Whistler Blackcomb | Photo: Ruth Hartnup | Cover: Whistler Blackcomb

In what would amount to the resort’s largest single investment in history, Vail Resorts announced that it hopes to spend $66 million on a new gondola, two new chairlifts, as well as other amenities @Whistler Blackcomb reports the Vancouver Sun.

Related: Vail Resorts Makes ‘Epic Promise’ To Achieve ‘Net-Zero’ Emissions By 2030

The salient point of this particular investment would be the creation of a 10 person gondola to replace the aging yet iconic Wizard and Solar chairs. The new gondola would ultimately end next to the Peak-2-Peak Gondola and would increase uphill capacity by a massive 47%.

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Other improvements include replacing the family friendly Emerald Express with a larger, six-pack chair. The 3-person Catskinner would also be replaced by a high-speed quad. Whistler will also expand its world-famous bike park as a part of the overall investment if approved.

A spokesman from Vail Resorts, Marc Riddell told the Vancouver Sun the investment is “The largest for (Whistler Backcomb) and the largest single capital investment for Vail Resorts.”

Vail Resorts officials hope the improvements will be finished by the start of the 2018/2019 season. In the meantime, planning officials are about to go through the long process of environmental reviews before anything is given the official green light.

*We will update this story as more information becomes available

Full Press Release:

  • Stay warm and dry in Blackcomb’s new 10-person gondola
  • Cut the kids’ wait time for Emerald Express with the new 6-person chair in the Family Ski Zone
  • Add more laps and improve faster with Blackcomb’s new 4-person, high-speed Catskinner lift
  • Be the first to shred Creekside’s new trails in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park

Get ready to enjoy more time on the mountain. Vail Resorts has just unveiled an historic announcement at Whistler Blackcomb, the investment in faster lifts and a new Blackcomb gondola for the 2018.19 season. The $66-million CAD project will be the heart of Whistler Blackcomb, cutting wait times at the core of each mountain.

On Whistler, a new six-person Emerald Express chair will make life in the Family Ski Zone easier, while a high-speed, four-person Catskinner chair adds laps to your day on Blackcomb. Access to this mountain will also be faster, warm and dry, as well. A 10-person gondola, from the Upper Village to the PEAK 2 PEAK connection, will open the first fully-sheltered route up Blackcomb year-round. Sightseeing or climbing the Ascent Trails? Extend your stay. There’s a covered cabin for the ride down.

And we didn’t forget the mountain bikers. Loam lovers will be shredding fresh trail in Creekside as the Whistler Mountain Bike Park reveals its most extensive expansion this spring!

Find the entire Vancouver Sun article here: Whistler Backcomb ski resort to get $66-million upgrade

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