The proposal has received unanimous approval from the Nashua Planning Board.
Saturday, December 3, 2016, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
New Hampshire may soon have a new ski area, as the Nashua Planning Board unanimously approved the proposed Gateway Hills Ski Slope at its Thursday meeting. The proposal now heads to the Nashua Board of Alderman.
Also known as the Nashua Technology Park, Gateway Hills is located on Long Hill in Nashua, just off the Everett Turnpike. The property is owned and operated by Braintree, Massachusetts headquartered John Flatley Company. The Flatley Company has not yet responded to a request for comment.
According to the presentation to the Planning Board by Chad Branon of Fieldstone Land Consultants and Kevin Walker of John Flatley Company, Gateway Hills Ski Slope would be two novice slopes bisected by a 250 foot long, 40 vertical foot Magic Carpet lift. The area would be open for night skiing Monday through Friday and for day and night skiing on weekends.
The slope would be an upside down ski area with a small ticket and rental office at the top, as well as a porta potty. An existing paved parking lot for 300 Innovative Way would be used for the ski area, connected by a short walkway.
The ski slope was already cleared as part of a larger alternation of terrain permit and could open as soon as this winter. Snowmaking is not part of the current proposal, but could be proposed in the future if customer demand warrants it. The developer plans to truck in snow from parking lots if needed.
The Gateway Hills Ski Slope would initially only permit skiing and snowboarding. Tubing could be proposed in the future.
If approved and constructed, Gateway Hills Ski Slope would likely be the first net new New Hampshire ski area to open to the public since the 1970s. The area would also be the state's smallest.
