Sasquatch Mountain Resort

Last updated

Sasquatch Mountain Resort is a small ski resort located in the Douglas Ranges near Chehalis, British Columbia, Canada, between the towns of Mission and Agassiz.

Contents

Previously Known as Hemlock Valley Resort the resort closed due to bankruptcy receivership in 2005. In 2006, the resort was purchased by Berezan Hospitality group and reopened in December 2006. Shortly thereafter the resort started negotiations with local First Nations and the province of BC for a substantial expansion that would see the resort become the largest resort facility in the Lower Mainland of BC.

The resort proposal includes ski area expansion to 18 lift-serviced areas, 2 golf courses, a marina on Harrison Lake and associated residential and commercial development. The plan was in the final stages of approval and a formal agreement was expected to be announced in 2014. [1] [2] The resort did not open in the 2014/2015 season, due to a lack of snow. [3]

Average annual snowfall at Hemlock Valley is 30–35 ft. The vertical drop is 335 m (1,100 ft) from a summit elevation of 1,317 m (4,320 ft) to a base elevation of 980 m (3,220 ft). The area comprises 121 hectares (300 acres) and has 34 runs, the longest of which is 1.4 miles (2.3 km). The area has four lifts - one quad chair, one triple chair, one double chairs and a beginner magic carpet, and features night skiing and 13 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails as well as an 8 lane tubing and tobogganing area with a magic carpet. [4]

History

Hemlock Valley was first opened for skiing on December 21, 1969, by a company known then as Hemlock Valley Recreation (HVR). [5] The facilities were initially very basic, with just a single rope-tow lift and an older school bus fitted with a wood-burning stove to serve as the ski lodge. Some 30-40 families visited the ski hill that first season. [5]

Over the 70s a lodge was built and three chair lifts were added, with the third lift completed in 1978. A resort community of 225 lots was developed. [5]

Due to the recession of the early 80s the resort encountered financial difficulties and ownership was transferred to the provincial government via the British Columbia Development Corporation. A new company then acquired the ski hill, operating under the name Hemlock Valley Resorts Inc (HVRI). [5]

In 2004-2005 there was not enough snow for the resort to open. [6]

The resort remained closed for the 2005–2006 season due to being in receivership.

In fall 2006 the resort was purchased by Berezan Group, a company based in Langley, BC. Hemlock Valley reopened for the 2006–2007 season as Hemlock Resort. [7]

The 2013–2014 season opened late, on January 16, because of lack of snow. [6]

The 2014-2015 ski season was cancelled entirely due to lack of snow. [6]

In 2015, Hemlock Resort's $1.5 billion all-season expansion plan was approved by the BC government. [8]

Related Research Articles

Whistler Blackcomb is a ski resort located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. By many measures it is the largest ski resort in North America and has the greatest uphill lift capacity. It features the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains at the top. With all of this capacity, Whistler Blackcomb is also often the busiest ski resort, often surpassing 2 million visitors a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arapahoe Basin</span> Ski area in Colorado, USA

Arapahoe Basin is an alpine ski area in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, in the Arapaho National Forest of Colorado. Arapahoe Basin is known for its extended season—usually staying open until early June, and sometimes into early July, whereas most other northern ski areas close in early April. Arapahoe Basin is located south of Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6 in Summit County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Seymour</span> Mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Mount Seymour is a mountain located in Mount Seymour Provincial Park in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a part of the North Shore Mountains, rising to the north from the shores of Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm to a summit of 1,449 m (4,754 ft) above the Indian River and Deep Cove neighbourhoods. Mount Seymour is most commonly identified for its ski area of the same name, and as a popular hiking area. It is named in honour of Frederick Seymour, second governor of the Colony of British Columbia. The name is used to refer to the ridge although the main summit is one of several, and is also known as Third Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thredbo, New South Wales</span> Ski resort in New South Wales, Australia

Thredbo is a village and ski resort in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of Sydney, accessible by the Alpine Way via Cooma, Berridale, and Jindabyne. The village is built in the valley of the Thredbo River, also known as the Crackenback River, at the foot of the Ramshead Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypress Mountain Ski Area</span> Ski resort in British Columbia, Canada

Cypress Mountain is a ski area in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, located in the southern section of Cypress Provincial Park, operated under a BC Parks Park Use Permit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone Resort</span> Ski area in Colorado, United States

Keystone Resort is a ski resort located in Keystone, Colorado, United States. Since 1997 the resort has been owned and operated by Vail Resorts. It consists of three mountains – Dercum Mountain, North Peak, the Outback – and five Bowls offering skiing at all levels. The three mountains are connected by a series of ski lifts and gondolas and access from two base areas called River Run and Mountain House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugarloaf (ski resort)</span> Ski resort in Maine, USA

Sugarloaf is a ski area and resort located on Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley, western Maine. It is the second largest ski resort east of the Mississippi in terms of skiable area and snowmaking percentage (95%); its continuous vertical drop of 2,820 feet (860 m) is the second longest in New England. Sugarloaf recorded a total of 352,000 skier visits in the 2005–2006 season, ranking it second among Maine resorts and 11th in New England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Peaks Resort</span>

Sun Peaks Resort is an alpine ski resort located in Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada, 56 km (35 mi) northeast of Kamloops.

Nordic Valley is a small local ski area in Nordic Valley, Utah. The area was known as Nordic Valley until June 29, 2005, when it was acquired by the nearby Wolf Creek Golf Resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big White Ski Resort</span> Ski resort in British Columbia, Canada

Big White Ski Resort, simply known as Big White, is a ski resort located 56 km (35 mi) southeast of Kelowna in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. It is located on Big White Mountain, the highest summit in the Okanagan Highland, an upland area between the Monashee Mountains and the Okanagan Valley. Big White is the third largest resort in British Columbia, after Whistler-Blackcomb and Sun Peaks. In 2019, Big White was nominated as the third-best ski resort in Canada by Snowpak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Mountain (ski area)</span> Ski area in New York, United States

Hunter Mountain is a ski resort located in Greene County, New York about three hours northwest of New York City in the town of Hunter, New York. It features a 1,600-foot (488 m) vertical drop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Summit at Snoqualmie</span> Resort in Washington, United States

The Summit at Snoqualmie is a recreation area in the northwest United States, located on Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. It provides alpine skiing and snowboarding, Nordic skiing, mountain biking, winter tubing, and scenic lift rides. Owned and managed by Boyne Resorts, it is 52 miles (80 km) east of downtown Seattle on Interstate 90.

Schweitzer is a ski resort in the northwest United States in northern Idaho, 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Sandpoint. Located in Bonner County in the Selkirk Mountains, it overlooks Lake Pend Oreille to the southeast with views of the Bitterroot and Cabinet mountain ranges. The ski area is approximately 45 miles (70 km) south of the Canada–US border. Doing business as Schweitzer Mountain Resort since 1988, in April 2021 the ski area adjusted its brand name to drop the words "mountain resort" to now be known only as "Schweitzer."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breckenridge Ski Resort</span> Alpine ski resort in Colorado, United States

Breckenridge Ski Resort is an old mining town that hit the skiing jackpot. Recognized for acres of skiable terrain across five mountain peaks, the alpine ski resort in the western United States, in Breckenridge, Colorado welcomes thousands of skiers and snowboarders each season. Just west of the Continental Divide in Summit County, it is perennially one of the most visited ski resorts in the western hemisphere. Breckenridge is owned and operated by Vail Resorts, Inc.

Horseshoe Resort, formerly Horseshoe Valley Ski Club, is an Ontario ski resort and four season vacation destination. Located north of Barrie, the resort is about 1 hour 15 minutes driving time from Toronto. The resort enjoys a long ski season due to snow making abilities. Acquired by Freed Hotels and Resorts in 2021, Horseshoe Resort is spread out over 680 acres (280 ha) of land. The resort offers 28 ski runs, over 30 kilometres of Nordic trails, 12-hole Valley golf course, Amba Spa, 101 rooms at the on-site inn, 40 condo-style suites, two year-round restaurants, 16,000 square feet (1,500 m2) of meeting and banquet facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a full gym, and over 25 miles (40 km) of trails connected to the Copeland Forest suitable for hiking, biking and snowshoeing.

Snow Valley Ski Club is a ski area located in Edmonton, Alberta, near the Whitemud Freeway at 119 Street in Rainbow Valley. The resort functions as a not-for-profit organization. The slope caters primary to beginner skiers and snowboarders, with only 15% of the area designated as advanced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Baldy Ski Area</span>

Baldy Mountain Resort is a family friendly ski resort overlooking the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia just north of the Washington state border. Its road access is via McKinney Road from Oliver and from BC Highway 33 north of Bridesville and BC Highway 3 west of Rock Creek, in the Boundary Country. Air access from Penticton Regional Airport. The summit is in the Okanagan Highland, an intermediary plateau-like area between the Monashee Mountains to the east and the Okanagan Valley immediately below to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ski Snow Valley</span>

Ski Snow Valley is a ski resort located in Minesing, Ontario, north of Barrie Ontario. It has 3 ski lifts and a snow tubing facility operating in the winter. In the summers, Snow Valley offers weddings, banquet and corporate events. Ski Snow Valley was named "best Ontario hill for kids" by Ski Canada Magazine in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snow Valley Mountain Resort</span> Skiing resort in California

Snow Valley Mountain Resort is a ski resort located in Running Springs, California, United States. It is the oldest continually operating ski resort in Southern California and is also one of four ski resorts in the San Bernardino National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perisher Ski Resort</span> Ski resort in New South Wales, Australia

Perisher Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere. Located in the Australian Snowy Mountains, the resort is an amalgamation of four villages and their associated ski fields, covering approximately 12 square kilometres (5 sq mi), with the base elevation at 1,720 metres (5,640 ft) AHD, and the summit elevation of 2,054 metres (6,739 ft) at the top of Mount Perisher. 4.4 square kilometres (1.7 sq mi) of this area is covered by 240 snow guns, which are used to artificially supplement the natural snowfall. Perisher was acquired by Vail Resorts, United States on 30 March 2015 for a sum of approximately AU$177 million.

References

  1. "Huge hopes for Hemlock Resort - Agassiz-Harrison Observer". www.agassizharrisonobserver.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06.
  2. Pages 39 - 41 Landscapes-Paysages Winter 2014
  3. "Hemlock Ski Resort not opening this season due to lack of snow - BC | Globalnews.ca".
  4. "Sasquatch Mountain Resort | Everything You Need to Know". 22 December 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Official Community Plan for Hemlock Valley 2000"
  6. 1 2 3 "No snow closes Hemlock Resort for the season"
  7. "Hemlock Resort Master Plan 2010" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Hemlock Resort's $1.5B all-season expansion plan gets approval"

Coordinates: 49°22′37″N121°56′06″W / 49.37694°N 121.93500°W / 49.37694; -121.93500