08/10/2026
Nipmuc Ski Club Update:
The Nipmuc Ski Club is aware that there are rumors circulating about what is happening with the site on Thompson Road that the Club has used for decades. Working with counsel, we have prepared the below position statement.
If you would like to help the Club, you can do the following:
1. Contact the Town and advocate on the Club’s behalf.
You can email the Town Administrator at [email protected].
2. Donate directly to the Club.
We are facing significant legal and engineering fees as we work to regain access to our Thompson Road location while also pursuing alternate locations for the 2027 season.
The Club’s Venmo is . Checks, made payable to The Nipmuc Ski Club, Inc., may be mailed to:
P.O. Box 1001
Webster, MA 01570
The Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we are happy to send a tax-deduction letter upon request. Please email [email protected] so we can send it to you.
3. Continue to raise awareness on social media.
We desperately want to have a 2027 season and are working hard with MassDOT to determine whether the site is a viable option while addressing the Town’s remaining requirements.
Public Statement from Nipmuc Ski Club, Inc.
Nipmuc Ski Club, Inc. is issuing this statement to provide the community with a clear, factual account of the ongoing situation involving the Town of Webster and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) regarding the club's longtime site on Thompson Rd.
About Nipmuc Ski Club
Nipmuc Ski Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has operated on Webster Lake for 70 years, including the last 50 years at the same site on Thompson Rd.. The organization is run entirely by volunteers, including board members who pay dues out of pocket to serve the club.
Each year, Nipmuc hosts 4 or more Learn to Ski programs, free of charge to the public, and puts on 4-6 community shows at Memorial Beach, also free of charge. The club has been a proud institution and summer tradition on Webster Lake for decades. The club previously enjoyed good relations with the Town and was not aware of concerns about
the use of the Thompson Rd. site.
Timeline of Events
March 2026 — The Town of Webster officially contacted Nipmuc Ski Club via certified letter regarding questions about the use of the Thompson Rd. site.
March 2026 – June 2026 — The club engaged in ongoing communication with both the Town and MassDOT, which owns the Thompson Rd. site. Nipmuc understood it was permitted to
proceed with its season provided it continued to work through the Town's requests. During this period, the club was placed on the agenda of Town meetings without direct notice, preventing a club representative from attending or speaking on the organization's behalf.
June 2026 — Nipmuc became aware of one such meeting after the fact and contacted the Town Administrator directly. The Town Administrator stated he needed time to consider next steps and would follow up. The club continued normal operations while awaiting further communication.
Late June 2026 — Shortly before the Fourth of July weekend, "No Parking" signs were posted on the property without the club’s knowledge or consent. This was followed by communication
from the Town Administrator indicating that a cease and desist order would be issued the following week. The Town Administrator stated it was his understanding that the state would follow suit.
June 26, 2026 — The club received cease and desist letters from MassDOT, prohibiting the club from accessing the Thompson Rd. site until certain issues are addressed.
July 6, 2026 — The club received mailed cease and desist letters from the Town’s Building Commissioner (dated June 24) and Conservation Commission (dated July 1). The club is aware that individuals unaffiliated with the club received copies of the letters before the club.
July 2026 — The cease and desist letters had the effect of prohibiting the club from accessing its stored equipment, holding lessons, or putting on planned shows, jeopardizing its 2026 season. The timing of the enforcement letters in the middle of the club’s season imposed maximum disruption and financial exposure to the club. Had the letters come in the spring, when the club and Town were discussing some of the issues raised about the Thompson Rd. site, the club could have made alternate arrangements for the 2026 season. The club made further attempts to work with the Town Administrator to continue its season. The Town proposed a memorandum of agreement to allow the club to use Memorial Beach. The Town's proposed terms were not financially or practically feasible for the club and its members, and required that the club vacate the Thompson Rd. site, potentially compromising its legal rights. The club determined that the Town’s terms were not workable and therefore made the difficult decision to cancel the 2026 season, disappointing many member families and community members and harming the club’s finances.
July 21, 2026 — Nipmuc Ski Club filed an appeal of the Building Commissioner’s cease and desist letter with the Zoning Board of Appeals, in order to preserve its right to use the property for the 2027 season with MassDOT’s permission. A public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals is expected on September 8, 2026.
Current Status
Nipmuc Ski Club is actively working with MassDOT to address the state's concerns about the Thompson Rd. site, with the goal of obtaining permission to resume activity on the site for the 2027 season. The club has also engaged legal counsel and is hiring environmental and engineering professionals to help address the concerns raised by the Town and MassDOT. These efforts have led the club to incur significant costs.
The Club's Position
Nipmuc Ski Club has sought to work in good faith and in compliance with requests from the Town and MassDOT throughout this process. The organization believes it was not given adequate notice or opportunity to participate in Town meetings, which may have allowed the club to preserve the 2026 season. While working to return to Webster Lake in 2027, the club remains focused on its mission: providing free skiing instruction and community programming to the youth and families of Webster and the surrounding area. Nipmuc Ski Club is hopeful for a resolution that allows this 70-year community tradition to continue.
