Berkshire East Adds Downhill Mountain Biking and Whitewater Rafting in 2015
New activities are the latest in a series of additions and acquisitions.
Friday, April 10, 2015, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
In the latest of a multi-million dollar series of investments, the family owners of Berkshire East Mountain Resort have announced two new attractions will be opening in 2015.
The Schaefers recently acquired the Massachusetts operations of Moxie Outdoor Adventures and have rebranded it as Berkshire Whitewater. The Maine based rafting business had rented lodge space at Berkshire East for over a decade. Berkshire Whitewater is set to begin in April, operating on the Deerfield, Millers, and West rivers in Massachusetts and Vermont.
Berkshire East's initial entrance into mountain biking began in 2011, when it participated in the development of the 35 mile Charlemont Trails biking network. In 2014, Berkshire East hired Gravity Logic, a Canadian company that has built parks throughout the world, to construct a new series of lift served trails.
The Thunder Mountain Bike Park is expected to open in July, served by the mountain's recently constructed Summit Quad. The facility will have trails for all abilities, as well as a full rental fleet.
In addition to rafting and mountain biking operations, Berkshire East opened a zip line operation in 2009, a wind turbine in 2011, a solar farm in 2012, a new lodge addition and pub in early 2014, and a mountain coaster and the Warfield House Inn in late 2014.
New ski terrain may also be developed in 2015, following a 2014 purchase of land on the north side of the mountain.
