Located within the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, Wachusett Mountain Ski Area operates in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Forest and Parks. We provide skiing and snowboarding on more than 100 acres of terrain within a 450-acre leased area.

For nearly 30 years, the Crowley family has operated direct Wachusett Mountain Ski Area as one of the premier ski resorts in New England. They have gained a national reputation throughout the ski industry for innovative management and leadership style and state-of-the-art environmental programs. From simple environmental protection measures to more comprehensive conservation initiatives, Wachusett Mountain Ski Area has a long history of developing programs to protect the natural resources of the region. Some of those programs include:

Land Conservation and Protection

• Wachusett Mountain Associates contributes a percentage of its gross receipts to a State Land Acquisition Trust Fund. The fund is dedicated to the purchase and preservation of open space. The purpose of the trust is to provide the Department of Conservation and Recreation with funds to acquire land desirable for conservation purposes. As of October 2000, more than 350 acres of land have been purchased with proceeds from the land acquisition fund in areas adjacent to Wachusett Mountain.
• We created an Old Growth Management Policy in conjunction with DEM in 1998 that  helps educate, protect and study the areas of old growth forest located on the mountain.
• We put more than 100 acres of private adjacent forest land owned by WMA into a forest protection program monitored by DCR.

Water Conservation and Protection

• Installing a 7.2-mile sewer line from the mountain to the Fitchburg wastewater treatment plant in 1982. The line was donated to the town of Westminster, providing the town with its first link to public sewer service.
• In 1983, Wachusett Mountain Associates also installed a $750,000 storm water diversion system to protect Wachusett Lake, a source of drinking water to the City of Fitchburg, as well as diminish flooding impacts from spring run-off.
• In further steps to protect the lake, DCR conducts extensive testing and monitoring with water tests daily at nine locations around the mountain. This system is used to monitor water quality coming from the mountain to insure the continued protection of Wachusett Lake. WMA has also partnered with the City of Fitchburg to conduct quarterly water quality sampling of Wachusett Lake to ensure that water flowing from the ski area to Wachusett Lake meets drinking water standards and shows snowmelt run-off does not contribute any degradation of the Lake.
• WMA has responded to concerns about the use of supplement water from Wyman Pond for snowmaking by installing a 1-mile pipeline to Wachusett Lake. By purchasing water from the City of Fitchburg, WMA has eliminated the need for additional storage ponds while insuring the protection of Wachusett Lake.

Energy Conservation

• Installing a state-of-the-art snowmaking compressor system which utilizes recirculated heat from air compressors to supply the base lodge with 100% of its heat, significantly reducing electrical consumption. WMA constructed a new snowmaking compressor building in 1997 utilizing this technology with even more energy efficient compressors.
• WMA was recognized for this program with a special recognition award from the Massachusetts Audubon Society and Worcester Business Journal in 1992.
• WMA also used specially-designed HKD tower snow guns for snowmaking which are eight times more efficient than conventional water guns and significantly reduce noise levels.

Waste Management

• Annually hosting hundreds of volunteers to help clean up the area on Earth Day each spring. These individuals police the ski area grounds, as well as nearby roads to collect trash and pick up debris.
• Ski area-wide recycling with a recycling center right on the premises.

Special Programs and Awards

• WMA's commitment to the environment was also recognized in 1999 on a national level as the ski area earned recognition as one of three finalists for the prestigious Golden Eagle Award from The Skiing Company (publishers of Ski and Skiing Magazines). Wachusett Mountain was runner up in the category for "Overall Environmental Excellence" to honor programs developed by ski resorts that reflect pro-active environmental sensitivity.

"We are committed to providing the highest quality experience to skiers, snowboarders and other outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy all the mountain has to offer without compromising the quality of life or the environment," said Jeff Crowley, president of Wachusett Mountain Associates. "As we are faced with a growing demand from our guests requesting additional and expanded terrain, we want to work closely with local and state officials, as well as area environmental groups to ensure that future development on the mountain is done in the most environmentally-sound manner possible. Studies have shown skiers are one of the most environmentally conscious groups in America. Skiing brings families together in a natural setting and we take our role in protecting that setting very seriously."