Berkshire East Ski Area

Berkshire East Ski Resort is a medium sized alpine ski area located on Mount Institute in Charlemont and Hawley, Massachusetts. Organized skiing started on Mt. Institute in the mid 1950s when Arthur Parker opened a small rope tow operation. Due to weather and other difficulties, it closed after one short season. Parker spent the balance of the decade gathering investors for a much larger operation on the same mountain. The first double chairlift, a Mueller, was installed for the grand re-opening 1961-62 season. A second double chairlift, another Mueller, was installed in 1962. Notable skiers during this time included former Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. New ownership took over in late...