Our History
1870
The first logging road was cut through the dense forest of what is now called Hollyburn Mountain.
1908
The first ascent of Hollyburn Peak was in 1908 by members of Vancouver Mountaineering Club.
1912
Botanist John Davidson names the mountain "Hollyburn Mountain" while conducting a botanical survey. The mountain's original name is "Mount Vaughen".
1920
The Hollyburn Pacific Ski Club was established with over 100 members.
1922
Decades before the construction of the Lions Gate Bridge, skiing enthusiasts would take a boat from downtown Vancouver to the North Shore and hike up to Cypress Mountain's Holllyburn Ridge to ski.
1926
The Hollyburn Lodge was built on Hollyburn Ridge, where it still stands today and is enjoyed by many cross-country skiers and snowshoers.
1927
The first ski race on Hollyburn Mountain was held in March of 1927. Organized by the Hollyburn Pacific Ski Club.
1930
During the summer of 1930, swimmers were able to leap off a small diving tower erected towards the south end of First Lake.
1932
In the Spring of 1932, West Vancouver resident Roland D. Brewis conceived the idea of building a ski camp on the shores of West Lake.
1933
The West Lake Ski Camp was officially opened on March 18th, 1933.
1934
The first Ski Jump was built on Hollyburn Ridge on the North Shore of West Lake. This was a major venue for practice and competition.
1946
The owners of the ski camp sold the operation to the Burfield family, who renamed it Hollyburn Ski Lodge.
1948
Norm Deacon installed a rope tow on the "Popfly" across First Lake from Hollyburn Lodge in 1948. In the fall, night skiing starts on Saturdays on Paradise, the Westlake Lodge beginners' hill.
1951
On January 17, 1951, the Hollyburn (single-person) chairlift was officially opened. This brought people from Highview Lookout to West Lake from 1951-1965. Hollyburners who had previously relied on a network of logging roads and trails to reach their cabins and skiing grounds could now look forward to a 12-minute ride from Hat-inn at 300m to Hi-View Lodge at 850m.
1963
The popular run-off of Sky Chair (Alpine Area) got its name from a Canadian Forces T-33 training jet that crashed into Mt. Strachan on November 23, 1963. The plane wreckage was left at the site, along with a plaque to serve as a memorial to the two men who perished in that crash.
1965
The top stations of the Hollyburn chairlift and Hi View Lodge burned down in June 1965. This fire was believed to have been purposely set, as gasoline was poured at the chairlift's top lift station.
1970
BC Parks designated the area as a provincial park and opened the ski hill, with two double chairlifts beginning operation on Black Mountain and Mt. Strachan.
1975
Cypress Bowl Highway opened in 1975. This 13-million-dollar road allowed people to more easily access the Nordic and Alpine ski areas.
1984
After Burfield retired, he sold the lodge to Cypress Bowl Recreations Ltd., and the name was shortened to "Hollyburn Lodge." Regardless of its various names over the years—Hollyburn Ski Camp, Hollyburn Ski Lodge, or simply Hollyburn Lodge—it has been a place filled with memories for many.
Originally, the Black Mountain Lodge was a trailer situated in what is now known as the Alpine Area. In 1984, Cypress Bowl Recreations Ltd. took over the area, securing a 50-year Parkuse permit that allowed them to maintain the operation of ski facilities across Black Mountain, Mount Strachan, and Hollyburn Mountain.
Consequently, the whole area came to be referred to as Cypress Mountain.
1986
On October 20, 1986, the Westlake Lodge burned down after sparks from a chimney ignited the roof.
1987
The Sky Chair, a double chairlift, was installed to provide access to new runs on the peak of Mount Strachan, thereby expanding the downhill skiable terrain further.
On March 15, 1987, Cypress Bowl Recreations became the first ski resort in British Columbia to permit snowboarding.
1990
A double chair named "Midway Chair" was installed on Mount Strachan.
1997
A quad chair named "The Sunrise Chair" was installed on Mount Strachan.
1998
The Tube Tow was installed in the Nordic Area to provide easier access for snowtubers.
2001
Boyne Resorts acquired Cypress Mountain from Wayne Booth.
The Sunrise Rope Tow was replaced with the Easy Rider Quad Chair, offering a more accessible starting point for beginners learning to ski or snowboard.
The Eagle Chair was upgraded to the Eagle Express High-Speed Quad Chair, facilitating faster access to the summit of Black Mountain.
Additional lighting was installed on the Nordic ski trails of Cypress Mountain.
2002
Vancouver won the bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and Cypress became the official Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
2003
The Magic Carpet surface lift was installed in the Kids Camp Area, enabling children, who were just starting out, to easily save their energy as they prepared for the bigger slopes of the Easy Rider run.
2007
Nine new ski runs were constructed, marking the first terrain expansion on the North Shore in 20 years. The Sunrise Chair was relocated to serve this new area and was renamed the Raven Ridge Quad Chair.
A new Lions Express High-Speed Quad Chair was installed on Mount Strachan to replace the Sunrise Quad Chair. All freestyle skiing and snowboard venues were completed and were the first of the venues to be competition-ready.
Cypress hosted its first World Cup event in aerials and moguls at the future site of the 2010 Olympic freestyle ski venue. CNL Enterprises purchased Cypress Mountain's assets.
2008
The new 48,000 sq. ft. Cypress Creek Lodge was opened. It featured the new Crazy Raven Bar & Grill, Cypress Creek Grill, Big Bear Sports retail store, rental shop facilities, lesson desk facilities, and a new corporate/meeting space on the third mezzanine level.
New night lighting was installed on the Humpty Dumpty and Rainbow ski runs, which allowed for extended hours of night skiing.
Cypress Mountain celebrates 25 years.
2009
The Olympic Rings were transported by helicopter to the top of the Cypress Mountain Olympic Half-pipe in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Cypress Mountain hosted six World Cup events, serving as a rehearsal for all the events that were to be held there during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
2010
Cypress Mountain served as the official Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
February 12, 2010 - The Games began at BC Place in downtown Vancouver, with the first day of competition at Cypress Mountain.
February 13, 2010 - Jennifer Heil secured a Silver medal in the Ladies' Mogul events.
February 14, 2010 - Alex Bilodeau captured Gold in the Men's Moguls event.
February 15, 2010 - Mike Robertson earned a Silver medal in the Men's Snowboard Cross event,
February 16, 2010 - Maelle Ricker took home Gold in the Ladies' Ski Cross event.
February 23, 2010 - Ashleigh McIvor continued Canada's success by winning Gold in the Ladies' Ski Cross event on.
February 27, 2010 - Jasey Jay Anderson won Gold in the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom event.
This victory marked the final Gold medal of the Games, setting a new world record for the most Gold medals won by the host country. Canada finished with a total of 14 Gold medals. February 27 also marked the end of the competition at Cypress Mountain for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
2011
Cascade and Hutch Ski Runs were groomed and lit for night skiing.
2012
The snowmaking was expanded on Black Mountain and Lower Collins.
2013
Improvements were made to night lighting in the Nordic area.
2014
Snowmaking was added to Easy Ridger.
2015
The renewal project for Hollyburn Lodge began.
2016
The new Hollyburn Lodge opened in January.
2017
Snowmaking "Phase 4" included the addition of snowmaking capabilities to the top of the Collins ski run.
2018
Cat Track Ski Run was groomed for summer and illuminated for night skiing. Snowmaking "Phase 5" introduced a new line down Lower Horizon and Horizon By-Pass.
2019
For the third consecutive yet, snowmaking expansions included adding a new line from the top of Lower Horizon up "Horizon Pitch" to the top of Rainbow.
2020
The Lights to the Lodge snowshoe experience was offered in the Nordic area, featuring a one-kilometre snowshoe trek to the historic Hollyburn Lodge.
2021
The Mountain Coaster gravity thrill ride was installed, demonstrating our continued commitment to enhancing active public recreation opportunities at the resort, focusing on the summer months.