Property Description	73 acres | Established 2002
Only a ten minute drive from downtown Holyoke, Little Tom Reservation lies within one of the state's most ecologically significant landscapes; the Mt. Tom Range. Little Tom's intimate forests and open fields are part of 2,500 acres of contiguous, conserved open space that protect rare species and community types and provide opportunities for outdoor fun, learning, and exploration for all. The Range is a cherished part of the landscape and life in the Connecticut River Valley. It has an extraordinary history; from its geological beginnings in the continental rifting that created the ancestral Connecticut Valley 200 million years ago, to its use in modern times as a tourist destination with its mountain houses, street railway, and amusement parks.  An ecological gem, it supports one of the most notable concentrations of rare species and natural communities in the state, specifically reptiles and amphibians.  In 2002, four entities - The Trustees of Reservations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club - joined together to acquire and protect the 396 acre Mt. Tom ski area on the eastern slope of Mt. Tom. The successful acquisition yielded a cooperative management approach of the former ski area and the development of an environmental education program between The Trustees and the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club, who intend to establish a youth summer camp at the site. Our goal at Little Tom is to create a unique reservation that serves a broad audience and ultimately engages a whole new generation of young people in conservation. At this time, Little Tom and the former Mt. Tom Ski Area are not accessible to the public due to an active quarry operation that is a threat to visitor safety. Property access is limited to special programs and volunteer workdays until the reservation formally opens in 2012.
Property Acquisition History
Purchased from Mt. Tom Ski, Inc., owners of the former Mt. Tom Ski Area, in 2002 as part of a 396-acre acquisition involving federal, state, and non-profit partners.

E-mail:
pvregion@ttor.org

When to Visit:
Not yet open to the public.

How to Get There:
From I-91 North: Take exit 17A to Rt. 5 toward Northampton, follow Rt. 5 to entrance of former ski area, left at the blinking light. From I-91 South: Take exit 18 toward Holyoke, follow Rt. 5 to entrance of former ski area, right at the blinking light.