Sure, a lot of independently owned and operated ski resorts throughout New England have closed, while other, arguably luckier hills have been sold off to big resort management corporations, often losing their local charm in the process. With constant worries about weather and the rising cost of energy to run lifts and make snow, who could blame any remaining indy operator for trimming the sails and hunkering down into survival mode?

So what to make of Berkshire East, the Charlemont resort where owner Roy Schaefer and his family have been steadily reinvesting in their mountain, flying in the teeth of conventional wisdom that says the prospect for small resorts, particularly in Massachusetts, is grim?

As the 2009-2010 season opens at the Beast, visitors will quickly notice big changes since the snow melted last April. The resort has upgraded an old double lift that was only open to advanced skiers and only on unusually crowded days. The new lift, a triple, will now take skiers of all levels to the top of the mountain—the old one let skiers off short of the summit—increasing access to an impressive variety of trails and terrain. The resort has also updated its main lodge, adding a grand new entrance to improve the look and functionality of the building.

Over the summer, Berkshire East became a four-season resort when it opened a zipline/canopy tour, offering the longest rides in New England.

Schaefer and his family have won the hearts of serious skiers and snowboarders by making some of the best snow anywhere in New England. The snowmaking capacity will likely get a boost next year when a planned wind turbine goes online. Jim Schaefer, Roy’s eldest son, co-owner of the resort and an investment banker with a specialty in alternative energy, says the investment in wind power will pay big dividends from both an environmental and a business perspective. The clean, renewable power will allow the resort to expand its snow-making to cover all trails on the mountain while opening up new terrain. Schaefer says his family is committed to keeping the ski resort not only alive but flourishing. “To do that,” he says, “we’re putting it all on the line.”