The Alberta government has taken a significant step toward transforming the former Fortress Mountain ski area into a year-round resort destination. The province's all-season resorts branch has conditionally approved the master development plan for Fortress Mountain Resort, moving the project closer to reality.
Conditional Approval Granted
Alberta Tourism and Sport's all-season resorts branch issued the approval on June 5, though it is not final and does not authorize construction to begin immediately. The resort must meet several conditions before receiving final approval.
Proposed Development
Fortress Mountain Resort plans to develop the site into an all-season destination featuring both winter and summer activities. The five-phase proposal includes:
- Skiing and snowboarding in winter
- Mountain biking and hiking in summer
- Gondolas and ziplines
- Hotels and condos
- Shops, restaurants, and other amenities
Revised Capacity and Design Changes
Originally, Fortress proposed accommodating roughly 10,000 daily visitors at full buildout. However, the province's approved plan scales that back to 8,300 visitors per day. Additionally, the resort must make several design changes, including:
- Moving a proposed mountain-top restaurant to the base area
- Removing references to motorized recreation
Remaining Requirements
Before the province grants final approval, Fortress must complete additional work, including:
- Wildlife and fisheries surveys
- An environmental protection plan
- An emergency-services strategy
- Indigenous consultation
History of Fortress Mountain
Fortress, originally known as Snowridge Ski Area, was established in 1967. It operated as a public ski hill until 2006, when it closed to the public. The existing lifts are no longer functional, but cat skiing has been available on the mountain since 2011.
Provincial Tourism Strategy
The development of all-season resorts at Fortress, Castle Mountain, and Nakiska is part of Alberta's broader plan to boost tourism revenues to $25 billion by 2035. The province estimates that converting these ski resorts to year-round destinations will generate $4 billion in visitor spending over the next decade, create 24,000 new jobs, and contribute $3.6 billion to the GDP.
