Appalachian Mountain Club Unveils Newly Renovated Noble View Outdoor Center

Eight-year effort features enhanced guest lodging and new “green” bathhouse

As summer gears up, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is unveiling the final renovations at its Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, Massachusetts, following an eight-year volunteer-led project to improve guest lodging and build a new bathhouse featuring “foundation-to-rooftop” green technologies. The newly reopened North Cottage completes a series of renovations to better accommodate families and groups, plus offer improved access for people with disabilities. AMC additionally secured a conservation easement to permanently protect nearly 360 acres of AMC land at Noble View that are open to public use.

“Permanently protecting the land from development and renovating Noble View ensures that future generations will enjoy this area for outdoor recreation and as a close-to-home family getaway,” said Gary Forish, past Noble View Committee Chair for AMC’s Berkshire Chapter. “The Appalachian Mountain Club greatly appreciates the tireless efforts of volunteers and incredible local support that Noble View has received, without which none of this would have been possible.”

Open year-round for self-service stays, Noble View features more than 15 miles of moderately easy to intermediate trails for exploring the surrounding woodlands and old farmsteads while hiking, bird watching, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Connecticut River and Pioneer Valley, Noble View also boasts expansive views east to Mt. Wachusett.

“Noble View is one of my favorite spots to bring families and scouting groups for its incredible, kid-friendly hiking trails with old growth trees and the remains of farmstead walls and foundations to discover,” said Barbara Dyer, AMC chapter trip leader and Noble View Committee member. “Adding modern conveniences like hot showers and updated kitchens has made Noble View that much more comfortable, and I look forward to coming back year after year.”

Major Noble View milestones since the project kicked off in 2003 have included:

• Conservation easement to preserve nearly 360 acres of open space at Noble View, including land within the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s watershed.
  
  
• Renovation of Double Cottage to upgrade it for year-round use. Double Cottage accommodates up to 18 guests in eight bedrooms with shared common areas, wood-stove heating, electricity, and a self-service kitchen/dining room with gas stoves and refrigerators.
  
  
• Construction of new bathhouse to provide hot showers, dishwashing areas, and the latest green technologies—including solar electric, composting toilets and grey-water systems for water efficiency, and energy-efficient windows and doors. Solar air heating and cooling, radiant floor heat, and enhanced building insulation work together to decrease energy use for heating by 90 percent.
  
  
• Renovation of North Cottage, reopened in June 2011, to provide smaller groups and families with private accommodations for year-round use. North Cottage accommodates up to 10 guests upstairs in four open-concept bedrooms with electricity, wood-stove heating, a large common area, and a self-service kitchen with a gas range and refrigerator.
  
  
• Building upgrades to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements.

"Noble View is one of the few places in Massachusetts that can fully accommodate our outdoor trips for significantly disabled children and adults, so when we use Noble View, accessible outdoor recreation and lodging is never a worry," said Merri Pearson, Executive Director of Outdoor Explorations, a nonprofit offering outdoor activities to people of all abilities. "We've greatly enjoyed our trips there and our participants love to go snowshoeing, sledding, hiking, and kayaking in the nearby areas. Plus Noble View's green features are perfect for helping to support our teaching of environmental stewardship principles."

At a celebratory event on June 26, AMC recognized the many supporters who provided critical funding, materials, and volunteer time to the project. AMC expresses its deepest gratitude to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; Springfield Water and Sewer Commission; Town of Russell and its residents; Russell Select Board, Planning Commission, and Conservation Commission; Winding River Land Conservancy; Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; AMC Berkshire, Worcester, and Boston chapters; Clivus Multrum Inc.; HFP Sprinkler Inc.; Erica Gees of Kuhn Riddle Architects; Tighe and Bond Engineers; John H. Lane & Sons; Lane Construction, Inc.; DAS Alarm Systems; Western Massachusetts Joint Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund, Local 108; Caldon Construction, Inc.; Stephen Jablonski Architects; and L.L. Bean.

This fall, AMC will start hosting school groups at Noble View through its A Mountain Classroom program, which is designed to complement curricular frameworks that include math, science, and language arts. Teachers who are interested in learning more about this program should contact Andrea Muller at amuller@outdoors.org.

Rates and reservations
Noble View Outdoor Center is managed by AMC volunteers. For information about Noble View, including a trail map, suggested hikes and walks, and area attractions, visit www.nobleviewoutdoorcenter.org. For reservations, contact the registrar at 413-572-4501 or email forgary@comcast.net.

Nightly rates for for 2- to 4-person rooms in the Double Cottage range from $40 to $76 for AMC non-members, with the option to reserve the entire cottage for $314 per night. The rate for individuals in a shared room is $26. The nightly rate for exclusive use of the North Cottage starts at $175 for up to 10 people. A two-night minimum reservation is always required for both Double and North Cottages, and weekly rates are available. Guests bring their own food and have access to kitchens in each building.

Overnight options at Noble View also include camping areas with fire rings, and wood is supplied. Nightly per person rates are $12 for adult non-members and $9 for children ages 12 and under.

Discounted rates are available for AMC members.

Laura Hurley, AMC Public Relations Associate Director
617-391-6621
lhurley@outdoors.org

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.

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