Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

SUMMER AT SUN PEAKS

Busy start to summer operations at Sun Peaks Resort

Jun 24, 2021 | 4:31 PM

SUN PEAKS, B.C. — With the combination of hot weather and recently eased travel restrictions, it’s been a busy first week of summer operations at Sun Peaks Resort.

Sun Peaks Resort Director of Marketing and Communications Rob McCloskey says it was a smooth start for the mountain.

“Speaking so far out of the gate, we’re up in hike, bike and golf visits so far this year and we’ve only been open for just under a week so that’s a good trend that we’ll hopefully continue to see.”

McCloskey says they’re hoping to build on last year’s interest in recreational pursuits, and the resort has extended its hours and season to accommodate.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Donald has it wrong - again

Dec 08, 2024

This year, hiking and biking trails are open seven days a week with lifts spinning from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Between June 18 and September 6). Masks are still required for line-ups and indoor spaces, and people are asked to buy tickets online ahead of time.

“Daily lift ticket numbers continue to be restricted. Both in terms of creating a safe environment for guests and staff but also it just controls a better guest experience in the bike park,” explains McCloskey. “(It) keeps our lift lines moving nice and quickly so people can get lots of laps in.”

Summer visitation levels are about half of what the resort gets in the winter, but the hill is increasingly popular with mountain bikers and hikers looking for an alpine view.

In the village, events and live music won’t be as large scale as typical summers. But Tourism Sun Peaks CEO Arlene Schieven says it’ll be similar to the 2020 season with attendance limits and other safety protocols in place.

“It actually worked really well last year,” she notes. “We found that every performance was a different group of people and it just gave people more options to incorporate that into their day of activities.”

Schieven says the bulk of warm weather visits are from people already in B.C. or the region, but after a winter of travel limits, they’re ready to market beyond the local area.

“Kind of from the beginning of June until the 15th we were focusing just on our health region, and then as soon as we heard that we could market to all of B.C. we opened that up and that’s been really great,” she says. “Having Vancouver in our mix is really important.”

With travel restrictions expected to continue easing into the summer, Sun Peaks anticipates visitation will increase and mirror what it was last summer when the pandemic fueling interest in outdoor activities.