The ski area at Manning Park Resort has been a flurry of construction all summer, says owner Kevin Demers, and now it’s time for some fun.
The installation of the brand-new quadruple chairlift is now complete, and a brand-new guest services building is also close to being completed.
Construction of the Doppelmayr four-person chairlift started immediately following the retirement of the long-standing Orange Chair in April. The new quad chairlift follows the same profile of the iconic Orange Chair but with a lower bottom station. This allows for loading closer to the base area and puts up to four riders on the chair essentially doubling the capacity for riders.
“I am, of course, very excited that the new quad chair is totally finished,” Demers says, taking a seat on the new chair with a big smile. “We are ready for snow!”
A contest is running to name the new quad chairlift, with submissions being accepted via the Manning Park Resort website until Sept. 25.
“We will choose our favourite three names to then be voted on by the public,” says Demers. “Whoever submits the winning name suggestion wins a winter season pass, and the chance to ride the first chair when the ski area opens in December.”
Progress also continues for the new Alpine Guest Services building on the mountain which will house the ticket office, rental shop, snow school and new washrooms all in one building.
Much of the exterior wood for the construction of the Alpine Guest Services building came from reclaiming fallen trees from the chairlift project and base area construction.
The wood was milled onsite and then used for siding the building. With this new facility it has allowed for the movement of several other smaller buildings to more strategic locations, which will create more guest parking.
Local contractor, Barclay Fletcher, is constructing the guest services building this fall along with an additional eight new premium cabins that will open before this coming winter.
“I am very excited to see the totally new look of the ski area and with the new premium cabins expected to be completed by Christmas,” Demers says, “we’re looking forward to a great winter.”
Manning Park Resort’s anticipated opening day for the ski area is Dec. 7.
For more details on year-round accommodations or the New Quad Chair Name Contest, visit manningpark.com. Name nominations are being accepted until Sept. 25 and voting for the top three names will run from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30, until the end of the Early Bird season pass rate.
Manning Park Resort is a four-season destination with full Resort amenities including a variety of accommodations, restaurant, pub, swimming pool, fitness centre, group facilities and exceptional outdoor recreation. There has been downhill skiing at Manning since the 1950s, along with cross-country skiing, tubing, snowshoeing and outdoor skating. The Resort is nestled in beautiful EC Manning Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of Hope on Highway #3.
