BURST
A suspension bridge, a skywalk attraction and a gondola could rise above Mount Seymour under a sweeping redevelopment proposal that would transform the North Vancouver ski resort into a four-season destination.
The long-term vision, released this month as a draft redevelopment plan, would expand its controlled recreation area, mostly within Mount Seymour Provincial Park, by nearly 100 hectares and boost peak visitor capacity from about 2,660 to nearly 6,000 people a day.
Eddie Wood, whose family has owned and operated the Vancouver resort since 1984, said the changes — if approved by B.C. Parks — will improve the business’s long-term viability.
“It’s a very capital-intensive business,” Wood told Postmedia News. “So if we can use our facilities in the summer as well as winter, it will allow us to keep recreation costs down for customers.”
The resort is located inside Mount Seymour Provincial Park, and the province will be collecting feedback on the plan over the next four weeks.
The development plan cites climate change as a significant challenge for the resort , pointing to projections of declining snowpack and reduced snowfall at lower elevations , underscoring “the importance of mitigation strategies, such as snow-making and the expansion of summer and shoulder-season recreation activities.
The resort wants to expand skiable terrain from 42 to 158 hectares, increase lift capacity from four to 14 chairlifts, and grow its trail network from 41 to 90 runs. New ski areas would be developed southeast of the Mystery Peak Express and above De Pencier Lake, creating longer runs and higher-elevation terrain for more experienced skiers and snowboarders.
The first phase of proposed changes would be within the CRA, Wood said, starting with upgrades and expansion of existing ski runs and lifts, including Summit Chair and the gold learning area, the resort’s beginner ski and snowboard zone.
“Then, we will turn to summer opportunities,” Wood said.
As the resort seeks to attract visitors beyond the winter ski season, attractions could include mountain biking, a disc golf course, hiking trails, ziplines and an aerial adventure park.
The plan also includes new lodges, yurts and 25 cabins for overnight stays as well as expanded restaurants, retail spaces, ski school and rental facilities. To improve access, it proposes 40 per cent more parking, expanded shuttle service and a new gondola running from the base of the mountain.
Wood said the plan is a “best-case scenario” outlining a range of activities the resort is considering offering, adding that the proposed changes are not expected to be fully built out within the next five years.
The implementation would also be subject to environmental reviews and Indigenous consultation, the plan says.
“Will all these activities be built if B.C. Parks approves? It will really all depend on the pace of demand,” Wood said. “Maybe there will be a different kind of activity that will be suitable for the park, so we want to remain flexible.”
Mount Seymour will pay for the redevelopment costs.