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56 Worcester Business Journal | Book of Lists 2024 | wbjournal.com F O C U S H O S P I T A L I T Y Most popular tourist attractions Ranked by 2023 attendance, then local employees Attraction Annual attendance 2023/ local employees Services offered Top executive(s)/ year founded 1 New England Sports Center 121 Donald Lynch Blvd., Marlborough 01752 508-229-2700 • nes.com 1,000,000 69 Hockey, figure skating and public skating with eight full- size rinks, a mini rink and studio rink as well as pro shop, two restaurants and video arcade; home of the Lady Flames and Minuteman Flames Minor Hockey Association Jason Silbor general manager & ice scheduler 1994 2 Wachusett Mountain Ski Area 499 Mountain Road, Princeton 01541 978-464-2300 • wachusett.com 900,000 1,200 (1) Accessible mountain skiing and winter fun with three high-speed quads and 110 skiable acres Jeff Crowley president 1934 3 Great Wolf Lodge New England 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg 01420 978-343-9653 • greatwolf.com/new-england 700,000 750 Family resort and waterpark Henry Tessman general manager 2014 4 Worcester Red Sox (Polar Park) 100 Madison St., Worcester 01608 508-500-1000 • woosox.com 519,651 200 Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox with 75 home games at Polar Park in Worcester's Canal District; holds capacity for 9,508 fans Charles Steinberg president 2021 5 DCU Center 50 Foster St., Worcester 01608 508-755-6800 • dcucenter.com 485,357 750 Gathering place for entertainment, sporting events and public functions; accommodates groups from 15 to 15,000 Sandra Dunn general manager 1982 6 Southwick's Zoo 2 Southwick St., Mendon 01756 800-258-9182, ext. 212 • southwickszoo.com 450,000 175 Family-owned zoo over 200 acres with 850 animals including chimpanzee, giraffe, white rhino, lion and tiger; deer forest, petting zoo, daily shows, rides, new Within the Wild Carousel Peter Justin Brewer president 1965 7 New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill (2) 11 French Drive, Boylston 01505 508-869-6111 • nebg.org 224,279 60 Open to the public year-round for garden viewing, trail walking, educational classes, exhibitions, events, weddings, garden shop and café Grace Chapman Elton CEO 1842 8 Old Sturbridge Village 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge 01566 800-733-1830 • osv.org 200,000 150 Living history museum James E. Donahue president & CEO 1946 9 Discovery Museum 177 Main St., Acton 01720 978-264-4200 • discoveryacton.org 193,965 (3) 75 Museum of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) Marie Beam CEO 1982 10 Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts 2 Southbridge St., Worcester 01608 877-571-7469 • thehanovertheatre.org 180,000 100 Dynamic downtown destination where all people can experience power of the performing arts Troy Siebels (4) president & CEO 2008 11 Johnny Appleseed Visitors' Center (5) 1000 Route 2 West, Lancaster 01523 978-534-2302 • visitnorthcentral.com 165,000 4 Open daily, year-round with tourism information and growing collection of exhibits and gift shop for local artisans to showcase crafts and products Roy Nascimento president 1997 12 Mechanics Hall 321 Main St., Worcester 01608 508-752-5608 • mechanicshall.org 135,000 40 National Registered Historic Place that offers 19th- century elegance, modern amenities and red-carpet service for events and performances Kathleen Gagne executive director 1857 13 EcoTarium 222 Harrington Way, Worcester 01604 508-929-2700 • ecotarium.org 130,000 50 Museum of science and nature, an indoor-outdoor experience dedicated to inspiring a passion for science and nature in visitors of all ages Noreen Johnson Smith president & CEO 1825 14 Worcester Art Museum 55 Salisbury St., Worcester 01609 508-793-4330 • worcesterart.org 115,488 130 Connects people, communities and cultures through the experience of art Matthias Waschek director 1896 15 Ski Ward Ski Area 1000 Main St., Shrewsbury 01545 508-842-6346 • skiward.com 100,000 175 Year-round outdoor recreation with summer & winter tubing, skiing, snowboarding, beach volleyball leagues and cycling; event packages and May-October outdoor dining, bar & ice cream Stephanie LaCroix general manager 1939 16 Tougas Family Farm LLC 234 Ball St., Northborough 01532 508-393-6406 • tougasfamilyfarm.com 100,000 75 Family-owned farm with pick-your-own strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, nectarines, apples & pumpkins; barnyard, playground, farm store and kitchen for seasonal baked goods, ice cream, cider donuts & more Kerrie Ward manager 1981 17 Indian Ranch and Samuel Slater's Restaurant 200 Gore Road, Webster 01570 508-943-3871 • indianranch.com; samuelslaters.com 50,000 150 Outdoor amphitheater and on-site restaurant on Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg with summer concert series and campground Suzette Coppola president, Indian Ranch 1946 18 Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester 3 Paul Clancy Way, Worcester 01607 508-373-7056 • blackstoneheritagecorridor.org 50,000 4 Interpretive, recreational and cultural amenity serving as a gateway to the City of Worcester and the entire National Heritage Corridor Devon Kurtz executive director 2018 19 Spencer Fair 48 Smithville Road, Spencer 01562 508-885-5814 • spencerfair.org 35,000 0 (6) Traditional country fair taking place annually over Labor Day weekend Bobby Knight president 1888 20 Groton Hill Music Center 122 Old Ayer Road, Groton 01450 978-486-9524 • grotonhill.org 30,000 100 Home to the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra and more than 30 professional performances and community events Lisa Fiorentino CEO 1985 21 Bolton Fair (Fairgrounds at Lancaster) 318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster 01523 978-365-7206 • boltonfair.org 30,000 0 (7) Annual fair with animal shows, exhibits, events and entertainment; Aug. 9-11, 2024 Rose Darden president & fair manager 1874 22 The Center for the Arts in Natick 14 Summer St., Natick 01760 29,014 9 (8) Venue showing art films, programs and performances David Lavalley executive director The Worcester Red Sox were officially sold to the Diamond Baseball Holdings, a corporation based in New York City, at the end of 2023. DCU Center held the seventh annual Latin American Business Expo to highlight the efforts of Latinos, women, and minority-owned businesses in April. EcoTarium hired Debra Shear to the newly created position of chief advance- ment officer in October. Worcester Art Museum in September transferred ownership of a bronze bust called Portrait of a Lady to the New York County District Attorney's Office after learning it was likely stolen, beginning the repatriation process for the 1966 acquisition in September. Southwick's Zoo is working with conservation and education nonprofit Earth Ltd. to construct a new Earth Connection Center, allowing for the expansion of its educational and outreach programs. The building is set to be completed by spring 2025.