Ski Butternut

{{Short description|Ski area in Great Barrington, Massachusetts}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox ski area | name = Ski Butternut | logo = | picture = | caption = The Top Flight Quad at Ski Butternut | location = Great Barrington, Massachusetts, US | nearest_city = | coordinates = {{coord|42|10|41|N|73|19|01|W|display=it}} | lat_d = | long_d = | top_elevation = {{convert|1800|ft|abbr=on}} | base_elevation = {{spaces|3}}{{convert|820|ft|abbr=on}} | vertical = {{convert|1000|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.snocountry.com/snowclient/displayinfox.php?action=mountainstats&from=profile&permcode=413004 Ski Butternut Ski Reports, Snow Conditions and Weather - SnoCountry Mountain Reports]</ref> | skiable_area = | number_trails = 22 | longest_run = Pied Piper, to Crosstown, and then to cruiser. | liftsystem = 5 Chair lift, additional 4 carpet lifts. | terrainparks = 2 | snowfall = {{convert|115|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onthesnow.com/massachusetts/ski-butternut/profile.html|title = Ski Butternut Ski Resort Area Overview - OnTheSnow}}</ref> | snowmaking = 100% | external_link = [http://www.skibutternut.com Ski Butternut] |}}

thumb | right '''Ski Butternut''', also known as '''Butternut Basin''', is a ski resort in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, US, on Warner Mountain in The Berkshires.

Channing and Jane Murdock took control of the area in 1963, naming the area '''Butternut Basin''' after the large groves of butternut trees in the basin of the mountain. The Kennedys, family friends of the Murdocks, visited Butternut. {{failed verification|date=February 2017}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040704005551/http://teachski.com/areas/butternutbasin.htm Brief history from Butternut Basin's 2003 Fortieth Anniversary Brochure]</ref><ref>[http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/Massachusetts/jugend.php Brief History of Jug End Ski Area, South Egremont, MA], on "New England History" website.</ref> The Murdocks' son Jeffrey took over the resort in 1994.<ref>https://theberkshireedge.com/ski-butternut-to-celebrate-its-60th-anniversary/</ref>

The mountain has 22 trails, ten ski lifts including five quad lifts, two terrain parks, an area for tubing in winter, and a PSIA-affiliated ski school. In the off-season, the mountain hosts a number of summer concerts and festivals, including the annual Berkshires Arts Festival.

== Lifts ==

=== Main Lifts === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Name !Type !Make !Built |- |Top Flight |Quad | rowspan="3" |Garventa-CTEC |1993 |- |Highline |Quad |1994 |- |Cruiser |Quad |2005 |- |Jane's |Quad |Skytrac |2026 |- |Paddy's |Quad |CARLEVARO-SAVIO |1969 |}

== 1995 Tornado == During the 1995 Great Barrington Tornado, Ski Butternut sustained extensive damages to ski lifts and trails. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Nick |date=2025-05-29 |title=30 years since strong tornado struck Great Barrington, Massachusetts |url=https://turnto10.com/weather/weather-blog/30-year-anniversary-violent-tornado-great-barrington-massachusetts |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=WJAR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowgill |first=Terry |date=2020-05-23 |title=Remembering the 'great' Great Barrington tornado 25 years later |url=https://theberkshireedge.com/remembering-the-great-great-barrington-tornado-25-years-later/ |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=The Berkshire Edge |language=en-US}}</ref> The tornado caused a total of $2 million in damages, affecting 18 trails, and 5 lifts. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Advocate |date=2008-01-31 |title=FreeSport: The Ups and Downs |url=https://valleyadvocate.com/2008/01/31/freesport-the-ups-and-downs/ |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=Valley Advocate |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.skibutternut.com Ski Butternut] - Official site * [http://www.nelsap.org/ma/gbarsranch.html G-Bar-S Ranch] - New England Lost Ski Areas Project * [http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/Massachusetts/butternut.php Butternut - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com] - Ski area and CCC trails history

Category:Buildings and structures in Berkshire County, Massachusetts Category:Great Barrington, Massachusetts Category:Ski areas and resorts in Massachusetts Category:Sports in Berkshire County, Massachusetts Category:Tourist attractions in Berkshire County, Massachusetts