Sun Peaks prepares for 65th winter season with on-mountain improvements and new experiences

As Sun Peaks Resort prepares to welcome skiers and snowboarders back to the mountain for its 65th winter season, several improvements and new experiences are underway, from expanded snow storage to mountain infrastructure upgrades and events. 

Amy Blakeney, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Sun Peaks Resort LLP, chatted with SPIN about what folks can expect for the upcoming 2026-2027 winter season.

“We’re all excited to kick off the 65th winter season of skiing at Tod Mountain,” Blakeney said. 

The resort is scheduled to open to the public on Nov. 21, although this will depend on the forecast in the coming week. A final decision regarding the public opening and which areas of the mountain will be available is expected early next week, depending on weather conditions, Blakeney said.

Snow storage and mountain improvements

Despite the warmer weather, the Nancy Greene International Race Centre opened as planned on Nov. 6, welcoming hundreds of athletes for early-season training. 

Following a challenging start to last winter, Sun Peaks Resort LLP has continued investing in snowmaking and snow storage to improve early-season reliability.

The unpredictable weather last season, which delayed the resort’s public opening by four days, was one of the biggest challenges of the 2025-2026 season and influenced preparations for this winter, Blakeney said. 

The resort has since tripled its snow storage program, expanding from one insulated snow blanket to three. Each pile contained approximately 17,000 cubic metres of snow, with 80 to 85 per cent retained throughout the summer. 

“When we spread out the three piles, it covered about 20 football fields,” Blakeney explained. 

Sun Peaks Resort LLP is now entering the third year of a six-year, $5.5 million snowmaking improvement plan, which includes additional snow guns, automation and infrastructure upgrades. 

The resort is continuing to focus snowmaking efforts on key access routes, including 5 Mile and Crystal Lane, to help improve connectivity across the mountain Blakeney said. 

Additional improvements include drainage and culvert upgrades along Crystal Lane, further glades on Orient and a $1.6 million electrical investment at mid-mountain. The electrical upgrades include a new substation and backup generator to support Sunburst Lodge, the Alpine Shop and potential future lift expansions. 

The resort has also expanded its snowcat fleet from 10 to 12 machines, adding a new park cat and nordic cat. Two of these existing snowcats have been repurposed to offer new guest experiences.

One affectionately named Disco Kitty, features a permanent DJ stand and will make appearances at various events throughout the season. 

Another has been fitted with an eight-passenger cabin, allowing non-skiers to participate in the resort’s Sunburst fondue experience by providing transportation down the mountain following dinner. 

The goal is to expand the popular fondue program to three or four nights per week, depending on demand.

“We had our biggest numbers last year with the fondue experience, and many nights were sold out,” Blankey said

Families can also look forward to four completed kids adventure zones across Sundance, Tod, Orient and Morrisey, featuring interactive trails and activities for younger skiers and snowboarders. 

Visitation and staffing expectations

Despite the challenging weather conditions last winter, Sun Peaks LLP recorded its second-highest skier visitation on record. 

Looking ahead, early bookings remain encouraging, although season pass sales are currently tracking slightly below last year’s numbers, Blakeney said. Multi-day card sales remain comparable to the previous season, while hotel bookings are looking strong, particularly among destination visitors. 

The resort has noticed a shift in booking patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic, with visitors increasingly making travel arrangements closer to their arrival dates, Blakeney explained. 

“I’m still confident that once the snow flies, there will be that excitement,” she said. 

On the staffing side, recruitment has gone well across departments, with seasonal employees already arriving in Sun Peaks and participating in training. 

Although recruitment has been successful, staff housing continues to be at capacity. 

“Staff housing is always full, full, full. So it’s a bit of a Tetris game, making sure we’ve got enough beds for everybody,” Blakeney said. 

The resort’s Community Lodge Program, which encourages community members to offer available rooms or accommodations to seasonal workers in exchange for incentives from participating businesses, is also returning this winter. 

Approximately five or six units are currently participating in the program, according to Blakeney.

She also pointed to the municipality’s BC Builds housing project, which is expected to provide 110 units targeted toward year-round employees in Sun Peaks, as an important development for the community’s future housing needs. 

Events and new experiences

Beyond skiing and snowboarding, more than 40 events, competitions and activities are planned throughout the winter season. 

The return of Altitunes on closing weekend is one highlight Blakeney is looking forward to. Last winter, the music festival brought several thousand attendees to Sun Peaks, including visitors who had never previously visited the resort. 

“For me, Altitunes was a standout last winter in terms of being aligned with closing weekend. We just had such great energy,” Blakeney said. 

The resort is also working alongside Tourism Sun Peaks to bring events and activities to the mountain and village throughout the season.

“I think every weekend you’re going to see things happening,” Blakeney said. 

Visitors staying at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre can also expect renovations to the hotel’s wellness centre. 

The first phase includes upgrades to the indoor sauna and wellness areas, with outdoor pool and hot tub renovations planned for summer 2027. 

The resort will also be hosting its annual community engagement session in early December, offering residents an opportunity to to hear about upcoming projects and developments. 

Looking ahead

Celebrating 65 years, Blakeney reflected on the resort’s growth from a small local ski hill to an international destination. 

Over the past 33 years operating as Sun Peaks, the resort has expanded significantly, now offering 4,400 acres of skiable terrain and ranking as Canada’s second-largest ski area. There is still room for future growth, with approximately half of the resort’s planned real estate development and two-thirds of its mountain infrastructure completed Blakeney said.

While continued expansion remains part of the resort’s long-term plans, Blakeney said seeing the community develop alongside the mountain has been particularly meaningful. 

“It’s really about our guests, our community and our employees,” she said. 

“Seeing it happen the way it has, and having the community be part of that, to me has been really fulfilling both personally and professionally to see it happen.”