Today’s New England Vacations post looks towards the future.

During my commute yesterday I heard a piece of news on the radio that wasn’t about Iraq or the Palestinian versus Israeli conflict.

Indeed it was about a small and economically depressed town in western Massachusetts that very few people in New England, let alone Iraq or the Gaza strip, would know existed.

The town mentioned was Adams.

Now when I first heard the town name I immediately thought I heard North Adams. But the two are not the same. In fact those familiar with the area will know the difference in the towns is like night and day.

Historic North Adams is well-known as a vacation destination, and has managed to prosper on the Berkshire Tourism industry. But the small town of Adams has never fully recovered from the closure of manufacturing plants and the flight of the workface. Today the town has a population consisting over 60% senior citizens.

The average household income of $32,000 is nearly $18,000 below the rest of the state.

So why am I writing about this town that’s in the shadow of Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts?

Well, just maybe the town’s fortunes have finally taken a turn for the better… or at least there’s a plan for a turnaround and it involves Mount Greylock and tourism.

The plans on the table at the moment call for a 53-acre recreational facility on Greylock Glen adjacent to the mountain. The Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Education Center will include hiking, skiing, camping, an arts center and lodge.

This is not the first time plans have been presented to develop this area to bring much needed tourist dollars to the town. But for one reason and another plans always evaporated. This time around though there’s much more optimism from town officials and residents that it’s going to happen!

The town will have to find $44 million over the next 15 years to build the center, but the state has already committed $3 million to the project. The rest is up to the town to raise from private developers and investors.

Already the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Massachusetts Audubon Society have voiced their support of the project.

The reason New Englanders, and visitors, should be excited at this news is, it will provide yet another wonderful destination to the Berkshire region of Massachusetts. An area still relatively undiscovered in New England, but steeped in beauty and history.

The official press release with more details about the project can be found by clicking here.

For more information on things to do and see while waiting for the Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation Center to be completed, visit my Massachusetts attraction guide by clicking here.

Check back next week for some very special holiday events.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Editor
New England Vacations Guide