Industry News
Blue Hills Ski Area, located 17 miles south of downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and 35 miles north of Providence, Rhode Island, is formally accepting proposals for recreation operations and a 25-year lease for the ski area. In efforts to keep year-round activities operating at the space, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (‘DCR’) is actively seeking interested parties who are willing to take over the reins of the ski area.
Proposers will have an opportunity to submit questions about the ski area no later than 4:00 pm (EST) on April 3, 2024, and will get answers to their questions by April 10, 2024. Moreover, interested parties must visit the site by May 22, 2024, as well as send in their proposals by 4:00 pm (EST) on May 29, 2024. Interviews will be held (if needed) during the first week of June, and an official decision will be made on the proposals by June 10, 2024.
Blue Hills Ski Area offers eight runs across 60 skiable acres and is located within the Blue Hills Reservation, a 7,000-acre stretch of land with over 22 hills. The ski area includes two functional buildings at the base of the hill that offer a cafeteria, indoor seating, a ski and snowboard shop, a rental shop, and a ticket office. The ski area also has a snowmaking machine, an outdoor lighting system, and a parking lot with 100 spaces. Therefore, DCR is targeting a proposer who is eager to take charge and integrate year-round events and activities at the serviceable ski area. However, proposers must decide on how they want to go about maintenance and gathering necessary equipment for operations. Nevertheless, this is a great opportunity for investors who are passionate about the outdoors and willing to grow and advance a promising piece of land.
More information and details on the proposals can be found in the Mass DCR Concession.
Please consider that the ski area is an old gem of a place. It is 1 of Greater Boston’s 4 lift served hills -the others are Bradford; Nashoba & Ward. BH is a bit higher than the others and has the most pitch on one trail. The RFP appears to be for a 5 year lease (DCR refers to it as a Permit). There may be infrastructure challenges: water supply; power supply/distribution; uphill capacity (the only way to the top is a nearly 50 year old double); could use more lights/snowmaking; parking is less than great and not enough; lodge is a tear down.
Please take into account people that use the hill for training, running, hiking etc etc.
Time for a true bike park. Limited legal riding in the rest of Blue Hills. Lift service up would be awesome and some pretty aggressive trails could be built.