Mass. catalogs ‘great places’ to promote its tourism, but list has closed sites, wrong towns

Mass. releases ‘great places’ list _ with errors

BOSTON — It turns out that some of Massachusetts’ greatest places aren’t so great after all.

To promote tourism, the Legislature last week released a list of the state’s top 1,000 attractions.

But the Boston Herald reports that some sites don’t exist any more, some are closed to the public and some are listed in the wrong towns. The list also actually has 996 places.

The list includes the Baker Robinson Whale Oil Refinery in New Bedford, which has been gutted to make way for a hotel; and Worcester’s African Cultural Center and Ashland State Park, both of which are closed. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Pittsfield was closed by the Springfield Diocese two years ago.

Tourism officials acknowledge some mistakes and say they did their best.

Online:

Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism: www.massvacation.com/

Information from: Boston Herald, www.bostonherald.com