British Columbia

Mount Washington ski resort bought by U.S. company

After a couple of rough years, Vancouver Island's largest ski resort has been purchased by an American company that already owns three ski resorts.

Snow making could be big part of resort's future after two bad seasons

Vancouver Island's Mount Washington ski resort has been sold to a Utah-based company. (Mount Washington Resort/Facebook)

Utah-based Pacific Group Resorts announced on Tuesday that it's buying Vancouver Island's Mount Washington Alpine Resort .

Don Sharpe, director of business operations for Mount Washington, said the resort had been on the market for two years because the owners, who have had the resort since 1989, were getting on in years and wanted to sell the it so they could "focus on other things."

It's been a challenging two years for the resort. The 2014 and 2015 seasons were minimal in terms of snow, and last February, three ski chalets burned down in a fire on the mountain.

But Sharpe says the bad luck over the last few years had nothing to do with the sale.

"The resort was up for sale before the two rough seasons occurred," he told All Points West host Michael Tymchuk.

He says that the new owners, who own three ski resorts in the U.S. already, are highly proficient in making snow, which is set to be a part of Mount Washington's future.


To hear the full interview, click the audio labelled: U.S. company buys Vancouver Island's Mt. Washington resort