An ‘historic’ investment of $52 million is set to improve skiing at Whistler Blackcomb this season.
The development, by owners Vail Resorts, represents the largest single-year capital investment programme in the resort’s history.
A new 10-passenger gondola will replace the Wizard and Solar chairlifts, taking skiers to the top of Blackcomb Mountain, finishing next to the existing PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which takes guests to and from Blackcomb and Whistler.
It is expected to represent a 47% capacity increase and move 4,000 people per hour, the highest capacity in North America.
In addition to the new gondola, the Family Ski Zone’s Emerald Express four-passenger lift will be replaced with a new six-passenger high-speed lift, increasing uphill capacity by 29%.
The existing Catskinner triple-passenger lift will be replaced with a four-passenger, high-speed lift, which will increase uphill capacity by 56% and give skiers and boarders faster, more convenient access to Blackcomb Mountain’s beginner and intermediate terrain.
Pete Sonntag, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Whistler Blackcomb, said: "This transformative investment, the largest in the resort’s history, will offer a dramatic improvement to the experience for all of our guests as they explore and enjoy the largest and most popular resort in North America.
"We intend to continue to pursue other base area and village improvements that were part of the Renaissance, but we believed it was critical to start at our core, on the mountain."
