1980
#7 Poma Lift installed 1980
Summer - Jane Murdock at age 45 competes in the Iron Woman category of the Josh Billings Run Aground. A triathlon that challenges racers by having them bicycle 27 miles, paddle one an a half times around Stockbridge Bowl, and then run 6 miles to Tanglewood. As an Iron Woman competitor her individual finish time was well ahead of many four person teams.
1981
Chair #6 Granny's Double installed, this is a 1960's model Mueller Lift acquired from Mount Cathalia in Ellenville, NY. The new lift is 2200 feet long and will transport 1000 skiers per hour bringing Butternut's capacity to 7500/hr. It is replacing a T-bar that was sold to a new area in WV. Two new trails were cut for this lift and two more for the existing Triple Lift. Snowmaking was also improved in these areas. In addition new toilets were added, the Upper Lodge brick patio deck was installed and a new 13,000-volt transformer was added to conform with Mass. Electrics main lines in the area. The area is coming off it's best year ever with just over 100,000 skier visits.
1982
Reuel Sheldon - Hired on as Operations Manager.
1983
New 60' x 90' Maintenance Building Constructed. Maintenance has moved out of the Rental building expanding the rental shop. The ski school then moved into the old maintenance space.
The Base Lodge was expanded from a footprint measuring 30 x 40' to a much larger 60' x 100' footprint and was then renamed the Club House. This also offered more space for the expanding Ski Shop as well as 300 day lockers and 60 seasonal lockers and a new food service kitchen with beer and wine sales. All buildings construction is being handled by Peter D. Whitehead Inc. of Great Barrington. May 14 - A National Guard helicopter hoisted several tons of material and tools from the parking lot transporting it to a site on the Appalachian Trail on East Mountain State Forest where a shelter was constructed.
1983 November
Channing and Jane purchase 135 acres of adjacent land west of the ski resort for $350,000. The land will be used to expand operations. Most important was the pond which provides more water for snowmaking. The snowmaking system at that time required 90,000 gallons of water an hour to make snow. "If this coming season is a good one we'll cut new trails at the resort" noted Channing in the November 23rd Berkshire Courier. "Longer range plans include the installation of two more major chairlifts."..."This addition offers a lot of options."... "It will mean a great deal to everyone when we grow."
Mid Station Erik
A fixture for many years was Mid Station Erik. So named because he manned the Hob Nob/Lucifer's Leap Chairlift mid station for years. Here he is in an all to familiar pose. An avid Grateful Dead fan and loyal Butternut employee to the end. Some of Erik's favorite songs: Sitting on top of the world, Touch of Gray, Friend of the Devil - Very appropriate for a man who bore daily witness to Ski Butternut's slope Lucifer's Leap - Looks Like Rain , Knocking on Heavens Door & He's Gone. Mid Station Erik is gone but will never be forgotten.
Lew Cuyler AKA Tight Turns in writing about Butternut Basin described the ski area as "An oasis"... "An oasis where nothing shouts, nothing is loud and where colors, appointments and shades blend to produce an atmosphere of understated elegance."
1987
New "Award Winning" Upper Lodge Constructed.
1988 May
Channing Murdock Appointed as Chairman of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)
1989
Ken Noad retires as Ski Patrol Director after 27 years. Veteran Patroller Joe Mosa takes his place. Joe Mosa Patrol Director receives the Purple Merit Star - The National Ski Patrols highest honor. He received this award for his efforts in a life saving rescue that 4 years later would be aired on TV show Rescue 911.
