Mount Institute facts for kids

Mount Institute is a mountain located in Hawley, Massachusetts. It stands 1,538 feet (about 469 meters) tall. This mountain is just south of the village of Charlemont.

The Story of Mount Institute

Mount Institute got its name from a famous educator named Horace Mann. He had a special school, or "institute," in Charlemont. This school looked out over the mountain, so he decided to name it after his institute.

In 1953, a man named Arthur Parker started a small ski area on the mountain. It was called Thunder Mountain. This first ski area used a simple rope tow to pull skiers up the slope. However, it closed down just one year later, in 1954.

But Arthur Parker didn't give up! In 1961, he reopened Thunder Mountain Ski Area. This time, it was much bigger and better. It even had a double chairlift to take skiers to the top.

Fun at Mount Institute

The Thunder Mountain Ski Area changed its name in the late 1960s. It became known as Berkshire East Ski Resort. Today, Berkshire East is a popular spot for winter sports.

During the colder months, you can go skiing and snowboarding on Mount Institute. There's also a fun area for snow tubing. It's a great place to enjoy the snow and have an adventure!