Revelstoke, British Columbia — As it stands, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is one of Canada’s top skiing destinations. With the continent’s longest vertical drop and ample heli-skiing opportunities, it’s a great spot for skiers and riders.
That doesn’t mean, though, that it’s perfect. For those who go just for lift-served skiing, operations can be frustrating. This is partly due to the limited number of lifts, the lack of lapability on the lower and mid-mountain, and a gondola that requires you to exit and then go through a maze to re-enter at its mid-station. The original vision for the ski resort accounted for those potential flaws.
Late last week, YouTubers SRG Skiing & Skier72 analyzed the history of Revelstoke Mountain Resort and why it hasn’t grown to what its original 2003 master plan called for. They analyze Revelstoke’s wild 25-lift, 100-run vision and the factors that led to its current footprint.
The Master Plans
For the first couple of decades of its existence, Revelstoke was known as Mount Mackenzie. The modestly sized ski area offered a mellow experience, but many dreamed about what was possible above the existing lifts. In retrospect, I do wonder if they regret taking out the old lifts.
The 2003 master plan was a sight to behold. You can see the pods they added, but also new pods and lifts that would have led to a wider, more well-spread-out layout.
The 2024 master plan update drastically reduced their expansion plans. The focus is now on adding lifts to reduce reliance on Revelstoke’s gondola (Revelation). There could be some expansion, as another upper mountain chairlift could increase its vertical drop a bit more. That doesn’t mean expansion is out of the question; it just means their next three lift priorities are to create redundancy.
Why The Changes Been Slower Than Expected
The financial crash of 2007-08 played a large part in their struggles. Because it opened in 2007, they basically had to deal with economic headwinds from the start. The original owner faced a mountain of debt, and then sold it to a new group in 2008 (Northland Properties).
While not discussed in the video, one factor is Revelstoke’s focus on adding real estate and summer attractions. This includes adding a sightseeing bridge (SkyWalk) and an alpine coaster.
A key part of their focus has been real estate development, partly tied to a new golf course. A Cabot golf course is finally scheduled to debut in summer 2027 following multiple delays. It will also include a new hotel known as The Karl. Shoutout Karl. Other real estate developments currently being offered to the public include The Benchlands and Mountain Road Estates.
According to Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine, Revelstoke Mountain Resort gave an update to locals regarding their projects last June. Revelstoke Mountain Resort President Jason Kelder said future lifts depend on future real estate sales, meaning imminent improvements to the ski experience aren’t guaranteed. Next up in ski improvements is a new on-mountain lodge that will replace the Mac Outpost. The Outpost will then be moved to where the new Skywalk starts.
A new master plan from Ecosign is under development and will plot out new chair and snowmaking infrastructure.
Revelstoke plans to cover its history and future in a new three-part documentary series. The first episode was released today, with the others scheduled to debut on YouTube in the weeks ahead.
Image/Video Credits: Skier72 & SRG Skiing, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Skimap.org
