Canton, Massachusetts — Some idiot(s) decided it was ok to vandalize a ski area and a historic weather observatory.
Yesterday, it was discovered that a group of vandals damaged a couple of buildings at the Blue Hills Reservation. This is the site of the Blue Hills Ski Area, which is the closest downhill skiing operation to Boston.
The base lodge for the Blue Hills, which has seen upgrades in recent years, was damaged. Multiple windows were broken into. Rocks were reportedly thrown at the windows.
While the ski area does stay quiet during the summer, there are still people hiking and biking around there. However, the observatory stays open for tours during the summer. While not part of the ski area, the observatory at Blue Hills was also vandalized.
Built in 1885, the observatory itself is home to the longest-running weather-recording station in the Western Hemisphere. Luckily, the instruments weren’t damaged by the vandals. They expect a loss of around $1,000 due to repairs needed and the inability to operate until Friday. However, they have since raised over $6,000 via GoFundMe. What complicates the matter is that there’s no surveillance equipment at the facility.
If you know anything regarding who could have done this, please reach out to the Massachusetts State Police.
About Blue Hills
Blue Hills Ski Area features 16 trails, 6 lifts, and a vertical drop of 309 feet. It was taken over by Geoff Homer in 2024. Homer was the longtime operator of Pleasant Mountain (previously known as Shawnee Peak) before its sale to Boyne Resorts. Since their takeover, Blue Hills has seen new lifts, snowmaking upgrades, new groomers, the addition of a terrain park, and new rental equipment. This vandalism marks their latest hurdle in revitalizing the ski area for Boston skiers and riders.
Image/Video Credits: News 25 Boston, Blue Hills Ski Area
