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Introduction
Perhaps the best way to begin this topic is to start out by reading a quote from a 1975 debate in the B.C. Legislature, spoken by then MLA, Mrs. Pat Jordan regarding Silver Star Provincial Park:
"As the Minister is aware, we have negotiated for some time to have this park turned over to the regional district for administration. I would like to make public - because I've stood beside the Minister, or asked him to stand beside me - that we are in complete agreement that when the administration of this park is turned over to the regional district, there must be an ironclad agreement that no housing development can take place within that park - no condominiums, no living accommodation.
The park is only 14 miles from the centre of downtown Vernon. It is an excellent road, and highly accessible. If we allow living accommodation to any degree within that park, it is only a matter of time when people would have $20,000 or $30,000 or $40,000 invested in a recreational cottage and they would demand to live there year round. It would make a demand in terms of developing sewers, water, light, fire protection. I would like to say in speaking to that demand which would be imposed that it would be used as an excuse to utilize those facilities for year-round living for families.
I know the Minister stands with me; at least I believe he has come to believe that I am right. I shall stand unilaterally, unalterably opposed to the development of living accommodations in that park, whether it's under the direction of the provincial government or the regional district."
If you've visited Silver Star Mountain lately, you'll see that Minister Jordan's worst fears have been realized.
Ski Area History
Silver Star Provincial Park was established in 1940 as a "Class A" park. It is helpful to know that since that time, it has undergone several reclassifications. For a detailed explanation of the various B.C. Parks classifications, refer to the Definitions Menu.
After Silver Star road was completed in 1958, the park was reclassified to "Class C". That year, a group of 42 local investors incorporated "Silver Star Sports Ltd.", and built an A-frame day lodge and installed 2 rope tows. A poma lift was installed in 1959, and in 1964, two T-bars replaced the rope tows. In 1968, the installation of the Yellow and Summit chairs qualified Silver Star Mountain as one of the largest ski areas in Canada. In 1976, the park was reclassified to "Recreation Area". That same year, the Blue chair was constructed.
Cabin Colony
The first cabins built at Silver Star Mountain were located in what is referred to today as "The Cabin Colony". This small subdivision of 33 lots was made possible by the establishment of a Crown Grant area. The majority of these cabins are still standing at Silver Star Mountain, although many have been renovated and upgraded.
Typical "Cabin Colony" quonset-style cabins built in the 1970's and 1980's
The resort sold to new owners in 1981, and the ski area was renamed "Silver Star Mountain Resorts Ltd." The first nordic trails were cleared that same year.
1982 Deletion of 188 Hectares
In 1982, at the request of the resort, 188 hectares were deleted from the park to enable the construction of hotels and homesites in the ski area village. Construction of the sewage treatment plant and lagoons commenced shortly thereafter.
The Putnam Station Hotel (now called "The Bulldog") was built in 1983, and in 1984, the Town Hall, Aquatic Center, Vance Creek Saloon, Silver Lode Inn, and Kickwillie Inn were constructed. In 1985, the Vance Creek Hotel was added to the saloon. In 1987, the original day lodge was converted to the Pinnacles Suite Hotel. In 1989, lots in Phase 1 of the Knoll subdivision were offered for sale.
Silver Star Mountain Resort Village Area
Vacation homes in the "Knoll" subdivision
In 1989, the last mining claim in the park lapsed, and park was again reclassified, this time to "Class A", mainly to prevent any further mining activity in the park.
In 1990, the first quad chair, "Silver Queen", was installed, followed by the Vance Creek and Putnam Creek chairs in 1991 (it should be noted that all three of these chairs have been replaced since the resort sold to the present owners in 2001).
1991 World Cup - 2500 Hectare Deletion
The resort also hosted a World Cup Cross Country ski race in 1991, with the help of the North Okanagan Cross Country Club. At the same time, the resort lobbied B.C. Parks to have the World Cup trails and the entire alpine ski area deleted from the park. Approximately 2500 hectares was deleted from the park in December 1992, and was added to the ski resort Controlled Recreation Area. To view the case presented by B.C. Parks justifying the deletion, click the icon below.
1994 saw the addition of the Paradise Camp restaurant, and another 15 homes built on the Knoll. In 1995, "Tube Town" was added to the Brewer's Pond area, and the Grandview condominium project was completed.
Golf Course Proposal
The ski resort proposed a golf course in the southeast corner of Silver Star Provincial Park in 1995, and the Minister of Environment issued a press release that same year agreeing in principal to approve the golf course.
In 1997, the Silver Creek Hotel was constructed. That same year, the ski resort submitted its official application to have the golf course lands removed from the park.
Natural gas service was provided to the village in 1999, and the Creekside Village Phase 1 was constructed. Phase 2 was built in 2000, as was the large youth hostel.
In April 2001, 510 hectares was officially deleted from the southeast corner of the park to enable the golf course to go ahead. The resort sold to the present owners in November of that same year.
In 2002, the Vance Creek and Putnam Creek chairs were replaced with the Comet Express and Powder Gulch chairs.
In 2004, the resort broke ground on Phase 1 of the Snowbird Lodge, and in 2005, installed the Silver Woods chair and announced Phase 2 of the Snowbird Lodge project.
Presently, there is a large new hotel under construction (The Firelight) and there are many houses being built on former ski runs in the "Alpine Meadows" and "The Ridge" subdivisions.
Firelight Lodge under construction - Summer 2008
Vacation homes under construction on former alpine ski runs in Alpine Meadows Subdivision. This area used to be a beginner run serviced by the "Mid-Tee" t-bar.
Vacation homesite being excavated on former alpine ski run in "The Ridge" subdivision.
Governance
What remains of Silver Star Provincial Park is still under the jursidiction of B.C. Parks, while the lands deleted from the park were reclassified as Controlled Recreation Area. As far as the village area is concerned, the community of Silver Star Mountain is unincorporated. It is located within Electoral Area ‘C’ of the Regional District of North Okanagan which is charged with the delivery and administration of local government services. The services currently provided at Silver Star Mountain by the Regional District are 1) Volunteer Fire Department, 2) Community Water System, 3) Community Planning, 4) Solid Waste Transfer Station, 5) Street Lights (limited area), and 6) Building and Fire Inspections.
You may notice that one service normally provided by local government is missing; Sewage Treatment. That is provided by a private, for-profit company, and their operations fall outside the jurisdiction of the Regional District. In essence, this means that the Regional District is responsible for providing water to the resort, but has no responsibility or control over what happens to that water after it has passed through the toilets, sinks, and showers of the resort's hotels, condos, and vacation homes.
