Blue Mountain History
Blue Mountain alpine ski resort was founded in 1941 by Jozo Weider and Peter Campbell. Jozo Weider and his family immigrated to Canada from Hungary at the start of World War II. He was an innkeeper, a mountain guide, and a photographer. After they immigrated, he became a ski instructor in Quebec where he met a developer named Peter Campbell, and the two created a partnership for Blue Mountain.
Jozo Weider moved his family to the base of the mountain and supported them by farming during the summer months and working on the ski hill during the winter. The three original ski runs were cleared by hand. They were called Schuss, Granny, and Kandahar. The lift consisted of two sleds that were pulled up the hill via a cable, and the cable was powered by a truck engine.
Milestones
1948: An agreement was signed with the Toronto Ski Club for a 999 year lease for the use of their chalets. Weider also purchased additional 150-acres and subsequently opened another ski area called Apple Bowl.
1949: The barn that was situated at the base of the Apple Bowl was turned into The Ski Barn. This became the primary day lodge.
1955: The Ski Barn was sold to fund the cost of a poma lift that was placed between the Schuss and Granny runs.
1959: Blue Mountain was the first ski hill in Ontario to open a chair lift. This chair lift was called The Old South Chair lift.
By this time the ski hills now covered 2 ½ miles.
While developing the ski hills, Jozo Weider had noticed that the soil was mostly clay. As a hobby, he started making ceramics with the clay. This eventually became a new business called Blue Mountain Pottery.
1960’s: with improvements in ski equipment and the economy, skiing became a major sport in Ontario. As a result of increased business, a twenty room inn was opened.
1966: Weider sold Blue Mountain Pottery in order to fund another major expansion at Blue Mountain. Three double chair lifts were installed and a new lodge called Central Base Lodge opened.
1971: Jozo Weider passed away before the expansion project was completed. His son, George Weider took control of the business. Later, George became Chairman and passed responsibility for the daily management of the resort to Jozo’s son-in-law, Gordon Canning.
1973: A ski rental and repair facility opened, and a major snowmaking system was installed.
1977: They built Blue Mountain Slide Ride which was a summertime activity. Two 2,000 foot (610 m) long mini-bobsled tracks were built for the bobsleds that were set on Teflon runners or a single wheel.
1979: Lights were installed on the Big Baby and O-Hill runs to allow for night skiing.
By the end of the 1970’s there were 17 lifts that included five double chairs, six pomas, one T-bar, and a rope tow.
1980: They expanded once more with the opening of the Slipper Dipper Water Slide. This new water slide intertwined with the original Blue Mountain Slide Ride.
The business purchased Georgian Peaks Club which was a smaller ski club northwest of it. It has the highest vertical drop in Ontario and is for advanced skiers. This venture was not a successful business venture and the Peaks returned to a private ski club in 1987.
1981: The Blue Mountain Inn opened to accommodate the ever growing amount of tourists.
1984: A Tube ride was added to the existing summertime water activities.
1988: The Central Base Lodge and South Base Lodge were renovated.
1997: The Tube Ride was replaced with an improved water ride called the Raft Rider.
1999: The Blue Mountain Slide Ride was permanently closed.
Major Changes
1999 was the year that Intrawest Corporation bought 50% ownership in Blue Mountain Resort. As a result of this purchase, another major expansion process began.
With Intrawest Corporation in the picture, the Blue Mountain Resort has expanded to include:
Four high speed six-passenger chairlifts were built to eliminate the congestion at the lifts.
Blue Mountain Village with Intrawest’s signature European flair was built. The Village consists of condominiums, hotels, a conference centre, restaurants, shops and many other services.
