Whistler Blackcomb
A major Canadian mountain resort combining the Whistler and Blackcomb ski areas in British Columbia.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Whistler Blackcomb is a large mountain resort in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, built around two adjoining ski mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb. It is widely regarded as one of North America's leading ski destinations and, by measures including skiable terrain and uphill lift capacity, among the continent's largest. The resort serves winter skiers and snowboarders, while its summer business includes sightseeing, hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities. Its base facilities include Whistler Village, Creekside and the Upper Village, with hotels, restaurants, shops, residences, visitor services and mountain-access infrastructure. The modern resort originated in the early 1960s, when local businessman Franz Wilhelmsen and other developers promoted the Alta Lake and London Mountain area as a potential venue for the 1968 Winter Olympics. Although the Olympic bid was unsuccessful, the development group proceeded with a commercial ski resort. Whistler opened in January 1966. The mountain was initially known as London Mountain, but the name Whistler became established, referring to the high-pitched calls of western hoary marmots in the area. Blackcomb was developed separately and opened in December 1980. The two resorts competed intensely during the 1980s and 1990s, with each investing in lifts, terrain, village infrastructure and visitor amenities. Intrawest, the company associated with Blackcomb and with the development of Whistler Village, acquired Whistler in 1997. The operations were subsequently unified, and ticketing and access systems were fully integrated in 2003. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola, opened in December 2008, created a direct high-mountain connection between the two ski areas and became one of the resort's defining attractions. Whistler Blackcomb was central to Vancouver's successful bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The resort hosted Olympic and Paralympic alpine events including downhill, super-G, slalom, giant slalom and super combined competitions. The event increased the international visibility of Whistler as a destination and highlighted the area's substantial natural snowfall and extensive lift-served terrain. Ownership changed again in the following decade. Intrawest sold much of its interest through a public offering in 2010. In August 2016, Vail Resorts acquired Whistler Blackcomb Holdings for approximately US$1.39 billion, according to the referenced Wikipedia account. Nippon Cable retained a minority interest in the underlying Whistler and Blackcomb partnerships. Under Vail Resorts, Whistler Blackcomb operates as part of a larger North American mountain-resort portfolio and participates in the company's pass and destination-resort ecosystem. The resort's positioning combines premium skiing, reliable destination infrastructure, a pedestrian-oriented village and year-round mountain recreation. Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain together provide roughly 8,171 acres of in-bounds terrain, with a combined vertical experience exceeding 1,500 metres and extensive lift infrastructure. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola links the mountains across the Fitzsimmons Creek valley. The resort's scale, Olympic heritage, international air access through the Vancouver region and broad accommodation base support a business model that extends beyond lift tickets to lessons, rentals, food and beverage, lodging, retail, sightseeing and summer activities.
History
The Whistler valley was surveyed in the nineteenth century in connection with routes toward the British Columbia interior. The area later became more accessible after the Pacific Great Eastern Railway reached Alta Lake in 1914. Alex and Myrtle Philip established Rainbow Lodge that year, turning the lake and surrounding landscape into a significant recreational destination. Other lodges, logging operations and small commercial activities followed. The mountain now called Whistler was once referred to as London Mountain; the Whistler name became dominant because of the distinctive calls of western hoary marmots. In the early 1960s, Franz Wilhelmsen organized an effort to develop a major ski resort in the area and to pursue a Winter Olympic bid. Garibaldi Lifts Limited was formed in 1962, and developers raised capital, conducted feasibility work and secured support for roads and other basic infrastructure. The Olympic proposal for 1968 was rejected, but the development project continued. Whistler opened in January 1966 and established the foundation of the present resort. Blackcomb Mountain opened as a separate ski area in December 1980. During the next two decades, Whistler and Blackcomb competed for skiers and investment. The rivalry accelerated improvements in lifts, trails, snowmaking, base facilities and village services. By the mid-1990s, ski publications regularly ranked the combined destination among the world's leading resorts. Intrawest, which had developed Blackcomb and played a major role in the design of Whistler Village, purchased Whistler in 1997. The two mountains were operated as one resort, although complete ticketing and access integration followed in 2003. A major engineering and visitor-experience milestone arrived on 12 December 2008, when the Peak 2 Peak Gondola began operating between the mountains. The 4.4-kilometre system was notable for its long unsupported span and high clearance above the valley. It gave visitors a direct connection between the two ridgelines and reinforced Whistler Blackcomb's identity as one integrated destination. Whistler was a key venue in Vancouver's successful campaign for the 2010 Winter Olympics. After Vancouver was selected in 2003, Whistler Blackcomb was designated for alpine skiing. It hosted Olympic and Paralympic alpine disciplines, including downhill, super-G, slalom, giant slalom and super combined. The resort's snowfall, terrain and existing destination infrastructure helped distinguish it from venues that faced more difficult snow conditions. Intrawest expanded its resort activities and later sold much of its 75 percent interest in Whistler Blackcomb Resort through a public offering in 2010. Vail Resorts acquired Whistler Blackcomb Holdings in August 2016 for approximately $1.39 billion. Nippon Cable continued to hold a 25 percent interest in the Whistler and Blackcomb partnerships. The resort remains an active Vail Resorts property, with operations spanning winter mountain access and instruction, hospitality, retail and food service, and summer recreation.
- 2016
Vail Resorts acquisition
[1]Vail Resorts acquired Whistler Blackcomb Holdings, while Nippon Cable retained a minority partnership interest.
- 2010
Winter Olympic and Paralympic alpine venue
[1]Whistler Blackcomb hosted alpine skiing competitions during the Vancouver Games.
- 2008
Peak 2 Peak Gondola opens
[1]The gondola created a direct connection between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
- 2003
Ticketing and access are integrated
[1]The Whistler and Blackcomb access systems were fully integrated under one operating structure.
- 1997
Intrawest acquires Whistler
[1]Intrawest purchased Whistler and began the process of combining the previously competing mountain businesses.
- 1980
Blackcomb Mountain opens
[1]Blackcomb began operating as a separate ski resort in December.
- 1966
Whistler opens
[1]The first Whistler ski operations opened in January after the failed 1968 Olympic bid was followed by private-sector development.
- 1962
Garibaldi Lifts Limited is formed
[1]The development company was created to finance and build a ski area in the London Mountain and Alta Lake region.
- 1914
Rainbow Lodge begins operating
[1]Alex and Myrtle Philip established Rainbow Lodge at Alta Lake, helping create the area's early tourism economy.
Products and positioning
A premium, internationally oriented, year-round mountain destination combining very large ski terrain, high-capacity lift infrastructure, village accommodation and resort services.
Ski area · 1966
Whistler Mountain
The southern mountain provides extensive lift-served alpine and below-treeline terrain, with Whistler Village and Creekside as its principal base areas. It includes gondola and chairlift access, ski school facilities, on-mountain dining and the Whistler terminal of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.
Ski area · 1980
Blackcomb Mountain
The northern mountain offers a large vertical profile, extensive alpine terrain and the Upper Village as a principal base. It is known for steep terrain including Couloir Extreme and provides the Blackcomb terminal of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.
Mountain transportation · 2008
Peak 2 Peak Gondola
Opened in 2008, this aerial connection spans the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb at approximately 1,800 metres elevation. It is both an essential inter-mountain link and a sightseeing attraction, with a total route length of about 4.4 kilometres.
Outdoor recreation
Whistler Blackcomb summer operations
The resort remains active outside the ski season through sightseeing, hiking, mountain biking and other mountain experiences. These activities extend the destination's operating calendar beyond winter lift access and complement lodging, dining and retail services.
Brand decisions
2016
Sell Whistler Blackcomb Holdings to Vail ResortsM&ABackground
After Intrawest had reduced its interest through a 2010 public offering, ownership of the resort changed again.
Action taken
Vail Resorts acquired Whistler Blackcomb Holdings in a transaction reported at approximately $1.39 billion.
Aftermath
Whistler Blackcomb became part of Vail Resorts' international mountain-resort portfolio; Nippon Cable retained a minority interest in the underlying partnerships.
Transaction value. approximately $1.39 billion (2016 acquisition)
2008
Open the Peak 2 Peak GondolaProduct launchBackground
The two mountain areas were separated by a deep valley, and visitors previously had to connect through lower village areas.
Action taken
Whistler Blackcomb opened a high-elevation gondola linking the two mountains directly.
Aftermath
The gondola became a signature attraction and strengthened the resort's integrated two-mountain proposition.
1997
Combine the Whistler and Blackcomb resort businessesM&ABackground
Whistler and Blackcomb had operated as competing ski areas for much of the 1980s and 1990s. Intrawest's acquisition of Whistler created common ownership and enabled a unified destination strategy.
Action taken
Intrawest acquired Whistler and began consolidating the two mountain operations, with full ticketing and access integration completed in 2003.
Aftermath
The transaction established the operating model that became Whistler Blackcomb and supported coordinated investment in lifts, terrain and visitor services.
Recent events
Whistler Blackcomb cuts 2021/2022 pass prices[3]
Reported:
Whistler Blackcomb said it was reducing the price of its 2021/2022 season passes by 20 per cent; the Unlimited Pass was priced at $1,119, down from $1,399 for the current season.
Whistler Blackcomb announces Express Lift Ticket Program[4]
Reported:
Whistler Blackcomb is adopting handheld devices for its Express Lift Ticket Program. Staff at all three mountain bases will use the devices to process lift-ticket transactions and honor pre-purchased tickets away from ticket windows.
Sources4 sources
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