wbjournal.com | October 28, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 43
35th Anniversary
WBJ
In fact, he says, man-made snow is better
for skiing and lasts longer.
"We're spending (a) half-million dollars
this year on fan-type snowmaking units to
enable us to get the place open on a timely
basis," said Crowley, with the technology
becoming more energy efficient and better
for the environment.
"It's more dense and less apt to melt,"
Crowley said of man-made snow. "Natural
snow is beautiful, but doesn't last as long."
Snowmaking operations, along with the
mountain's webcams, were added by the
Crowley family over the years. "We were
webcam early adopters," Crowley said. "It
allowed people to go online and see ski
conditions before heading out."
Mount Wachusett – which had its trails
cut in 1937 as part of a government program
– will have its oldest li replaced by a
high-speed, six-pack li next year, offering
nine-second spacing in between each
carrier, with auto-closure and auto-locking
mechanisms. "It has the same capacity as a
high-speed quad that would be loaded every
six seconds," Crowley said.
Another investment Mount Wachusett is
making this year is replacing its circa-1960s
skier services building, a project in the final
planning stages.
Investment and improvement decisions
– such as new lis and building renovations
– can come from customer feedback;
anonymous surveys with management; and
social media comments. Some upgrades
aren't as apparent to visitors, such as
new soware systems and well-pump
replacements, Crowley said.
COVID constraints
During the pandemic, Wachusett
Mountain did its best to accommodate the
state's mandate that it cut its capacity in
"We're spending
half (a) million
dollars this year
on fan-type
snowmaking units
to enable us
to open on
a timely basis."
– Jeff Crowley, on Wachusett's efforts
to keep skiiers coming back despite
climate-change challenges
Continued on next page
Wachusett Mountain has shined
through ups and downs over the years.
COURTESY MASS. OFFICE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM
