Warner Mountain/Butternut Ski Area

The Wikipedia entry for the Butternut ski area in Great Barrington, MA, says it was originally a New Haven-owned venture in the 30s. This sounds like a more modern iteration of the trolley park concept. Anyone have any more backstory on this? The article didn't cite any reference. I'm very curious to know more.

That's a new one on me. I am somewhat dubious about the accurcy of that claim. The known, documented NH snow trains in the 30s had the following destinations:

- East Canaan on the ex-CNE line (It was publicized as Norfolk Snow Train station but actually was on the East Canaan side of the town line). This was run only a few times im 1935 and 1936.
- Bousquet, up in southern Pittsfield.

Later the snow trains also had ski destinations at Oak & Spruce in South Lee and Jug End in Egremont. i have not heard or seen Butternut mentioned.

Butternut was once known as "G BAR S RANCH", I don't recall when the name change and major expansion took place but I would guess it was after the passing of the NHRR or maybe around that time. I also have major doubts that the New Haven Railroad ever had any ownership of this area. I don't recall any ski areas in NHRR territory that the railroad had any ownership in whether it was full or partial ownership. There are a few examples of railroad owned ski areas mostly in the western states, I can't think of any in the northeast. Both the New Haven and the Boston and Maine ran a lot of snow trains for skiiers in bygone years but these trains have been gone for a long time.
Noel Weaver