The B.C. resort has been bought by Pacific Group Resorts, a Utah-based company that owns Mount Washington
The wait for a new owner is over at SilverStar Mountain Resort, near Vernon, B.C.
In what could be seen as a somewhat lateral move for SilverStar, Pacific Group Resorts (PGR) has purchased SilverStar from previous owner POWDR. Both companies are based in Utah and have six ski areas in their portfolios.
SilverStar joins Mount Washington, on Vancouver Island, and Jay Peak, near the Vermont/Quebec border, under PGR ownership. In the 10 years since PGR has owned Mount Washington, the company has proven to be a responsible steward, according to Ski Canada gear editor Ryan Stuart, an island resident and frequent visitor to the formerly locally owned ski area.
“Things are ticking along nicely at Mount Washington. It’s natural for skiers to complain about ownership, no matter where you go, but the truth is modern ski infrastructure requires investment, which larger companies can handle,” says Stuart. “I’d say Mount Washington is operating better now than it was before PGR bought it.”
SilverStar is known for its colourful mid-mountain village, ease of access from the Kelowna airport (55 minutes), extensive cross-country ski network and 1,330 hectares of beginner to expert terrain, which puts it in the top-six largest ski resorts in Canada.
The ski area got its start in the 1950s with two rope tows and a platter lift, growing through the 1980s and 1990s with new terrain, upgraded lifts and a western-themed pedestrian village base. In 2001, the resort was bought by the Schumanns, the Australian family that already owned, and continues to own, nearby Big White Ski Resort. A Schumann heir sold SilverStar to Powdr Corporation in 2019 and the Colorado-based company announced in August of 2024 that they were seeking a buyer for what had been their only Canadian property.
This week, SilverStar’ season pass holders received emails announcing the purchase by PGR and telling them that the resort’s existing “full leadership team would be staying in place to maintain continuity.”
In a press release, Mark K.Fischer, president and C.E.O. of PGR said, “Our approach is to listen, learn, and support the team in doing what they do best.”
FUTURE PLANS
While neighbour Big White recently joined the Indy Pass fold, SilverStar won’t be following for the time being, at least not until the cessation of a recent deal, inked by Powdr, that will see SilverStar become an Ikon Pass Bonus Mountain. For the 2025/2026 season, Ikon Pass holders (which grants access to nearby Revelstoke and Sun Peaks resorts) can redeem two days of lift tickets to SilverStar (blackouts pending).
PGR has announced no changes to staffing, pricing, or on-hill policies are planned for this season, scheduled to begin on December 5.
