Catamount Ski Area deep in snow and in expansion plans

12:00AM / Thursday, January 23, 2003Print Story | Email Story

Catamount President Bill Gilbert, basking in hip-deep snow and thousands of skiers and boarders, will present his plans for a 125-unit condo hotel tomorrow evening to the Copake Planning Board. Gilbert and his partner Don Edwards have been planning to build much needed overnight accommodations at the venerable Berkshire ski resort for the past decade, but last seasonâ€™s poor conditions put a temporary hold on the project. Catamount has lived a double business lift since it was opened in 1940 by Connecticut native Jack Fisher. New England skiers think Egremont, Massachusetts when they head for Catamount, while Empire State and New Jersey devotees head for Hillsdale, New York. All, however, follow Route 23 to the ski area. The sun-drenched resort sprawls over a mountainous ridge and vast bowl in both states and a stone monument at the base of the main lift raising to the 2,000-foot summit marks the NY-Mass border. Fisher installed two rope tows for the opening season, when there were numerous small ski centers in the Northeast, with most relying on the arm-stretching rope conveyances. Catamount was such an early success that Fisher and friends John Clark and John Drummond combined forces to open Jiminy Peak, some 30 miles to the north in Hancock, Massachusetts in 1948...featuring two rope tows and the Bay Stateâ€™s first T-bar lift. Running two ski centers was not as much fun and Fisher sold Catamount in 1974 to three young men, brothers Bill and Sandy Gilbert and Don Edwards. â€œWe were young, I was 24,â€ recalled Bill Gilbert Monday,â€ when we took over operation of two Westchester area ski centers, Fahnstock and Silvermine, and then built Sterling Forest from scratch in 1961.â€ Bill Gilbert had pioneered in the use of snowmaking and even developed and sold the SMI snow guns, so it was easy to improve the system at Catamount. Now they have a round 300 big Fan-Jet guns, most of them mounted on towers. Sandy Gilbert left the business after a few years, but Bill and Don forged ahead with new chairlifts (there are now five) and new trails, including the expert Catamount and the mile-and-a-half Sidewinder (certified for major giant slalom races). The base lodge has been expanded and improved, but still the only nearby lodging is at the Swiss Hutte (within walking distance) with less than 20 rooms.The Hutteâ€™s gourmet meals are prepared by owner and Swiss native, Gert Alper. â€œThe new condo-hotel is long overdue,â€ said Gilbert, who finds New York regulations easier to work with than those in Massachusetts. Catamount has had a string of international ski school directors, including Toni Matt of â€œschuss the Tuckermanâ€™s Ravine headwall fame.â€ But Gilbert has unstinting praise for Massachusetts-born Jay Barringer, who came to Catamount this fall after more than a decade heading the Jiminy ski school. â€œHeâ€™s a tremendous asset,â€ Gilbert said of Barringer, whose two daughters, Steffi and Jen have dominated Berkshire high school racing for the past six years. Barringer, who also represents the Rossignol Ski Co., heads a staff of more than 75, including several young Australians. Ski school programs are on every day and nights (Wednesday through Saturday) on trails with up to 1,000 vertical foot drops. The lower slopes, with four short ground lifts, provide perfect teaching conditions for both skiing and snowboarding. The Ridge Run from the summit offers a great start for beginners and leads into wide open slopes adjacent to the mandatory snowboardersâ€™ half pipe, rail yard and terrain park. Most visitors chuckle over skiing in two states, and a few skiers have taken advantage of the situation, including one man involved in divorce proceedings. He escaped being served papers by a New York sheriff by schussing into the safety of Massachusetts. And the Swiss Hutte bar reportedly can serve drinks only in the area covered by one of the stateâ€™s licenses. Thereâ€™s a lot going on at Catamount, with special programs day and night. Saturday will see the second of four days of the first annual Snowboarders Rumble in the Berkshires. There are no entry fees and big prizes, with the remaining two events Feb. 8 and 15. Call 528-1262 in Massachusetts and (518) 329-3200 from New York. The other South Berkshire resorts, Butternut in Great Barrington, Otis Ridge and Blandford have been equally blessed with deep natural snow atop firm machine-made bases. In fact, the white bonanza covers the entire Northeast, but there are enough skiers and boarders to more than go around. Even that last bastion of rope tows, the Mount Greylock Ski Clubâ€™s Goodell Hollow in South Williamstown, has won its way to a recent era record season. Mondayâ€™s annual Martin Luther King holiday was again one of the ski seasonâ€™s big days, but last yearâ€™s crowds were the biggest of the season for some areas, as the weather continued to deteriorate. This year appears to be different, thatâ€™s for sure, and every resort has a full schedule on tap through Easter, April 20. Major up-coming events include Killingtonâ€™s Freestyle Nor-Am Competition Saturday through Jan. 31, drawing the best from all over the world. Tele-Fair, a national telemark tour, will be at Killingtonâ€™s sister area, Pico, Saturday and Sunday, with instruction, free demo equipment, prizes and reduced lift ticket rates Mount Snow/Haystack, another American Skiing Company resort, is stressing kidsâ€™ programs, including free skiing Feb. 1 and 2 for girls 6 through 18 as part of the Take Your Daughter to the Slopes national program. And on Feb. 3, daughters ski free again at the Stack if their parent or grandparent buys a ticket. Mount Snow is reviving its popular Teddy Bear Ski Weeks with reduced rate three-day and night packages, including free skiing for kids 12 and under if accompanied by a parent. Snowâ€™s $39 Wicked Wednesdays have also returned (except Feb. 19) with free gifts to the first 50 ticket buyers. Cross country skiers can get their exercise at no cost now that snow covers every hill and dale, although the groomed trails and warm lodges are worth the trail fees at touring centers. Same goes for snowshoers, although the Brodie Mountain Blarney Room, rentals and lightly groomed trails are worth the charge at the former ski center now featuring snow tubing and shoeing. More and more people are getting lost as they head off marked trails on touring skis or snowshoes, as well as out of bounds skiers at Jay Peak and Smugglers in Northern Vermont. Some are being charged for their rescues too! Snowmobilers are also going everywhere and at higher and higher speeds, due to deep snow and powerful engines. Take care! High speed, on a motorcycle, almost cost famed Australian speed skier, Hermann Maier, his life in August, 2001, when he collided with an auto. At first the hero of the 1998 Nagano Olympics faced amputation of one leg, but insisted he would ski again. He resumed his career two weeks ago with a 22nd in a downhill race. Then a few days ago, Hermann the Herminator, finished seventh in the Swiss Lauberhorn, the longest and toughest DH in the world. Americaâ€™s top DHer, Daron Rahlves, was eighth. Our ace. Bode Miller, in his first year as in the downhills after winning big in the technical events, was 11th. But Bode came back with an 11th in the slalom at Wengen, to regain the overall World Cup lead. Flamboyant Wild Bill Johnson, winner of the 1984 Olympic DH, nearly died two years ago attempting to make the U.S. team again. He eventually got back on skis, although with some brain injuries. And last month, as a guest at the National Handicapped Ski Program in Breckenridge, Colorado, he fell while almost at a standstill and fractured a hip. Donâ€™t give up, but donâ€™t try too much! Jiminy Peakâ€™s President Brian Fairbank is not a greedy man. He told me Monday he is not interested in record days, but rather a record season. â€œWe had only 5,000 on the slopes Sunday and again on Saturday, compared to 6,250 a year ago on MLK Day, when our facilities were strained. We can handle 5,000 with no trouble,â€ he said. Intrawest, owner of Stratton and nine other resorts all over North America, reported a record of 1.3 million skier visits overall during the period from Dec. 23 through Jan. 5, a record 12 percent over the same period last year. John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about the area sports scene.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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