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The History of Silver Star Mountain Resort
Early 1800's
- A major fire denudes Aberdeen Mountain (site of present-day Silver Star Mountain).
1894
- Cornelius O'Keefe forms the Silver Star Mining Company. 26 claims staked in the vicinity of Aberdeen Mountain.
1914
- Forestry lookout is built and telephone line strung through the trees to the lookout. Only nine miles of road up from Vernon.
1925 - 1929
- Aqueducts are built in Vance Creek and Putnam Creek watersheds, leading to the City of Vernon reservoir. The project is abandoned in 1929 when a forest fire disrupts the watershed.
1929
- Nearly half of the park burns as Aberdeen Mountain is swept by forest fire. The burn is still visible. Government policy was "if it costs more than $25.00 to fight the fire, then let it burn unless it threatens people or buildings".
1930
- Vernon resident Bert Thorburn becomes the first recorded skier on Silver Star. He rides his bike up to the end of the road, follows the forestry trail to the lookout, spends the night there, and skis down the following day.
1933 - 1938
- Scouting trips to build a road. A few hardy souls skied across the western ridge and face of Silver Star. Carl Wylie starts the Silver Star Ski Club, a Nordic club that later morphs into the Sovereign Lakes ski club, a local Nordic club whose trails are adjacent to Silver Star.
1939
- Through taxation and donations, Vernon citizens came up with $700.00 to push the last three miles of road through.
1939 - 1945
- Because of the war, skiing interest was low and gasoline prices high.
1940
- Silver Star Provincial Park is established.
1943
- Fire lookout was removed and a new one built.
1946
- First rope tow built on Burney Ridge, 800 ft. long. It was powered by an old four cylinder engine. The cooling system was a 40 gallon water drum hooked up to the radiator. For $.50, you could ski all day.
1947 - 1956
- Due to poor snow conditions, the tow is moved to several different locations, among them Keefer Gulch near Lumby, and Lavington, and the Coldstream Ranch.
1956 - 1958
- Skiing returns to Christy Shoulder. Virtually snowless winters.
1958
- The final three kilometres of the Silver Star road is pushed through by local contractor Ross Postill.
- Silver Star Sports Limited is formed, with 42 original shareholders, including John Hindle (mayor of Kelowna), Ross Postill, Bill Attridge (whose son owns Attridge Sports), Ken Johnson, Joe Peters, and John Kassa.
- Construction of two rope-tow lifts.
- A-frame day lodge built.
- Department of Highways agreed to plough the road throughout the winter.
1959
- A poma lift installed goes from the 5,000-foot level at the parking lot to the top of Silver Star Mountain, replacing the rope tow.
- Carl Ernst becomes the first paid employee, operating the lift.
- The first ski school started up with Joe Gmunder.
1960
- J.T. Mutrie ski jump built for $3,500. After the first two years it was seldom used and was bulldozed.
1961
- First addition built to the day lodge. Vernon first Winter Carnival started with activities centered around Silver Star. Vernon Winter Carnival is still going, as of 2005.
1962
- Ski School commenced fulltime operation with Willie Leitner, Director.
1963
1964
- New t-bars replace tow-ropes.
1965
- A second A-frame with gables is added to the day-lodge.
1967 - 1968
- The Summit and Yellow Chairs (6,000 feet) installed, making Silver Star Mountain one of the largest ski areas in Canada.
1970
- Ski shop built. The popular Starloft Lounge is on the upper level, ski shop and rental on main level. This building is later bought by a group of ski patrollers and converted to the Kickwillie Inn.
- Poma lift shortened by half.
1976
- Blue chair constructed. It went about halfway up where the Vance Creek (Comet Express) is now. Later dismantled and sold to an area in Alaska.
1979 - 1980
- Due to unusual warm weather and rain the hill shuts down for a few days in January due to a lack of snow. A few days later cold weather returned with an abundance of snow.
1980
- First year for the Over The Hill Downhill Race, North America's oldest continuous recreational racing event. Each foursome must have at least one female and one skier over 35. Categories include four different age groups plus costume, handicapped and snowboarders.
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Silver Star Mountain Resort Era:
1981
- Silver Star Sports purchased by Norm Crerar, Charlie Locke, John Hindle, Rob Marshall and John Gow and becomes Silver Star Mountain Resorts Ltd.
- First of Nordic trails are cleared.
1983
- Putnam Station Hotel built, with the Wine Cellar downstairs. Judd Buchanan joins current ownership team.
1984
- The original day lodge is converted into the Pinnacle Suite Hotel.
- Town Centre is relocated to current location and the administration office, Aquatic Centre, Vance Creek Saloon, Silver Lode Inn and Kickwillie Inn are constructed.
- Summer operations begin.
- Installation of a biathlon range takes place and additional cross-country trails are built.
- Real estate development near the entrance to the resort begins.
1985
- Vance Creek Hotel added to Saloon.
1986
1987
- Chairs on the Summit lift replaced. The former Day Lodge is converted into the Pinnacles Suite Hotel.
1988
- Lord Aberdeen Apartment Hotel built.
1989
- Sales begin for lots in Phase I of the Knoll.
- First home built in Phase I of the Knoll during the summer.
1989 - 1990
- Logging begins in Putnam and roads are developed.
- Volunteer fire department started.
- Ski Partner program starts. The partners were outfitted by the Far West company of Vernon. The first partners were Ron Carter, Tom and Betty Campbell, Neil Davidson and Ginny Stewart.
- The first escorted snow cat tours take place in Putnam. For $15.00 you can ski Sunny Ridge and get picked up by cat and transported back to the Vance Creek side. It takes the entire morning for one round trip.
1990
- Major residential development begins; 20 homes built.
- First quad chairlift - Silver Queen - installed.
- Top and bottom stations of the Vance and Putnam Creek Express quads installed.
- A 1914 former BC Rail caboose moved to the Starduster teaching area.
1991
- Vance and Putnam Creek Express lifts installed.
- Putnam Creek area opens, doubling the skiable terrain.
- 15 km of cross-country trails added.
- World Cup Nordic event held at Resort.
- Another 20 homes built in Phase I of Knoll.
- Sales begin on Phase II of Knoll.
1992
- Mid-station on Putnam Creek Express built.
- National Altitude Training Centre built.
- Chilcoot Conference Centre built adding an additional 36 rooms to Vance Creek Hotel and a 400 seat conference centre.
- 18 homes built in Phase I and II of the Knoll.
1993
- Vance Creek Express expands lift capacity.
- Snowboard Park built.
- Ski and Snowboard School House built at end of Main St.
- Parking lot 'A' paved.
- Toboggan hill and skating pond open.
- Ski locker facility expanded.
- Additional twelve homes built on Knoll.
1994
- Paradise Camp built at mid-station of Putnam Creek Express.
- 11 runs added to Putnam Creek.
- Grooming capacity increases with the addition of another grooming machine.
- Night lighting on Milk Run is expanded.
- Coldstream Dry Goods opens.
- 15 homes built on Knoll.
- Silver Star Snowmobile Guided Tours opens.
1995
- New Master Plan for village and mountain development completed.
- Grandview - a 33-unit condominium project on the Knoll built.
- Addition of Tube Park to Brewer's Pond area takes place.
- BBQ deck at Paradise Camp expanded.
- Preliminary work done on Silver Woods area to access future ski terrain.
- 13 homes constructed on Knoll.
1996
- New mid-station added to Yellow Chair.
- Putnam Creek Express has a 25% increase in lift capacity.
- Bugaboos Bakery Café added to Main St.
- New winch-cat grooming machine for Putnam Creek.
1997
- 69 room Silver Creek Hotel added to Vance Creek's inventory.
- Construction of runs in Valhalla; 5000 feet with three runs and gladed area completed
- Coldstream Dry Goods and Bugaboos Bakery Cafe expanded.
1998
- New grooming machine purchased.
- Valhalla Pure Outfitters joins Main Street.
- New lift installed at Tube Town.
- Silver Queen Lodge built at Brewer's Pond.
- Guided Snowmobile Tours add a Mini-Z Park.
1999
- Major expansions to water supply and new waste water treatment plant.
- Natural gas service provided to village.
- New Star Kids Centre.
- Town Hall remodeled with new washrooms.
- New "Ride On" snowboard shop on Main Street.
- Creekside condominiums - 52 units - built in Phase I.
- Silver Queen lighted for night skiing.
- New permanent headquarters for Silver Star Adventure Tours.
- 25 acres of gladed tree runs are added.
2000
- Completion of water system.
- Beginner terrain carpet lift installed.
- Expansions at Tube Town and Silver Queen.
- 52 additional units built in Creekside, Phase II.
- 150 bed Hostel with staff accommodation built in the village.
2001
- Lord Aberdeen expands by 8 suites.
- Long John's Pub built in Lord Aberdeen.
- Three townhouse units added to Pinnacles.
- New bay added to Fire Hall, new truck ordered.
- Beginner carpet lift expanded.
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Schumann Resorts Era:
November 7, 2001
- Schumann family, owners of Big White Ski Resort since 1985, reach agreement in principle with the Honourable Judd Buchanan, (Order of Canada), majority shareholder of Silver Star Mountain Resort on the purchase of the majority assets of Silver Star Mountain Resort.
November 30, 2001
- Big White and Silver Star offer dual mountain pass program.
December 1, 2001
- Schumann family takes possession of Silver Star Mountain Resort.
January 9, 2002
- Inter-mountain helicopter shuttle service is launched between Silver Star and Big White ski resorts.
January 10, 2002
- WestJet commences first non-stop Hamilton to Kelowna flight.
March 1, 2002
Silver Star Mountain Resort invests $10 million in resort expansion plan featuring:
- The Comet Express, a $5.2 million, six passenger, high speed, Leitner-Poma chairlift which replaces the Vance Creek quad. This state-of-the-art lift is the largest of its kind in Canada, 5,993 feet in length and with a capacity of up to 3,000 passengers per hour. Trip time is under 6 minutes.
- Powder Gulch. The Powder Gulch Express replaced the Putnam Creek quad and is also built by Leitner-Poma. This $4.1 million quad has a length of 2,025 metres and provides access to Silver Star's award winning black and double black diamond terrain for over 1,600 snow enthusiasts per hour.
- $700,000 is spent on improving Guest Service infrastructure including a new bakery, a new retail shop, a Wonder Carpet beginner lift, upgrades to the Tube Park, and terrain sculpting on Last Chance and Aunt Gladys runs.
October 24, 2002
- Luxury European Day Spa opens in the National Altitude Training Centre at Silver Star.
January 7, 2003
- Silver Star receives a handful of 'Best of Canada' skiing awards including: Best Grooming, Best Family Resort, and Best Cruisers.
July 14, 2003
- Silver Star Mountain Resorts hosts Okanagan Wine Festival.
September 27, 2003
- Silver Star Resort homes by Concert Properties Ltd. sell in record time. 40 condominiums and town homes are sold in three hours.
February 17, 2004
- Americans break all-time Presidents Week record at Silver Star. Silver Star reports a 15% increase in skier visits.
March 25, 2004
- Horizon Air announces larger aircraft to service growing skier demand through the Kelowna Airport gateway to Big White and Silver Star Resorts.
June 1, 2004
- Silver Star Mountain Resort breaks ground on the $54 million luxury Snowbird Lodge featuring first class amenities and stunning views. This is the first accommodation project taken on by the Schumann family at Silver Star. The building amenities will feature: entry lobby and fireside meeting place, owner and guest check-in reception, heated underground parking; over-height parking for SUVs, equipment locker and wax room with direct slope access, mountain bike maintenance and secure storage, and digital entry security with video surveillance. The building will feature: the 24 seat Snowbird Theatre; fitness room; kids play room; family lounge with billiards, swimming pool and hot tub with viewing lounge, and an all-season patio. Building #1 scheduled for completion in September 2006.
July 14, 2004
- Silver Star signs long term agreement to secure Okanagan Wine Festival through to 2008.
September 30, 2004
- Silver Star continues summer grooming in order to facilitate a new terrain park for snowboarders and skiers, constructs new access to Aunt Gladys ski run, applies facelift to the National Altitude Training Centre, expands Parking Lot E to accommodate overnight guests, constructs new coffee shop upstairs at the Town Hall and purchases new grooming machines.
December 17, 2004
- Air Canada announces jet service from Vancouver to Kelowna to handle skier traffic to Silver Star and Big White Resorts.
January 10, 2005
- WestJet and Jetsgo commence non-stop service from Toronto to Kelowna opening up southern Ontario to the Okanagan Valley. Silver Star and Big White now boast that they are the closest western Canadian resorts to this lucrative market.
January 25, 2005
- Road to 2010 Olympics, National Freestyle Skiing Event held at Silver Star Mountain January 27th to 20th.
February 1, 2005
- Multiple Best of Ski Canada awards for Silver Star including: Best Aerial View, Best Nordic Skiing, Best Ski Academy, Best Double Black Diamond chutes and glades.
February 10, 2005
- Silver Star's Wild Horsemen Cabin named Top 10, North America's most romantic resort restaurants.
February 12, 2005
- Silver Star secures agreement with the North Okanagan Regional District over wells, enabling the sale of fully serviced land lots.
February 19, 2005
- Silver Star Ski Resort announces third new lift in three years, the $5.5 million Silver Woods project. 420 acres of never before skied terrain, serviced by a new Leitner-Poma high-speed detachable quad, 1,250 vertical feet of Canada's best Okanagan champagne powder snow, and 7 new runs for loads of great glade skiing and riding.
February 19, 2005
- Silver Star Mountain Resorts announces Phase 2 of the $54 million Snowbird Lodge project.
- Silver Star announces construction of new mountain bike terrain park to be accessed by the Comet Express six pack express lift that is fitted with special racks to carry up mountain bikers.
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