Blanchard Hill
Dunstable, MA
1966-1984

History of Blanchard ~ Historical Photos ~ Recent Photos ~ Detailed Chronology ~ Memories

History of Blanchard

Blanchard Ski Area was located on Main Street in Dunstable, Massachusetts. It was purchased and run by the Kenny family. According to Glenn Shambroom, prior to the purchase, the land was known as the "Sciuto Mutation Mink Ranch" (whatever that means!), and was owned and operated (as what, unknown) by a gentleman named Frank Sciuto.

The ski area was your typical local one, with a few surface lifts, trails, and slopes. A definite "Mom and Pop area", this area was designed to teach youngsters to ski as well as allowing people to get a few turns in at night.

Here's a trail map from 1968.

The area opened in 1966 with a T-bar and 3 rope tows. The Hall T-bar as 1340' long, had a vertical drop of 253', a capacity of 1200 skiers/hr, and moved at 450'/minute, making the lift ride about 3 minutes. Over time, a second T-bar was installed, and a rope tow removed. There is a possibility that a double chair was installed just before the area closed in 1984.

Here's a patch of Blanchard from NELSAPPER Jim Clarke.
Unfortunately, competition likely did in this small ski area. It was very close to Nashoba, Temple, and Wachusett, all of which were larger. The area closed in 1984.

Here's a Terraserver picture of the area in the mid 1990's. Since then, several nice homes have been built on the former lower slopes, though the upper ones are still noticeable. If you look on the upper right you can see a lift line through the woods, with two trails flanking it (to the right of the white splotch).

Historical Photos

Paul Lemieux sent us the following terrific photos of the area in 1978. To the right is the 1340' long Hall T-bart, with two wide slopes to the left and right.

The top of the T-bar, and the A-Frame lift attendant building.
Jumper doing a "JBird"?

 

Jumper doing a spread eagle.

 

Blanchard Hills In 2001

Betsy McDonough took the following pictures of the area as it existed in 2001.

The base lodge is still standing, though seems out of place with all the expensive homes surrounding it.
Looking up at one of the grown in slopes, now in somebody's backyard.

Another view of a grown in slope. The pine trees were definitely there when the ski area operated.

Memories of Blanchard:

Scott Theurer:  I lived right around the Corner from Blanchard Hill in Dunstable from 75 to 83. Skied there many nights, They used to hang glide done the steep front face of it during the summer . I didn't see this in your info but I drove by there in 87 or 88 and the place was closed but there was a double chair replacing one of the t bars.

Heather Burns: We lived in Dunstable, Mass. and I learned to ski at Blanchard Hill in Dunstable in the late 60's and have great memories of my dad standing at the bottom of the hill watching us come down.

Mike Schramm: I was taught to ski at both Blanchard Hill and Indian Head. The photo I am attaching is from 1974. at Blanchard Hill. I think this is the main slope, the T-Bar is to my left as I recall. I recall many an icy climb up the T-bar. The snow making was not that great, often leaking tons of water onto the T-bar track making for a challenging ride up the lift with my brother Thom. I've always had fond memories of skiing at these hills when I was a kid.

David Paquin: I remember skiing at Blanchard Hill with neighbors as a young teenager and beyond. I also recall the T-Bar as being a thrill in itself at times to get up the hill without falling off, or knocking your partner off due to the craters and bumps in the tracks,

The attached image is a lift ticket from the lost Blanchard Hill ski area in Dunstable MA and is from David. 5 cents to ski! craters and bumps in the tracks.

Here's a more detailed Chronology of Blanchard Hill:

Year Lifts Trails Other Information Source
1966-1968 3 Rope Tows, T-bar Unknown, but 190' drop Blanchard opens around this time. Night skiing. America's Ski Book, 1968 map of unknown origin (above)
1973 3 Rope Tows, 1 T-bar, 2500/hour capacity 6 trails, vertical now 200', likely rounded up Manager: John Kenny. Phone # - 413-649-6137, parking for 300 cars, operates daily, snowmaking, night skiing (7-10pm), ski shop, snack bar, rentals, warming hut, 35 ski instructors, $3.00 adult weekend and $2.00 adult weekday rates Ski Guide to the Northeast
1980 Same 2 trails, 3 slopes, novice and intermediate North exposure Eastern Ski Map
1983-1984 2 Rope Tows, 2 T-bars Novice and intermediate skiing, vertical down to 175', longest run 1200ft Last year of operation. Area operates Jan-Mar, varying days of the week. Ski instructor: Bernard Lynch White Book of Ski Areas
1987-1988 closed closed Scott Theurer suggests a double chair may have been tried to be installed, as a possible reopening Scott Theurer

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