30, 2007.</ref>

== Mountain information ==
[[Image:Wachusett Mountain Center.jpg|right|thumb|Wachusett Mountain Center]]
The resort features 27 trails, ranging in difficulty from easiest (green circle) to most difficult (black diamond). Amidst these trails is a [[terrain park]] and a racing venue. Two [[high-speed chairlift]]s (''Minuteman'' and ''Polar Express'') service the two main peaks, as well as a newer high-speed lift for the beginner area (''Monadnock Express'').<ref>[http://www.wachusett.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Q0wNhoBR01Y%3d&tabid=213 "Wachusett to replace triple chairlift with a new high speed quad"] ''Wachusett Mountain Ski Area''. Retrieved August 30, 2011.</ref> One additional 3-person [[chairlift]] (''Vickery Bowl'') services the mid-mountain area. Three [[magic carpet (ski lift)|magic carpets]] service the mountain's training slopes, with a third open only during weekends and holiday periods for ski school lessons for young children.

In 2006, the [[National Ski Patrol]] named Wachusett Mountain Ski Patrol as the best ''Large Alpine Patrol'' in the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outstanding Award Winners|publisher=National Ski Patrol, Eastern Division|accessdate=2006-12-22|url=http://www.nspeast.org/html/national_outstandings2006.htm}}</ref>

The base lodge has recently been expanded, and is now nearly {{convert|50000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on}}. It contains public areas, a cafeteria, The Black Diamond restaurant, and private suites, that are available for daily rental.

The resort used to include the nearby ''Wachusett Village Inn,'' which provided overnight accommodations. The Inn was sold in 2016 and is now a rehabilitation center owned and operated by Recovery Centers Of America.

=== Trails ===

{|-
!width=25% style="background:green; color:white;"|Easier
!width=25% style="background:blue; color:white;"|More Difficult
!width=25% style="background:black; color:white;"|Most Difficult
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"
|5
|17
|5
|}

=== Lifts ===

*Wachusett has 4 [[chairlift]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://liftblog.com/wachusett-mountain-ma/|title = Wachusett Mountain, MA|date = 7 November 2017}}</ref> and 4 [[surface lift]]s.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Type !! Manufacturer !! Built !! Vertical {{small|(feet)}} !! Length {{small|(feet)}} !! Notes
|-
| Polar Express || rowspan="3"|[[Detachable chairlift|High Speed Quad]] || rowspan="4"|[[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]] || 1994 || 944 || 4307 || Main lift to the summit of Wachusett, and is the oldest lift on the mountain. Will most likely be replaced in the summer of 2025 with a 6 pack chairlift.
|-
| Minuteman Express || 1999 || 600 || 3516 || Open during the summer for summit excursions.
|-
| Monadnock Express || 2011 || 299 || 2205 || Main lift for the beginner area.
|-
| Vickery Bowl || [[Chairlift|Triple]] || 2004 || - || 1500 || Main lift for the terrain parks.
|-
| Whittier’s Teaching Meadow || rowspan="4" |[[Surface lift|Surface Lifts]] || - || - || - || 500 ||
|-
| Ollie's Carpet || - || - || 18 || 300 ||
|-
| Polar Kids || - || - || 9 || 100 ||
|-
| Easy Rider || - || - || ||350 ||
|-
|}

== See also ==
* [[Midstate Trail (Massachusetts)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.wachusett.com Wachusett Mountain Ski Area]
* [http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/wach.htm Wachusett Mountain State Reservation]
* [https://www.wachusett.com/The-Mountain/About-Wachusett/Trail-Map.aspx Trail Map]
*''[http://www.skitown.com/resortguide/stats.cfm/ma17/WachusettMountain Massachusetts - Resort Info & Mountain Stats]''
*''[http://skilifts.org/ma-wachusett.html Skilifts.org - Wachusett Mountain, MA]''
*''[http://wawa.wachusett.com/wachusettcommunity/pressroom/vickery/default.cfm Wachusett Mountain - Vickery Bowl & Magic Carpet]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wachusett Mountain (Ski Area)}}
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Massachusetts|Wachusett Ski Area, Mount]]
[[Category:Princeton, Massachusetts|Wachusett Ski Area, Mount]]
[[Category:Westminster, Massachusetts|Wachusett Ski Area, Mount]]
[[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Massachusetts]]

Wachusett Mountain (ski area) - Revision history

imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: add {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}