HADLEY – The Mount Holyoke Summit House in J.A. Skinner State Park will reopen to the public on Saturday.
The Summit House opening for the 2016 season was delayed after state Department of Conservation and Recreation officials discovered that the structure needed fire suppression upgrades and repairs. That work replacing pipes has been completed and the system is now fully operational, according to a statement by the state agency.
Beginning Saturday, the building will be open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day. Its bathrooms will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and tours of the house will be held on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., according to the release.
The former 19th-century hotel is a popular destination for hikers and one of the state’s showpiece recreational venues. It offers brilliant panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley.
The 2016 Summit House Concert Series began as scheduled July 7 and continues Thursdays through Aug. 4.
After being closed for four years for renovations and structural repairs, the Summit House reopened in June 2014. It had been scheduled to reopen in 2012, but a combination of bid errors and various construction delays extended completion of the $1 million-plus project to 2014.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.