Mt Equinox Skyline Inn to be demolished

[MichaelJ]

BikeHikeSkiFish's trip report mentioned seeing heavy equipment atop Mt. Equinox. I did a little research and came up with the following journal post from Memorial Day, 2010:

During the later conversation with the gatekeeper at the bottom of the road, we found out that the inn has been closed for the last ten years. The Carthusian Monastery that owns the road and the mountain plans to demolish the inn next year and build a three-story observation tower with the all-glass third floor to enjoy the splendor of the surroundings and provide the place for a prayer. The monastery does not want to be involved with the troubles of keeping an inn at the summit and observation deck will be practically maintenance and headache free.

Unfortunately, the recent articles in the Manchester Journal and Bennington Banner are no longer available online, except for this brief blurb:

Friday April 1, 2011 MANCHESTER -- A new visitor center on Mount Equinox may be in the offing. The Carthusian Monastery is planning on demolishing the inn and restaurant located at the top of Mount Equinox and constructing the visitor center in its place. According to Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, the vistor center will have a prayer room, observation deck, lounge space, and restrooms.

 

[Amicus]

The proposed tower should be a distinct improvement over the Inn. I hiked to it one misty summer evening four years ago and, in the gray, deserted stillness, it seemed to be haunted. It had been closed for several years already, but I thought I saw a spectral figure moving among the place settings you can see still set, in this picture I took of the dining room:

I'm sure the Carthusians will exorcise any unwanted spirits from the new structure.

 

[MichaelJ]

Isn't it a requirement to hike Equinox on a misty day?

Back in 2006 the dining room and kitchen were still in decent shape, though there was evidence of water damage, which if unchecked for the past 5 years probably has made quite the mess inside.

 

[brianW]

Best friend/cousin got married there. Must of been a year or so before they closed.

 

[Raymond]

I was also up there in 2006 and could swear I heard a radio playing somewhere inside. No sign of anyone around, though.