McIntyre Ski Area

I learned to ski on this mountain/​hill. When we moved back to NH, I immediately signed my son up for ski lessons here and it was all good. This year, it was time for my daughter to learn how to ski. I understand that skiing conditions are not great this year. I understand that teaching children how to ski is not the easiest job in the world. However, the seething unhappiness and disdain from everyone who works at this place this year is unbelievable. From the rental staff to the instructors to the supervisors to the people who answer the phones to the people who work at the desk, everyone I’ve interacted with is miserable and not afraid to show it. So disappointed in my go-​to learn how to ski place!

My family (2 adults, 3 children 4, 7 & 11) LOVES Mcintyre Ski area!
We have been to two other ski hills which are about an hour west of Manchester for lessons and family ski time in the past, but this year was the first time we tried Mcintyre.
My coworkers who live closer to Manchester recommended it last year, but we had already paid for lessons at another hill. I wish I had asked for a refund last year, because we got far more than our money’s worth at McIntyre, and the kids have far more experience and confidence in just a few weeks than the past two seasons’ worth of lessons at the other places.
We signed up the youngest two kids for ski lessons and the oldest for snowboard. Right away, the snowboard instructor, Shane/​Sean? (sorry if I got the name wrong!) Identified some small issues that had prevented my son from moving forward. He had been very frustrated with his inability to snowboard like his friends. Within 15 minutes, Shane/​Sean had him cruising and confident. He is now excited about boarding with his friends, and not being left behind. That makes us all very happy!
The youngest two had not improved in two years of ski lessons, so we did not expect much. We assumed they maybe just were not cut out for skiing. ;(They had Ian as their instructor along with several other kids of the same level and they managed to improve so much in one afternoon that I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t witness it. I know my kids, and they aren’t difficult at all, nor learning-​disabled, but I think it just takes an instructor who watches, listens and can work out how each kid learns best, in order to help them be the best they can be. Ian was that instructor for my kids, so kudos to him!
Last weekend, my husband took a refresher private lesson with Ian, and he was very impressed, too, so that’s another feather in Mcintyre’s cap. Then we all went tubing, with me getting some ski and snowboard tips from the instructors who were working that night. I felt very comfortable with them, especially a young woman (Cynthia?) who helped me with my bad «jerk reaction» Ha ha.
Well, the kids are going to re-​enroll for the upcoming lessons, hopefully with Ian and Shane/​Sean, and my husband and I will be taking private lessons.
The lodge is warm and large, with a very nice café that serves «better quality» fried foods and burgers for a nominal price. We found the (mostly teenage) staff to be polite, knowledgeable and extremely helpful. The parking lot can get hairy when school bus drop-​off is happening, but we experienced that at Crotched and Pat’s, so…
Great job, Manchester, for making this hidden gem of a ski hill so affordable, accessible and wonderful for southern NH!
–Nuria

We went for tubing. The staff was friendly and helpful. The price was ok. We went early to avoid a big crowd and that seemed to be a good choice. The ski area was packed. We had a great time.

This is my first ever Unilocal review — I simply just HAD to share what an amazing experience I had with the entire staff at McIntyre Ski Area.
If you are looking for a beautiful, sophisticated but welcoming event space in the southern New Hampshire area, you MUST book an event with McIntyre! I recently had my 30^th birthday party in their main lodge, and it was a night I will NEVER forget. Several points worth mentioning:
— Becky, the property’s event manager, was an absolute joy to work with. In my professional life I work in Public Relations for a major food company — often planning and hosting events. I can tell you from first hand experience that I have never met an event manager with such extreme attention to detail, flexibility, and exceptional thoughtfulness. Becky took care of EVERYTHING and was available to help throughout the process of planning and at the actual event. She went far and above what most event staff do — even creating custom center pieces for my tables that had a beautiful earthy touch to align with my love of hiking. She even had her staff open up the bonfire as a birthday surprise! Seriously — how often do you have an event and close out the night wanting to be new best friends with the event manager?! :)
— The food was EXCELLENT and very high quality for an affordable price.
— The bar was fully equipped with a wide array of drink options and an absolutely delightful bartender
— The event space was modern and sophisticated yet managed to keep a warm and cozy mountain-​like flair. The wooden beams, lighting, and windows made for a simply perfect atmosphere.
I cannot say enough about the professionalism, flexibility, and warm touch that the McIntyre staff. They made my birthday a night that I will always remember and I will be recommending this space to everyone I meet!

Nearby and a good place for kids to learn how to ski. We went skiing and tubing here this past winter and had a fantastic time.
Called ahead to sign the kids up for lessons, which were reasonably priced. Paid an extra $ 5 for rentals. The rental staff were very friendly. The ski instructor (one instructor for both of my kids) was patient and the kids enjoyed the class. Skiing wasn’t my kids thing, so we returned the equipment and went tubing afterwards.
Tubing is also offered at this ski area. We went during MLK weekend, so it was crowded. There is a magic carpet that brings you to the top of the hill, but it’s a little chaotic when at the top because there is very little room between disembarking the carpet and from where the line for the first tubing lane begins. Minor stuff though. We had a really good time. Looking forward to returning next season.

Went tubing and had a blast. It was the last day of the season and inexpensive. My son loved it.

This is a cute little place, right in the city; no long drive. If you want to ski or tube with no planning or driving, it’s right here. This is where you take you’re kids to learn. It’s a tiny hill with a great program to teach little kids (or big people that want no pressure).

Hi, I hear all of the complaints and everyone has to remember this is a small gem in the city and it does have a lot of kids learning to ski so please be patient. Since it’s small they do have to possibly hire some less experienced less polite teenage instructors who might not have all the etiquette, but for this I haven’t seen any of it and all my 3 kids are growing up here and all have learned to ski and snowboard there.
P. S. Also as they grow I’m sure they are trying out new rules to keep things under control so I’m sure they will work out whats best. I also believe that parents should be allowed in the beginner area for short times. Remember, this place is a gem in the city let’s respect it and work with it.

Winter of 2013 lessons:
I was left with an extremely junior, just freshly VERY novis instructor, who did not know how to teach, did not know how to identify what I or others in the group were doing wrong. The senior instructor was supposed to be involved but would vanish and join at the very tail-​end of session or wasn’t present – at all. The last few lessons, started about 15 min late and we were supposed to get an hour of instruction then an hour of practice time but we only got 45 min of instruction!
One day of class, I called ahead to see if lessons were on – called at 3:30 pm for evening lesson. I was told by a staff that the lessons were on and not cancelled… I asked if she was sure, and she said, «absolutely.» I drove over 30 min only to get there to find out they had decided at 1 or 1:30 (again, I had called after 3pm), that the hill was being totally closed and my lessons also. I was not too happy that I had wrong info and drove all the way there, etc… to which a manager said, «…I don’t know what to tell ya» and had a pretty poor attitude.
I went there one day to practice and the place was completely way over-​crowded with a gazillion kids… from like 6 schools. There was a ton of group lessons making it virtually impossible for somebody to just leisurely ski. The instructors had absolutely no care for those, who were not in their group lesson very often crowding the hill – crowding the top so one could not pass by at all, and skiing in these «follow the leader» styles so the entire group was often in is this zig-​zagging line of people that spanned the entire width of the hill – making it impossible to pass! just lousy, lousy, lousy!
The kids are not taught «ski etiquette» and the kids are CONSTANTLY shoving their ski-​tips and pole tips onto the person’s skis or board in front of them in line. At one point, I asked the kiddos nicely to watch their ski tips, and then gave a bit of a «look» at their instructor, who was completely disinterested and the kids listened nicely and stopped… only making that point b/​c they were totally teachable but the instructors do not care to teach this sort of stuff apparently.
At one point, after coming down the hill, well before the gazillion kids came so, there was almost nobody on the hill, this older staff member approached me and said, «you should slow down, there’s going to be a lot of kids here later.» Really?! I was going a very controlled moderate speed and being told to slow down was absolutely not warranted – what so ever!
If you’re going to go there, call ahead and make sure it is NOT when they have schools going there. It also gets sketchy if there’s a lot of kids’ groups lessons as well but not as bad.
The lack of care of the paying customers, who go there to ski or board, and continuously block the hill with their group lessons is hugely pronounced.
To go there on a day when there aren’t a ton of kids group lessons is not that bad but tricky to find those spots… call ahead.
Not recommended AT ALL!!! If they ever change and begin to limit the overly-​crowded groups of kids then it would be better.

I have updated my review!
Very disappointing! I was rudely told not to ride the magic carpet ride without equipment and had to have equipment on to be on the mountain. I was teaching my 5 year old how to snowboard and wanted to keep him with in arms reach. When I questioned «why» I was told it was the rules. The Operations Manager walked up the slope to add to the barrage of rudeness. I was able to ride the carpet at both Loon and Crotchet with friendly, helpful and a happy staff!
When purchasing the tickets, the girl working sales was also rude, telling me the website price and time was not correct and the price was higher.
The two slopes that were open during the day were OK, at bit Icy. They cater to after school programs, opening the second lift and the other 2 trails.
The magic carpet at Loon for 5 and under is free, at Crochet it is $ 10 and this Mtn $ 14.
3÷9÷12 Update
After corresponding with Ross the manager, he was apologetic and offered us a complimentary return visit. I was in the area and took him up on the offer, however I left my 5 year old home so need for the carpet ride. Everyone was friendly this time around!
Thank You Ross for handling this situation in a professional manner.
BTW, there were parents on the slopes at the carpet without equipment, I do believe as a parent teaching a young one it is difficult to teach with equipment on.

As a family of beginning skiers, it’s not such a bad place. The kids enjoyed the tubing and beginner ski areas. As for instruction, I can only comment on what I observed, since none of us took any lessons, we just sorta figured it out on our own. The lessons during the day appears to be given by adults and they seemed very encouraging and patient. They also have a time during the late afternoon, where they set up stations where you «graduate» from one to the next as you learn certain skills. The instruction given at each station is done by young kids that seemed to be more there to socialize and block the conveyor belts that bring you up the slope… while you try to maneuver around them as they stare at you. I don’t mind that the instructors are kids… just find ones that actually want to be there.

My kids learned to ski at McIntyre so we are quite nostalgic about this place. They are now very good skiers so want to go to the bigger mountains but periodically, we return to McIntyre since it is close and very reasonably priced especially when we take their friends who are learning and don’t want to pay a fortune for a beginner.
They recently built a brand new chalet and the season opens in a few weeks. There are rentals which is great if your kids have skis and they want to try snowboarding. We’ve had both ski and snowboarding lessons and the instructors are attentive, kind and patient. There is also tubing and starting in the Spring, ziplines. We’re there!
Best of all, they have a leasing program for kids who are still growing so we’ve leased skis for the last 4 years ($ 99 for the season for used!) which includes skis, poles, boots. What a deal. You can also lease the latest brand new equipment as well which we did this year as the kids are much better skiers.
The snow sports swap happened in October and we walked away with great deals — snowboards, boots, bindings. They also had skates, skis, helmets, etc. I strongly recommend trading or buying at this annual event.
Only reason it is not 5 stars is because the mountain is a small one (and most people want to ski big mountains) but that is really part of the charm, I think.