An abandoned Ontario ski resort that has been shuttered for 15 years is one step closer to being demolished after local officials abandoned a proposal that could have protected its remaining buildings from demolition.
The Municipality of Grey Highlands voted 5-1 on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to pursue discussions with the Bruce Trail Conservancy rather than initiate a heritage designation process for the former Talisman Mountain Resort near Kimberley, Ontario. The decision removes a potential obstacle to the conservation group’s plans to demolish the resort’s deteriorating buildings and ski lifts and restore the surrounding property to its natural state.
CHNX News reports Mayor Paul McQueen withdrew his original heritage proposal after facing opposition from residents and the conservancy, which purchased the former resort property in 2025. Eight residents addressed the council during Wednesday’s meeting, all opposing the proposed designation.
A Disagreement Over Preserving The Abandoned Resort
The controversy began in September when architect Joey Giaimo urged local officials to consider preserving the resort’s remaining buildings because of their potential architectural and cultural significance.
During a Sept. 16 council meeting, Giaimo argued that the buildings possessed heritage value and could potentially be restored rather than demolished. His presentation prompted McQueen to propose beginning the process of evaluating the property for heritage designation.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy opposed the proposal, arguing that the structures had deteriorated considerably since the resort closed in 2011 and that preserving them would interfere with its conservation plans. The issue generated considerable public opposition, prompting the mayor to reconsider his approach.
Instead of pursuing the heritage designation, the council approved a resolution directing municipal officials to engage in discussions with the conservancy about the property’s future. The decision does not constitute final demolition approval, but it means the heritage designation process proposed by the mayor will not move forward under his withdrawn motion.
Former Ski Resort To Become A 134-Acre Nature Reserve
Talisman Mountain Resort opened in 1963 and was once a popular four-season destination in Ontario’s Beaver Valley, attracting skiers from Toronto and surrounding communities. The resort closed in 2011, and efforts to revive the property ultimately failed, leaving its lodges, chairlifts and other infrastructure abandoned.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy purchased the former ski area in 2025 with plans to remove the remaining infrastructure and transform the property into a protected nature reserve.
The organization’s Talisman Forest Nature Reserve project aims to permanently protect 134 acres along the Niagara Escarpment. Restoration work will include removing abandoned resort buildings and ski lifts, planting native trees and vegetation, improving wildlife habitat and restoring areas disturbed by decades of resort operations.
The project will also protect approximately 0.55 miles of the Bruce Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that follows the Niagara Escarpment through southern Ontario. The conservancy hopes to restore a missing section of forest canopy in the Beaver Valley while maintaining public access for hikers and other outdoor recreationists.
The organization has been raising money to fund the property’s protection, demolition, environmental remediation and long-term stewardship.
What’s Next For Talisman?
The latest council decision clears a potential political obstacle, but the remaining resort structures are not coming down immediately. Demolition plans still require coordination between the conservancy and local authorities, and a firm demolition date has not been confirmed.
Bruce Trail Conservancy CEO Michael McDonald welcomed the council’s decision to pursue a more cooperative approach, expressing support for continued discussions about the property’s future.
For former Talisman skiers, the project represents the permanent loss of a once-popular winter destination. For conservation advocates, it presents an opportunity to return a heavily developed section of the Niagara Escarpment to forest and wildlife habitat.
Either way, the latest decision makes it increasingly likely that Talisman’s abandoned chairlifts and lodges will eventually disappear from the Beaver Valley landscape.
