Zincton Resort Expression of Interest
Open for Public Comment
Zincton Resort is envisioned as a world-class, all-season, backcountry-oriented mountain destination that delivers an unparalleled recreation experience complemented by a pedestrian-only, environmentally sustainable Mountain Village. Located between New Denver and Kaslo along Highway 31A, Zincton Resort represents the evolution of traditional ski areas in British Columbia.
If realized, Zincton Resort will establish an all-season, backcountry-oriented mountain destination catering to dedicated local, regional, and international guests seeking an immersive mountain experience with world-class accommodation and amenities. The proposed development will blend the lift-serviced recreation experience offered at traditional mountain resorts with an extensive and accessible backcountry offering increasingly being sought by the skier marketplace.
Zincton will offer a range of winter backcountry experiences, including “laps” on chairlifts based out of the Mountain Village and non-mechanical, human-powered backcountry skiing. This range of winter experiences will be matched in summer by a hiking and mountain bike trail network offering challenging hikes, epic rides, and a backcountry mountain experience. The trails will range from short, accessible trails to full day mountain adventures for the more ambitious. Additionally, a vast existing network of old rail trails connects Zincton to Retallack, Sandon, New Denver, Slocan Lake, and beyond, creating experiences suitable to all experience and skill levels.
Base area amenities will include a comprehensive Mountain Village that will meet the full range of guest needs and a remote, luxury Backcountry Lodge in Goat Canyon below Whitewater Ridge. The Mountain Village and a portion of the recreation facilities (e.g. ski trails, mountain bike trails) will be developed on private land adjacent to the proposed Controlled Recreation Area. Combined with lift-serviced skiing at either end, guests will create their own personal mix of accommodation between the Mountain Village and the remote Backcountry Lodge, and lift-serviced and backcountry recreation experiences, both guided and unguided.
The Zincton Resort Expression of Interest represents the first of three stages in the all-season resort development application process as detailed in the All Season Resort Policy and All Season Resort Guidelines, and which culminates in the approval of a Master Plan and a Master Development Agreement with Province of British Columbia. Throughout this process the concept will continue to be revised and refined with input from First Nations, stakeholders, and the Mountain Resorts Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
The Mountain Resort Branch is currently accepting public comment (May 21 – June 21, 2020) and we actively encourage those interested to read the Expression of Interest or condensed Executive Summary and offer their comments to MRB. The reports and links to submit comments can be found here (Link).
For further information, hear proponent David Harley discuss the project on CBC (below), check out articles in the Whistler Pique, Nelson Daily, Daily Hive, and Valley Voice, or follow the Zincton Resort project on Instagram (@zincton_mountain_village).