INGONISH, N.S. — Construction of a planned tree walk and gondola that will make Ski Cape Smokey a year-round destination remains on schedule for a summer 2021 opening.
Ski Cape Smokey Holdings is reporting that an estimated 1,000 metres of concrete have been poured at the site to form the foundation for what will be the first tree walk in North America and the first gondola in Atlantic Canada.
“Even in these tough times we really want to be the, for lack of a better term, a beacon of light, especially for the local children and people,” said Martin Kejval, the project manager, regarding construction during a pandemic.
“We know there is not much activities around. We really want to put something on so that people can forget what is happening in the world and for a bit of time in a day, as much as we can, to show them some sort of normalcy can be achieved.”
The Ski Cape Smokey Ski resort was purchased from the province last year at a cost of $370,000, a price that included the 320-metre ski hill that sits amid 162 hectares of property and a lodge that new ownership is expected to replace.
The current construction schedule for the $12 million (estimated) tree walk is expected to wrap shortly as staff prepare for a Jan. 18 start to the ski season.
Kejval said that’s a few weeks later than last year’s scheduled opening, mainly due to ongoing construction activity at the site.
New rules for Smokey and other ski facilities around the province will mean enhanced cleaning and sanitization, mandatory face coverings, including ticket lines and lift lines, indoor capacity limits, and a simplified food service menu.
Season pass, ticket sales and equipment rentals will be online for the most part this season to avoid lines.
A new camera system at Smokey will also help staff to closely monitor and maintain gathering limits inside the lodge to limit any potential to spread COVID-19.
“We worked very closely with Dr. Strang’s office and other health and safety officials from the government to come up with the other ski resort’s safe operation programs,” he said.
“We will follow that closely, to make sure we limit the spread of unwanted passengers people might be carrying without even knowing.”
Kejval has high hopes for the new season but is unsure of the impact the new regulations will have on it.
Last year, some 30 activities included a microbrewery festival, heli-skiing, snowmobile races, and concerts were hosted at Smokey but regulations will mostly cancel them this season.
“That was kind of our bread and butter where people would mostly come for these events with their families and see something and do something that otherwise they had never done.”
Still, the resort might benefit from an influx of outdoor enthusiasts unable or unwilling to leave Atlantic Canada for a ski adventure, he said.
“At the same time, skiers might come this year because they will have very limited options of where else to go. It’s about 50-50 what will happen and only time will tell.”
No specific opening date has yet been set for Ski Ben Eoin, however, it has been just past Christmas in most years.
Like Smokey, enhanced COVID-19 related safety protocols will be implemented this year.
Greg McNeil is the business reporter at the Cape Breton Post.
