Thanks for this! I stumbled on this in my Google newsfeed this morning. I was a ski instructor and race coach when I first moved to Manitoba in 1993. That was also my introduction to prairie skiing (short runs and far less difficulty), and true Manitoba winters! I had moved here from Calgary/Banff, and you can believe that the difference of skiing in -30 and -40 weather was keenly felt 😂 (and those are actual temps, not windchills!! - and for American viewers, remember that -40 is the same in °F and °C!) I remember the couple that ran the lodge and maintenance wanted to buy the place from the owner at the time and do some work into getting it back on track, but that owner at the time refused to either put anything into it, or sell it.
Toured there a bunch. Some decent turns on a good snow year but trails need to be trimmed….not sure how much trouble one would get in clearing the steep shots.
Not any surprise Parks Canada's "study" concluded it unfeasible, a foregone conclusion I would wager. A "return to nature" is what Parks dreams of when they consider the end of Sunshine's lease in the not too distant future. Thanks for the video, looking forward to the next in the series.
That is so sad that the lease was purchased by Mt.Assessipppi with the intention to keep Mt. Agazzis from ever re-opening. Unfortunately it is suspicious that Parks Canada / RMNP would sell the lease for that purpose as they seem to usually be against most recreational developments in the park, especially around Clear Lake. Leaving some RMNP areas natural & allowing people to also enjoy a wonderful resource such as that great Prairie Ski Resort would be what the majority of people ( & tax payers ) would want !
@@rosegieni697 Agreed, it is very sad that Agassiz can never reopen as a ski resort (even if that's what the general population wants). I definately need to do more research into Assessippi's ownership of the lease - something seems to be fishy if that's the case.
Agreed, it had the biggest vertical drop for the prairies. It's sad it's gone, as there is a lot of interest in bringing it back, but Parks Canada won't let it happen.
@@carlinlemon5884 they added a bylaw saying “no ski resorts shall operate within Riding mountain national park” And also they claim the resort took too much water from McKinnon creek. There’s a feasibility study online somewhere. Many of the locals believe it was politically motivated.
Well remember rope tows! Wish I could still ski but those days are long gone. Back then we skied on skies that were long! If I remember you held your hand above your head and the top of the ski was supposed to hit where your weist begins.
I wish Go-Pro existed back then so we could see first-hand trails. Been meaning to go hike the area, and maybe ride down. There is another resort up the road from here, Not Assessippi, but Thunderhill Ski/Snowboard 1967 Resort which is still open and has an impressive vertical for Manitoba, and is better than Assessippi. It just doesn't get the Love because it is outside of Swan River, too far for weekend trips, and a very local resort.
I've had several ski hills closed in the past no resorts per say they are golf courses when it isn't snowing in Ontario. We don't get as much snow as Manitoba does here in the South : )
Fortress has had many projected reopening dates. I'm skeptical the 2023 one will happen, partly because so much else has to be done to bring the resort back. The original day lodge is condemned with black mold in the basement, and thus a new (or temporary structure) will have to be constructed. The lifts will need to be brought up to modern safety standards, the snowmaking system will have to be modernized, etc. There is also the issue of the Alberta Government's restrictions on the public's use of the access road. Apparently, it's been a court order that no one (except Fortress Mountain Resorts) can publically take a vehicle on the road. Anyway, all this to say I'd love for Fortress to reopen, but I have my doubts. There's still a lot that needs to happen.
@@Skier72 That was my thought as well - there should have been a sarcasm font on my comment about "it's 'supposed to' re-open..." I live in MB now (since 1993), but half-followed the Fortress saga through the years via my mom in Calgary. The battle over that road... Fortress & Norquay were our family ski spots. My dad and my much older brother & sister would ski while mom enjoyed a day in the lodge (by that beautiful, famous Fortress lodge fireplace!!) reading and reserving the table for lunch. (I saw your videos on the lodge.) And then when I came along, dad extended his skiing career so it was him and I through my young years, still bouncing between mostly those two hills, and then it was Norquay on the ski bus (until I had a drivers licence) every weekend through high school, and my instructor & coaching certificates, and we'd hit the other hills once in while in between Norquay weekends. I was in the first group of skiers to hit the new slopes when Norquay expanded!!! They brought out the instructors for staff training for the few days before it opened to the public.
Thanks for this! I stumbled on this in my Google newsfeed this morning. I was a ski instructor and race coach when I first moved to Manitoba in 1993. That was also my introduction to prairie skiing (short runs and far less difficulty), and true Manitoba winters! I had moved here from Calgary/Banff, and you can believe that the difference of skiing in -30 and -40 weather was keenly felt 😂 (and those are actual temps, not windchills!! - and for American viewers, remember that -40 is the same in °F and °C!)
I remember the couple that ran the lodge and maintenance wanted to buy the place from the owner at the time and do some work into getting it back on track, but that owner at the time refused to either put anything into it, or sell it.
Lots of great memories skiing Agassiz. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching!
Great video, comprehensive, lots of details.
Nice trip down memory lane. Tempted to take my ski touring gear to explore the area one winter.
You definitely should, before the weeds and saplings get too tall.
Toured there a bunch. Some decent turns on a good snow year but trails need to be trimmed….not sure how much trouble one would get in clearing the steep shots.
Made my week, thanks for the upload
Well this is sad. I have many wonderful memories from there.
Not any surprise Parks Canada's "study" concluded it unfeasible, a foregone conclusion I would wager. A "return to nature" is what Parks dreams of when they consider the end of Sunshine's lease in the not too distant future. Thanks for the video, looking forward to the next in the series.
Kinda the entire point of Parks.
Should be noted that Asessippi purchased Agassiz's lease after bankruptcy, to ensure no one reopened it.
Interesting, I did not know that! All the newspaper archives about Mt. Agassiz ended in the early 1990s, so I didn't know all the individual factors.
🤬🤬🤬
There was mention of this collusion in some newspapers from the time.
That is so sad that the lease was purchased by Mt.Assessipppi with the intention to keep Mt. Agazzis from ever re-opening. Unfortunately it is suspicious that Parks Canada / RMNP would sell the lease for that purpose as they seem to usually be against most recreational developments in the park, especially around Clear Lake. Leaving some RMNP areas natural & allowing people to also enjoy a wonderful resource such as that great Prairie Ski Resort would be what the majority of people ( & tax payers ) would want !
@@rosegieni697 Agreed, it is very sad that Agassiz can never reopen as a ski resort (even if that's what the general population wants). I definately need to do more research into Assessippi's ownership of the lease - something seems to be fishy if that's the case.
Great video-seems like it had a pretty big vertical for Manitoba!
Agreed, it had the biggest vertical drop for the prairies. It's sad it's gone, as there is a lot of interest in bringing it back, but Parks Canada won't let it happen.
@@Skier72 what issue does Parks Canada have with bringing it back?
@@carlinlemon5884 they added a bylaw saying “no ski resorts shall operate within Riding mountain national park” And also they claim the resort took too much water from McKinnon creek. There’s a feasibility study online somewhere. Many of the locals believe it was politically motivated.
Underrated
Outstanding channel!
Glad you enjoy lost ski resort history!
Well remember rope tows! Wish I could still ski but those days are long gone. Back then we skied on skies that were long! If I remember you held your hand above your head and the top of the ski was supposed to hit where your weist begins.
I wish Go-Pro existed back then so we could see first-hand trails. Been meaning to go hike the area, and maybe ride down. There is another resort up the road from here, Not Assessippi, but Thunderhill Ski/Snowboard 1967 Resort which is still open and has an impressive vertical for Manitoba, and is better than Assessippi. It just doesn't get the Love because it is outside of Swan River, too far for weekend trips, and a very local resort.
I visited the former site today. It's set up as a picnic area now with firepits, a warming shack and outhouse.
I've had several ski hills closed in the past no resorts per say they are golf courses when it isn't snowing in Ontario. We don't get as much snow as Manitoba does here in the South : )
Nice
I was about to tell you to check out the history on Fortress in Alberta… and then I started scrolling 😂. It’s supposed to finally re-open Dec 2023!
Fortress has had many projected reopening dates. I'm skeptical the 2023 one will happen, partly because so much else has to be done to bring the resort back. The original day lodge is condemned with black mold in the basement, and thus a new (or temporary structure) will have to be constructed. The lifts will need to be brought up to modern safety standards, the snowmaking system will have to be modernized, etc. There is also the issue of the Alberta Government's restrictions on the public's use of the access road. Apparently, it's been a court order that no one (except Fortress Mountain Resorts) can publically take a vehicle on the road.
Anyway, all this to say I'd love for Fortress to reopen, but I have my doubts. There's still a lot that needs to happen.
@@Skier72 That was my thought as well - there should have been a sarcasm font on my comment about "it's 'supposed to' re-open..."
I live in MB now (since 1993), but half-followed the Fortress saga through the years via my mom in Calgary. The battle over that road...
Fortress & Norquay were our family ski spots. My dad and my much older brother & sister would ski while mom enjoyed a day in the lodge (by that beautiful, famous Fortress lodge fireplace!!) reading and reserving the table for lunch. (I saw your videos on the lodge.) And then when I came along, dad extended his skiing career so it was him and I through my young years, still bouncing between mostly those two hills, and then it was Norquay on the ski bus (until I had a drivers licence) every weekend through high school, and my instructor & coaching certificates, and we'd hit the other hills once in while in between Norquay weekends.
I was in the first group of skiers to hit the new slopes when Norquay expanded!!! They brought out the instructors for staff training for the few days before it opened to the public.
I’ve been drunk here like ten plus times in the last year 😂😂
The Manitoba Historical Society just did a ‘history minute’ on this hill as well: ruclips.net/video/tooC2ou-2fw/видео.htmlsi=1_UPK0EgUAyHN7C7