$1.5M in off-season upgrades at Castle Mountain prepares for 2021/2022 season
Castle Mountain Resort is excited to welcome guests back this winter with its official season kicking off on Friday, December 3.
Upgrades to snowmaking in 2019 made last season one of Castle’s longest in recent memory. Additional improvements to resort infrastructure this summer will allow the resort to continue to extend the length of its winter season (weather permitting) and also offer an improved guest experience with day lodge and cat ski upgrades. Castle will also be bringing back a variety of health and safety measures to ensure guests can enjoy another year of good ‘clean’ fun.
In alignment with the Government of Alberta’s Restriction Exemption Program (REP), all guests ages 12 and up who are accessing indoor facilities – such as the main Day Lodge or the T-Bar Pub – and those participating in cat skiing or snow school programs, will be required to provide valid proof of vaccination, proof of a privately paid negative rapid test result taken within 72 hours of service, or documentation of a medical exemption. In addition, face coverings will be mandatory in all indoor settings, line-up configurations will remain such that physical distancing can be maintained, and guests will not be required to load lifts with others not in their cohort. Indoor, in-person dining will also return this year in accordance with Alberta’s REP, and live music will be back at the T-Bar Pub – a popular après ski mainstay at the resort that was put on hold last year due to the pandemic. Castle will be taking additional safety precautions, such as mandating vaccines (or proof of a negative COVID test every 72 hours) for all employees and limiting the number of day tickets available each day this season. Guests are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets online, in advance, as walk-up availability cannot be guaranteed.
“We look forward to safely welcoming guests back to the mountain for another ski season at one of Alberta’s most unique alpine experiences,” says Castle Mountain Resort Sales & Marketing Manager, Cole Fawcett. “Scientific evidence continues to support that outdoor activities are safe when conducted in a physically distanced manner and we are excited to provide new and returning guests with access to an enjoyable, family-friendly environment this winter while adhering to public health guidance and safety best practices.”
A $1.5M investment in off-season improvements to snowmaking and other infrastructure, including new snow guns and pumps, has resulted in a 1.1km
expansion that has more than doubled Castle’s snowmaking production. These enhancements will allow more terrain to be accessible in the early season and provide better snow coverage throughout the year. Other improvements include upgrades to one of Castle’s lifts, the day lodge, and underground electrical and water pipeline infrastructure to allow for better snow coverage and earlier access to and from the main mountain.
“The resort upgrades that have been made over the past three summers have allowed us to continue to improve Castle’s guest experience, while significantly increasing the length of our ski season,” adds Fawcett.
Castle is one of the only resort-based cat-skiing operations in North America and boasts access to more than 900 acres of premium cat-ski terrain. This year, Castle is excited to introduce a new, custom-built cat skiing cabin, that will further elevate its Powder Stagecoach Cat-Skiing operations. The new thirteen-person cabin will include comforts such as deluxe bucket seats, two cabin heaters, an audio/charging system, and side window defrosters. Groups of up to 12 guests per day will be able to participate in this unique recreational offering five days a week, with 60 scheduled cat skiing days available throughout the season.
The resort will continue to provide frequent communication on COVID-19 related changes on its website at www. skicastle.ca/covid19 and is committed to aligning all operations with local, provincial, and national health guidelines and mandates.
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 CatSkiing operation; one of the only resortbased cat-skiing operations in western Canada.