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The Business Of Skiing: Nashoba Valley Ski Area Open Year-Round

WESTFORD (CBS) - You wouldn't expect to see a roomful of playful kids at one of the smallest ski resorts in Massachusetts, especially when the 240-foot hill is covered with grass.

But this is what you experience at Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford.

Read: Anthony Silva's Series: Keeping the Hills Alive

"This is part of the drama element of our kids' day camp, where we have kids from (ages) 4 to 14. They really enjoy it," manager Pam Fletcher told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

"I think that's the best part of our business is putting smiles on kids' faces. We do it all winter long and it's really fun to have it carry over into the summer months."

But that's not all.

This little resort offers a tiki bar with a sandy beach and Caribbean music in the off-season with beach volleyball courts and dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

It's built around one of the man-made ponds dug to provide water for winter snow making.

Nashoba Valley keeps dozens of employees working all year long.

"We're carrying anywhere around 100 in the off-season to about 200 in the fall and over 600 in the winter time," Fletcher's brother Al told WBZ.

So, how does this place do it?

Nashoba is writing the book on keeping the business going even without snow.

There are ski areas ten times bigger, but they're getting smaller off-season numbers.

"Well, it's mainly proximity," manager Pam Fletcher said.

Nashoba is the envy of big mountains all over New England.

More on that in my next report Tuesday.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Anthony Silva reports

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