Whistler History

Whistler Blackcomb BC Canada

A Brief History of Whistler
In the early 1900's, the only residents in the valley were a few trappers and prospectors like John Millar and Harry Horstman who had settled in the Whistler area via the Pemberton Trail, the only direct route from the coast to the Pemberton Valley. The trail was completed in 1877 and was to be a cattle-driving route, however it was only used once for cattle, as most were lost to starvation and accidents on the inhospitable terrain.

In 1910, Alex and Myrtle Philip moved to Vancouver from the state of Maine. There, they met John Millar and learned of lakes overflowing with fish, high mountains, and clear streams in the Whistler Valley. To discover their dream, Alex and Myrtle took the three-day journey from Vancouver to Whistler by boat and packhorse. They purchased 10 acres of land and in 1914, Rainbow Lodge opened for business on the shores of Alta Lake. In the same year, the Pacific Great Eastern Railway opened, allowing easy travel to Rainbow Lodge. This quickly made it the most popular resort destination west of Banff and Jasper.
Soon, additional lodges opened up on Alta Lake and on other lakes in the Valley. The fish were abundant and the recreation activities excellent; because of this Whistler was a successful summer resort fifty years before it was discovered as a ski destination.

In 1962, four Vancouver Businessmen began the development of Whistler Mountain as a potential site for the Winter Olympic Games. Until 1964 there was no road, electricity, water or sewer in or to the Whistler Valley. In 1965 London Mountain's name was changed to "Whistler Mountain" and on February 14, 1966 it officially opened for skiers. At this time the permanent population of the Whistler Valley was approximately 25 people.

In 1975, the rapidly growing community of Alta Lake became the first and only Resort Municipality in Canada. The following year Vancouver/Garibaldi finally, after three previous tries, won the Canadian nomination for the Winter Olympics. However, Montreal, Quebec was awarded the Summer Games and as a result Whistler did not win the winter bid.

A plan for the town site was formed in 1977, and construction began in August 1978, on what had previously been the garbage dump for the area. Blackcomb Mountain was developed at the same time and opened for skiing the winter of 1980/81. In 1985 Blackcomb Mountain expanded it's terrain making it North America's only "Mile High Mountain". Ever increasing popularity of Whistler earned it the naming of North America's Number One Ski Resort by Snow Country Magazine in 1991. Since then, Whistler has won numerous similar honours and continues to be one of the world’s best four-season holiday destinations.

In 1998, Whistler again decided to bid for the Winter Olympics. Teaming up with Vancouver, the two communities’s won the Canadian nomination for the 2010 Winter Olympics. On July 2nd, 2003 the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2010 Winter Olympic Games to the cities of Vancouver and Whistler, fulfilling a lifelong dream for the community.

Whistler’s history in chronological order: