Whistler Real Estate - Index

Whistler Real Estate - Whistler Real Estate The Magazine Summer Fall 2008 - Index

Whistler history
blessed bY natuRe
in 1914, long before there were lift
lines in Whistler, fishing lines were
being cast from the shores of Alta
lake, where myrtle and Alex Philip
built a small fishing retreat called
rainbow lodge.
that same year, the Pacific Great eastern
railway reached Alta lake and opened the
valley to the outside world. the lodge soon
became the most popular
destination west of the rockies,
and visitors came from all
over to fish in summer, crosscountry
ski in winter and
to experience the inimitable
hospitality of the Philips.
tourism was not the only
booming industry in the area
during this time. logging was
also very profitable for a number
of years. other successful
enterprises included trapping
and prospecting, which led to mining surveys
up Fitzsimmons Valley, where the shafts can still
be seen to this day on the singing Pass trail.
But it wasn’t until the early 1960s that
people turned their gaze from the area’s
pristine lakes to its towering mountains.
during this time, a young visionary named
Franz Wilhelmsen formed Garibaldi lifts
limited with a group of businessmen who
mARkInG TImE
◆ 1877 the Pemberton trail is completed, linking the Pemberton Valley to
the Pacific Coast, north of Vancouver.
◆ 1900 the name “Whistler” is adopted by local prospectors and trappers.
◆ 1914 Myrtle and alex Philip buy 10
acres of land on alta lake, which is eventually transformed into the
historic Rainbow lodge.
◆ 1914 the great Pacific eastern Railway is built to alta lake and links the
valley to the outside world, elevating the Rainbow lodge to one of the
top tourist destinations on the West Coast.
®
At this time there
was no road, no
electricity, no piped
water, nor sewage
treatment facilities
at Alta Lake!
wanted to develop a ski area on what is now
called Whistler mountain. they hoped to
host the 1968 Winter olympic Games. At
this time there was no road, no electricity,
no piped water, nor sewage treatment
facilities at Alta lake!
however, by 1965 the Provincial
Government had completed a narrow gravel
road from Vancouver and a substation
was built to power the ski
lifts. meanwhile, work was
being completed on Whistler
mountain. runs were being
cut, concrete for lift towers
was poured, and a base lodge,
gondola barn and mid-station
were built. on new year’s day
1966, residents were invited to
ride up the mountain for free.
on February 15 1966, Whistler
mountain opened to the public.
in the 1970s, Whistler
experienced rapid growth including the
designation of the resort municipality of
Whistler in 1975 and a community plan
locating the current village on what was
then the site of the town garbage dump. in
1978, sod was turned for the village and
thus began the mandate to develop and
manage 53 acres within the town centre.
Blackcomb mountain opened in
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w h i s t l e r r e a l e s t at e . c a
6 0 4 . 9 3 2 . 5 5 3 8
Photo courtesy of Whistler Museum and Archives
december 1980, making Whistler one of
the largest ski areas in north America with
the two longest vertical ski drops on the
continent. And, five years later in 1985,
Blackcomb’s lift service was expanded
to 5,280 feet with the installation of the
horstman t-bar, making Blackcomb north
America’s only “mile high” mountain.
Whistler mountain followed with its own
high alpine lift, opening the Peak Chair at
5,020 feet.
in 1992, snow Country magazine
rated Whistler the #1 ski resort in north
America, the first time a resort outside the
U.s. received such an accolade. in 2003,
almost 40 years after Franz Wilhelmsen’s
olympic dreams, Whistler, together with
Vancouver, won the bid to host the 2010
olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, a
development that opens yet another chapter
in the history of this unique mountain
community.
◆ 1964 a single-lane gravel road is extended to Whistler because of the ski
area development.
◆ 1966 Whistler Mountain officially opens for skiing.
◆ 1978 Construction begins on a new town centre that will eventually
become Whistler Village.
◆ 1980 blackcomb Mountain is officially opened.
◆ 1998 Whistler and blackcomb mountains merge under the intrawest
Corporation.
◆ 2003 Whistler (and Vancouver) win the bid to host the 2010 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter games.