Industry News
Searchmont Resort in Ontario, Canada, will open for the 2021-2022 ski season after the country experienced strict lockdowns over the past year and a half. Because of the resort being closed last season due to COVID, Searchmont was able to make many improvements such as adding lifts, replacing equipment, and adding new trails.
Searchmont media coordinator, Darren Sanderson said that because of the increased rate of vaccinations and the current stage of the Reopen Ontario plan, they are “feeling comfortable opening up,” according to SooToday. With the Canadian border opening to fully vaccinated Americans, the mountain hopes to bring in visitors from not only Canada but also the United States.
With Searchmont being closed last year, the resort has had time to improve and add to the resort. Within these upgrades includes replacing old double-seated lifts with new triple-seated lifts. The new triple-seated lifts are used to lead onto new trails. Not only are the experience and hill being refurbished, but there are currently plans to renovate 12 villas located close to the bottom of the ski hill. Although the villas aren’t fully completed, Sanderson expects them to be “ready sometime this season.” Additionally, the hill hopes to have an extended season as a result of the improvement of its snowmaking process. The resort plans to open “as soon as the snow arrives” and with the new snow-making innovations, it hopes that the opening will be around early December. Searchmont expressed on Facebook that they are eager to get the word out about their new and improved hill since they were closed last year.
Although this year will be exciting for the resort, it’s important for them to comply with COVID guidelines, as the Delta Variant becomes more prevalent. Sanderson explains that the hill will assure that “everything is clean” and visitors will be “social distancing with masks.”
Season passes for Searchmont are predicted to become available around early October. The resort is planning to announce more specifics regarding availability and dates when they have more information.
