About Whistler, BC, Canada

Whistler's European history stretches back to the 1860s when when British Naval Officers surveyed the area and gave Whistler Mountain the original name of London Mountain.

Here is a brief history of Whistler...

1877 The Pemberton Trail is completed linking the Pemberton valley to the Pacific coast, north of Vancouver.

1900 Trappers and prospectors settle in the area. Alta Lake is the original name of Whistler. The name "Whistler" is used by these settlers because of the shrill whistle sound made by the western hoary marmots who live among the rocks.

1910 Myrtle and Alex Philip arrive in Vancouver from Maine. They hear about Whistler's spectacular beauty.

1911 Myrtle and Alex take the three day journey to Whistler: a steamer ship from Vancouver to Squamish, overnight in Brackendale, and a two-day horse trek to Whistler.

1914 Myrtle and Alex buy ten acres of land and build the Rainbow Lodge on the shores of Alta Lake.

1914 The Great Pacific Eastern Railway (now BC Rail) is built to Alta Lake and links the valley to the outside world. Whistler becomes a base for logging and mining. Myrtle and Alex's Rainbow Lodge is the most popular resort destination west of Banff and Jasper. Way to go, Myrtle!

1950's Other lodges open throughout the valley. The abundant fish stocks make Whistler a summer resort destination long before it is considered a winter one. Winter travel becomes possible when a gravel road to Squamish is carved from the cliffs of Howe Sound.

1964 The single-lane road is extended to Whistler because of the ski area development, and to Pemberton later that same year. The trip from Vancouver to Whistler took 5-6 hours.

1965 Whistler Mountain finally gets the name "Garibaldi Whistler Mountain". A four person gondola, a double chairlift, two T-bars, and a day lodge are constructed.

1966 Whistler officially opens for skiing.A two-lane gravel road built in 1965 was paved to Whistler and then to Pemberton by 1969.

1969 A two-lane gravel road built in 1965 was paved to Whistler and then to Pemberton by 1969

1977 The new municipality is given 53 acres of Crown land to develop a town centre.

1978 Construction begins on the new town centre that will eventually become Whistler Village.

1980 Blackcomb Mountain opens creating one of the largest ski complexes in North America.

1985 Blackcomb Mountain expands it's terrain and becomes North America's only "Mile High Mountain".

1992 Snow Country Magazine votes Whistler the "Number One Ski Resort in North America" and the trend continues for almost a decade.

1998 Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains merge under Intrawest Corporation.

2002 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) short lists Vancouver/Whistler as a Candidate City for hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter and Paralympic Winter Games.

2003 Whistler (and Vancouver) win the bid to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games

2003 Skiing Magazine votes Whistler Blackcomb the "Number One Ski Resort in North America"