Wachusett Mountain Operators Honored with Sherman Adams Award
Crowley Family Recognized by NSAA for Industry Contributions.

PRINCETON, Ma. – The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) announced on May 29th that Massachusetts-based Wachusett Mountain Ski Area operators Carolyn Stimpson, David Crowley and Jeff Crowley have been selected as the recipients of this year’s prestigious Sherman Adams Award. The award, named after the former governor of New Hampshire and founder of Loon Mountain, has been presented annually since 1975 to an individual from an Eastern ski area operator who has significantly influenced the ski industry.   The award was officially presented May 29 at NSAA’s National Convention and Tradeshow in San Francisco, Ca.  NSAA, located in Lakewood, Co., is a trade association formed in 1962 for ski area owners and operators nationwide.

“We are extremely proud to be recognized by our peers,” said Wachusett Mountain President Jeff Crowley.  “The award is not only a tribute to our father and our family but to the hard work and dedication of our staff.”

While there’s been skiing at Wachusett since the days of the Civilian Conservation Corp. in the 1930’s, the Wachusett story really began about 40 years ago when Ralph Sr. won a five-year lease to operate what was then a small, state-owned area with two T-bars, a rope tow and limited terrain. With Ralph’s vision to create a top family-oriented mountain steadfast, in 1981 he convinced the state legislature to provide him with a long-term lease to expand and operate the ski area on 450 acres of the 2,000-acre state reservation. Today, the mountain’s amenities rival any major northern New England resort. And, with unique programs and services like its Mountain Suite luxury boxes, ski train from Boston, highly-efficient rental shop or the use of bio-diesel to run the grooming machines – Wachusett continues to be an industry pioneer.

Ralph Sr. died in 1996; his wife, Frances Crowley, in 1998. They passed down the passion, strong business sense and legacy of hard work that lives on in their five children. At Wachusett David serves as GM/COO, Jeff is president and Carolyn is the vice president of mountain services. Older brothers Ralph Jr. and Chris run the other family business, Polar Beverages in nearby Worcester. David has served on the NSAA Board of Directors from 1997 to 2006, serving as chair from 2004 to 2006.