Island Lake Lodge
Encyclopedia
Island Lake Lodge is a back country resort located on 7000 acres (28.3 km²) of mountainous terrain near Fernie B.C. Canada. Island Lake Lodge is situated in Fernie, British Columbia
, Canada
just beyond the Mount Fernie Provincial Park
. Island Lake Resorts comprises both Island Lake Catskiing and Powder Cowboy Catskiing.
During the winter cat-skiing operation, the Island Lake Resorts land holdings are used primarily by guests of the lodge, who
access the lodge by snowcat
or snowmobile. Some members of the public use the cross-country trail system in the Cedar Valley. Currently, the cat-skiing operates with three snowcats that can handle a maximum of thirty six guests. Additionally, some back-country touring groups access the high alpine terrain by traversing over from Fernie Alpine Resort
. In summer, the access road is open to the lodge. Popular summer activities include: dining at the lodge, the spa facilities, guided hiking, mountain biking and fly fishing.
The Island Lake property has been under private ownership since the early 1900s. In 1907, the North America Land and Lumber Company purchased the mill and timber rights to the area now known as the Island Lake Resort from the Cedar Valley Company. The mill was located at the junction of the existing access road (Mount Fernie Park Road) and Highway 3. Logging was restricted to the distance foresters were able to drag the logs to the mill and only the lower portion of the resort access road shows signs of high grade logging. Eventually, the land was sold to Shell Oil Company
. Island Lake Mountain Tours began as a small back-country ski touring operation on the property in 1986, leasing the land from Shell Oil Company
. In 1988, one of the founders purchased a Pisten Bulley snowcat and catskiing at Island Lake was introduced. The lodge and surrounding terrain quickly became recognized by experienced skiers, snowboarders and photographers as an exceptional backcountry ski product.
Initially, accommodation, meals and leisure space were provided in the small Bear Lodge building. In 1994, Island Lake Mountain Tours purchased the land from Shell Oil Company
. With the purchase of the lodge and land, Island Lake Mountain Tours became the only cat-skiing operation in British Columbia
to own the land they operated on. In 1996, the accommodation capacity was increased with the construction of the Red Eagle Lodge. More upscale accommodations were added in the Cedar Lodge in 2002. Construction of the Tamarack Lodge which now functions as the hub of the resort including a full serviced restaurant, spa facilities and eight luxury suites, commenced in 2004.
In April 2005, the property was purchased by the owners of Mica Heli Guides in Mica Creek, British Columbia
who continue to operate the Resort.
in the southern portion of the Kootenay
Range in Cedar Valley, to the west of the City of Fernie
.
Unique weather patterns tend to bring much more precipitation to the area than one might typically find this far inland, making the area a mecca for powder skiing.
Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie is a city in the Elk Valley area of the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located on BC Highway 3 on the eastern approaches to the Crowsnest Pass through the Rocky Mountains...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
just beyond the Mount Fernie Provincial Park
Mount Fernie Provincial Park
Mount Fernie Provincial Park is a provincial park in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. Activities include camping, hiking, and go swimming, or fishing.-References:*...
. Island Lake Resorts comprises both Island Lake Catskiing and Powder Cowboy Catskiing.
During the winter cat-skiing operation, the Island Lake Resorts land holdings are used primarily by guests of the lodge, who
access the lodge by snowcat
Snowcat
A snowcat is an enclosed-cab, truck sized, fully tracked vehicle designed to move on snow. Snowcats are often referred to as 'trail groomers' because of their use for grooming ski trails or snowmobile trails...
or snowmobile. Some members of the public use the cross-country trail system in the Cedar Valley. Currently, the cat-skiing operates with three snowcats that can handle a maximum of thirty six guests. Additionally, some back-country touring groups access the high alpine terrain by traversing over from Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie Alpine Resort is a ski resort, located on Lizard Range, near the town of Fernie, British Columbia in Canada. It is known particularly for its high annual snowfall, reportedly the highest of any resort in the Canadian Rockies, and for its powder skiing...
. In summer, the access road is open to the lodge. Popular summer activities include: dining at the lodge, the spa facilities, guided hiking, mountain biking and fly fishing.
History
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
. Island Lake Mountain Tours began as a small back-country ski touring operation on the property in 1986, leasing the land from Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
. In 1988, one of the founders purchased a Pisten Bulley snowcat and catskiing at Island Lake was introduced. The lodge and surrounding terrain quickly became recognized by experienced skiers, snowboarders and photographers as an exceptional backcountry ski product.
Initially, accommodation, meals and leisure space were provided in the small Bear Lodge building. In 1994, Island Lake Mountain Tours purchased the land from Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
. With the purchase of the lodge and land, Island Lake Mountain Tours became the only cat-skiing operation in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to own the land they operated on. In 1996, the accommodation capacity was increased with the construction of the Red Eagle Lodge. More upscale accommodations were added in the Cedar Lodge in 2002. Construction of the Tamarack Lodge which now functions as the hub of the resort including a full serviced restaurant, spa facilities and eight luxury suites, commenced in 2004.
In April 2005, the property was purchased by the owners of Mica Heli Guides in Mica Creek, British Columbia
Mica Creek, British Columbia
Mica Creek is a small village in British Columbia, Canada that was used as a base of operations for the construction of the Mica Dam hydroelectric project by BC Hydro in the 1960s and 1970s. It is located 148 km north of Revelstoke, British Columbia on Highway 23 and situated at the...
who continue to operate the Resort.
Geography
Island Lake Lodge is surrounded by the Canadian RockiesCanadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
in the southern portion of the Kootenay
Kootenay National Park
Kootenay National Park is located in southeastern British Columbia Canada covering in the Canadian Rockies and forms part of a World Heritage Site. The park ranges in elevation from at the south-west park entrance to at Deltaform Mountain...
Range in Cedar Valley, to the west of the City of Fernie
Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie is a city in the Elk Valley area of the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located on BC Highway 3 on the eastern approaches to the Crowsnest Pass through the Rocky Mountains...
.
Unique weather patterns tend to bring much more precipitation to the area than one might typically find this far inland, making the area a mecca for powder skiing.