Brodie (ski area)

Brodie
Brodie Mountain as seen from Rounds Rock
LocationNew Ashford, Massachusetts, US
Nearest major cityPittsfield
Coordinates42°35′41.58″N 73°15′39.38″W / 42.5948833°N 73.2609389°W / 42.5948833; -73.2609389
Vertical1,250 ft
Trails40
Longest run2 mi
Lift system4 chairs: 4 Doubles

Brodie was a ski resort in New Ashford, Massachusetts, in the Taconic Mountains in the far northwestern part of the state. It opened in 1964 and thrived for a time by using then-cutting-edge innovations like top-to-bottom snowmaking and lighted night skiing. Founder Jim Kelly gave the resort an Irish theme: its nickname was "Kelly's Irish Alps"; the slopes had names like "Shamrock," "Killarney," and "JFK"; and the base lodge housed an Irish-themed bar that did a rousing business in drinks and live music. But like many small independent ski areas, Brodie lost business over time to larger, higher-capitalized, corporate-owned resorts.

In 1999 the Kellys sold it to the owners of nearby Jiminy Peak, who closed Brodie in 2002 and sold it to a Texas-based condominium developer. The area continued to operate snow tubing, in conjunction with Jiminy Peak, through the 2006–07 season.

With a vertical drop of 1,250 feet and four chairlifts, Brodie is the largest closed ski area in the Berkshires.