FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CASTLE MOUNTAIN RESORT TO INVEST MORE THAN $1.5 M IN RESORT IMPROVEMENTS
Additional snow making infrastructure the highlight of several improvements coming in advance of the 2021-2022 season, and the second major investment in the past three years.
Castle Mountain Resort, Alberta (August 12, 2021) – Castle Mountain Resort is excited to announce that work on several major projects is underway, which will enhance the guest experience in time for the 2021-2022 season. This summer’s projects include upgrades to both indoor and outdoor spaces, headlined by another major investment on snowmaking. The most notable projects being undertaken are:
Snow Making Enhancements
Snow making infrastructure, first installed in 2019, will be expanded to the main mountain (Gravenstafel Mountain). Underground electrical and water pipeline infrastructure will make its way to the corner of North Road, near the bottom of North Bowl. This nearly 1.1 KM expansion will allow for better snow coverage and earlier access to and from the main mountain than ever before. Additionally, a second snow making pump as well as additional snow making machines, will be added. This will allow the resort to more than double the amount of snow it makes at any given time, allowing more terrain to be accessible in the early season as well as providing better snow coverage throughout the season.
The resort will also make additional investments in water storage, to compliment this expansion, by way of a second water reservoir. Made in Alberta by Rugged Enterprises of Taber, Alberta, and holding the equivalent of 4 Olympic swimming pools worth of water, the new reservoir will help the resort ensure it is compliant with strict, government mandated water conservation objectives. Water will be stored in the spring, when flow rates are at their peak and conservation objectives met, then used in the late fall when snow making is most needed.
Day Lodge Flooring Replacement
Nearly completed, new flooring for the upstairs portion of the day lodge will greet guests this season. Replacing aged carpet, new rubberized flooring will ensure a clean, non-slip surface which is suitable not only for winter guests, but also for guests of weddings in the summer season.
Tamarack (Red) Chair Drive Replacement
Resort staff and contractors have been working to replace the Tamarack (Red) Chair drive. Often touted as the “brain” of a lift, the drive is the unit which controls the motor of the lift and sends commands to start and stop, among other things. Replacement of the Red Chair drive will help to ensure the longevity of one of Castle’s most important lifts, ensuring reliable access to alpine terrain for many years to come.
Powder Stagecoach Cat Skiing Snowcat / Cabin Replacement
Guests of Castle’s Powder Stagecoach Cat Skiing operation will be riding in style this season, in the comfort of a new cat skiing cabin. The new 13 passenger cabin, made in Alberta by Metal Form Industries Inc. (Innisfail, AB), will arrive in time for the 2021-2022 cat skiing season and will be paired with a repurposed snowcat formerly of Castle’s snow grooming fleet. The new cabin will feature comforts such as deluxe bucket seats, two cabin heaters, an audio/charging system, and side window defrosters, just to name a few. Castle’s Powder Stagecoach Cat Skiing operation will continue to operate 5 days / week this season, from December 28, 2021 to March 19, 2022.
“We’re proud to be reinvesting in the experience of our guests” says Director of Mountain Operations, Jason Crawford. “This summer’s projects represent a reinvestment of every single penny of profit our resort made this past season, and then some. We are proud to maintain the longstanding tradition of reinvesting to continue to improve the experience of our guests.”
Castle Mountain Resort is scheduled to open, for the 2021-2022 season, on Friday, December 3. A limited number of season passes remain available with reduced rates in effect until September 30.
About Castle Mountain Resort:
Closer to Heaven, Down to Earth; Castle Mountain Resort is the second largest mountain resort, in Alberta, by acreage. Nestled in the southern Alberta Rockies, adjacent to the communities of Pincher Creek and the Crowsnest Pass, Castle Mountain Resort boasts 94+ runs across 3592 acres of terrain. Included in this is Castle’s Powder Stagecoach Cat-Skiing operation; one of the only resort-based cat-skiing operations in western Canada. Known for its abundant snowfall and short lift lines, Castle Mountain Resort remains one of the last affordable, down-to-earth, and authentic Rocky Mountain winter experiences.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cole Fawcett
Sales & Marketing Manager
E: Cole.Fawcett@skicastle.ca
P: (403) 627-5101 x 244
Phenomenal Simply Phenomenal – great job everyone – it must be exciting to be managing “The Castle” this year.
Gerry,
It’s another super exciting season we’re heading into. We’ve definitely got some momentum! Hope to see you out sometime this season.
Cole
Hello. My name is brad hagen, and last summer I purchased a week day pass for the upcoming season, but I haven’t received any information about how I actually get my physical pass. Could you please let me know how I get my pass? Thanks very much, Brad Hagen.
Hi Brad,
Thanks for your message and thanks for taking the leap as a season pass holder. Season passes can be picked up at Castle Mountain Resort, during regular office hours. Currently those hours are 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday – Friday. Generally we will get out into various communities surrounding our resort, including Calgary in Lethbridge, for season pass printing days. These have not yet been determined but, when they are, we will be sure to let all of our season pass holders know.
Cole
We were hiking Haig Lake this weekend. Fantastic loop trail. On the way in to Castle we noticed a new trail being constructed about a kilometer from the resort. It crossed the highway and heading off into the forest. I’m wondering what this trail will be used for?
Hi Larry,
Thanks for your message. This new trail falls within Castle Provincial Park and is under the jurisdiction of Alberta Parks. That being said, we are in the know on what it is. This is a trail extension for the Southfork / Barnaby Lakes Trail which doesn’t currently have adequate parking at its current trailhead. With the extension of the trail to the Barnaby / Syncline Staging area, parking will no longer be an issue and there are washrooms there to boot.
Hope that helps!
Cole Fawcett
Please consider adding EV charging as a future improvement. It would definitely help make Castle stand out when choosing a mountain!
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your message! EV charging is definitely on our list. We hope to knock this off our list in the coming years.