Tag: the Keg

Planning for Adventures on Alta LakePlanning for Adventures on Alta Lake

May 27, 2025 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

When we hear stories about Adventures West at the Whistler Museum, most of them tend to centre on the Keg Restaurant and the memorable hours that people spent there. The restaurant, however, was just one part of a much larger plan for the area that began development in the early 1970s.

Construction began on the Adventures West Village (AWV) development in mid-September 1971, though planning started much earlier. According to a 1972 article in The Vancouver Sun, Richard Street and Alta Lake Ltd., the company that was developing Adventures West, spent years researching the Alta Lake area and potential markets before taking seven months to select the site for the project. They reportedly chose the 52 acre site at the north end of Alta Lake because of its location along the shore of the lake and the banks of the River of Golden Dreams. Finally, they drew up plans and started the first phase of the proposed $5 million complex (just under $40 million today when adjusted for inflation).

Concept drawing for the Adventures West Village. Adventures West Collection

The original plans for AWV were grand, including 250 condominium units, a playpark for children, sports fields, tennis courts, a swimming pool, beach, boat harbour, novice ski hill, toboggan chutes, skating ponds, snowmobile course, and the Adventure Inn, which would include a sports shop, equipment rentals, “groceteria,” bar, lounge, and administrative offices. The first phase, which they expected to have completed by December 1971 and operational in January 1972, included the first 30 units, utilities and roads, and the ski hill, beach and playpark. The rest of the units and facilities were planned to be constructed over the following three years.

Its affordability was one of the main selling points featured in articles and advertisements for AWV. The tagline on a promotional booklet proclaimed it as “the possible dream” and claimed that “Adventures West condominiums are the complete family vacation home package… offering carefree vacation living at low cost.” Along with low purchase prices beginning at around $12,000 (about $96,000 today), AWV offered a rental program that owners could choose to take part in to recoup some of the cost. AWV would handle all of the administration, supplies, marketing and cleaning and units would be rented out while not in use by the owners; revenue would be split between the company and the owner.

The site plan for Adventures West Village covered a lot more property than was developed. Adventures West Collection

The first units of Phase I were completed on schedule and available for owners and visitors in early 1972. To encourage mid-week visitors, AWV, like quite a few of the lodges in the ski area, offered a ski-week package. For $75, the ski-week included five nights accommodation at AWV, lift tickets for Whistler Mountain, two meals each day, transportation to and from the ski hill, and apres ski activities such as a wine-cheese-pizza party, singalongs, and moonlight snowmobiling, all kicked off on Sunday night with a “get-acquainted party” open to guests and Alta Lake residents. Jim McConkey, who ran the ski school at the time, would even make an appearance at these parties with some of his ski instructors. They would show ski films and answer any questions guests might have. A $65 ski-week was almost the same, except that the ski days were divided between Whistler Mountain and the small novice ski hill beside AWV.

Adventures West’s location on Alta Lake also made it a popular summer option and in 1972 it also began serving as the accommodation for the Toni Sailer Summer Ski Camps, which had previously been housed at the Highland Lodge, Cheakamus Inn and Christiana Inn. Though the development was not complete, they had built a beach area from which campers and other guests could go swimming, windsurfing, and more. As a resort, AWV offered various summer excursions, including trail rides up Rainbow Mountain, lift rides up Whistler Mountain and lunch at the Roundhouse, and boating down the Green River.

Over the next few summers, AWV announced plans to build more units and some of the other promised features, such as the boat harbour and swimming pool, as part of Phase II. The Adventure Inn building opened in the summer of 1974, including Whistler’s first Keg ‘N Cleaver restaurant. While some more units were built, the entirety of the AWV development was never realised.

One section of the Keg Restaurant building is moved from Adventures West up Lorimer Road to its current home on Blackcomb Way. Whistler Question Collection, 1981

The creation of the Resort Municipality of Whistler in 1975 and the subsequent planning of the Whistler Village focused development at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and over time the rest of AWV’s 52 acres were sold off. In May 1981, the Keg building was broken into three parts and moved to its current location on Blackcomb Way, where it still serves today as Municipal Hall.

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Lounging in WhistlerLounging in Whistler

March 25, 2025 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 2 Comments

Jack Bright first arrived in the Whistler area with his wife Ann in 1967 as the new ski area manager, responsible for everything for the lift company that didn’t move (mountain manager Dave Mathews was responsible for the things that did move, such as lifts). In 1975, while Jack was still working for Garibaldi Lifts Ltd., the couple opened the Whistler Inn, described in its first season as “ultra modern yet rustic accommodation,” right near the shores of Nita Lake within walking distance to the lifts. After a seemingly successful first season, a restaurant and cocktail lounge was added onto the Inn in preparation for the winter of 1976/77.

In its first year, JB’s Dining Lounge featured some familiar faces in the area, as well as some new ones. Roger Systad, who had previously worked at the Brandywine Falls Restaurant, the Cheakamus Inn and L’Apres, was hired as the head chef and John Reynolds, manager, barman and fixture of the Cheakamus Inn, returned to Whistler as the barman at the Whistler Inn. A few months after opening, JB’s also hired Michael D’Artois who, though he had been visiting the area to ski for years, was at Whistler for his first season as a full-time resident.

The Whistler Inn as seen from the tennis courts next to Nita Lake. Whistler Question Collection, 1979

Michael had previously worked in the front office at Chateau Lake Louise until the general manager heard him singing and playing guitar at a staff contest. He was hired as a resident entertainer at the hotel for the next winter, playing in various spaces throughout the day. In the fall of 1976, when he decided to move up to Whistler, Michael left a demo tape at the Keg restaurant at Alta Lake and then returned to Vancouver. When he returned to Whistler, the Keg asked him, “Where have you been? You’re hired.” Although the Keg had been known as the place to go for disco, apparently the staff were not disappointed to come in and find Michael playing folk music for a change.

Michael D’Artois, Laura McGuffin, Rod MacLeod & Mark Sadler entertain at the Alta Lake Community Club’s Children’s Christmas Party at the Keg. Whistler Question Collection, 1980

The early winter of 1976/77 is still talked about today as very dry and cold, with little snow. Michael played at the Keg while Whistler Mountain was operating through the holidays and the beginning of 1977, but the lack of snow forced the lift company to close down in January. With no skiing, not many visitors were coming to Whistler, though residents embraced activities offered by the frozen lakes.

When it had finally snowed enough for the mountain to reopen in February, Michael was hired by Jack to perform at JB’s, similar to the position he held in Lake Louise. He played three 45 minute sets between 9pm and midnight, mostly to a local crowd who soon knew his repertoire and were happy to put in requests. According to Michael, “Not infrequently, Jack would call last call [and] people would leave, except those people that knew they didn’t have to leave.” They would have one last drink and Michael would play one last set.

After Michael moved on to other opportunities, JB’s continued to hire musicians to perform. Here, Annette Ducharme, accompanied by Jamie Boyd, plays while regular performer Betsy Chaba took a leave to play at the Folk Festival in Vancouver. Whistler Question Collection, 1981

Not wanting to work late nights again the next winter, Michael opened the Valley Inn in a building on Nesters Road he rented from Rudy Hofmann. He stayed in the hotel business for a few years, even living onsite in the Whistler Village while still under construction, before getting his real estate licence and starting a long career in real estate.

The Whistler Inn and JB’s are still standing in Creekside today, though they have changed some over the past five decades. The Whistler Inn is today known as the Whistler Resort & Club and JB’s has changed names a few times. The space became Hoz’s Pub under Ron Hosner in the 1980s and Karen Roland began working there in the 1990s. She took over the space in 2008 and today JB’s restaurant area houses Roland’s Pub while JB’s bar area has been transformed into the Red Door Bistro.

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Visiting a Different WhistlerVisiting a Different Whistler

August 11, 2020 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 0 Comments

There is a lot to do in Whistler in the summer, even with the restrictions currently in place across British Columbia.  You can go up the mountains to hike and ride the Peak 2 Peak, hike throughout the valley, relax at a lake, or even visit Whistler’s Cultural Connector (which includes the Whistler Museum).  What about, however, if you had visited Whistler during the summer of 1980?

Thanks to Whistler News, a supplement published by The Whistler Question, we can get an idea of what summer visitors to Whistler could have expected forty years ago.

The Whistler Village at the base of Whistler Mountain as visitors would have found it in the summer of 1980. Whistler Question Collection, 1980.

The first step to visiting Whistler was getting here.  Though it’s relatively easy today to find your way to Whistler, in 1980 there were no directional signs in Vancouver pointing the way and Whistler News encouraged drivers to obtain a road map and head north on Highway 99.  The drive up included a 12km section through the Cheakamus Canyon that was set to be realigned and improved by 1981 but was still somewhat treacherous.  This was still an easier route than those from the north.  The route to Whistler through Bralorne was suitable only for 4-wheel drive vehicles and the Duffy Lake Road would not be paved until 1992.

Visitors had a choice of lodgings, both in and near to Whistler.  While some of these lodgings, such as the Highland Lodge and Whistler Creek Lodge, are still standing, others such as the Alpine Lodge (a lodge and cabins located in Garibaldi, which the provincial government declared unsafe in 1980) and the White Gold Inn (more commonly known as the Ski Boot Motel) have since been demolished.  Those looking to camp had quite a few options, including a BC Hydro campground at Daisy Lake and a forestry camp at the Cheakamus and Callaghan Rivers.  Supposedly, the summer of 1980 was also going to see the construction of new camping facilities as part of Lost Lake.

Lost Lake south shore showing where a beach and picnic ground will be built. Whistler Question Collection, 1980.

Whistler also offered a variety of dining options, from Chinese cuisine at the Alta Lake Inn Dining Room to the Keg at Adventures West.  Those looking to provide their own meals, however, were encouraged to plan ahead, as the only grocery shopping in the area was at the Gulf and Husky Mini-Marts.

Visitors could still do many of the things that have brought people to Whistler in recent summers.  They could go hiking around the valley (Lost Lake was recommended as having the “spectacular sight” of the ski jump) and spend time around and on Whistler’s lakes, where windsurfing was becoming increasingly popular.  Those more interested in snow could attend the 15th year of the Toni Sailer Ski Camp, perfecting their skiing under the direction of Toni Sailer, Nancy Greene, Wayne Wong and Bob Dufour.

The group at the Sailer Fischer Ski Camp party catered by the Keg. (L to R) Wayne Wong, Wayne Booth, Schultz, Nancy Greene, Toni Sailer, Rookie, Alan White. Whistler Question Collection, 1980.

The summer of 1980 was also a season of huge changes in the area and would have offered visitors many opportunities to view construction in the valley.  There was not yet a Whistler Village as we know it today.  In the Town Centre the first buildings of Phase I were expected to open that season and construction of Phase II buildings was underway.  Late in the summer Whistler Mountain installed its first lifts that ran from what would become the Whistler Village.  At the same time Blackcomb Mountain was building its first lifts, as well as on-mountain restaurants and utility buildings.

Blackcomb’s President and General Manager Hugh Smythe shows Whistler Mayor Pat Carleton the new ski runs from the base of Lift 2 during a recent tour by the mayor of the Blackcomb facilities. Whistler Question Collection, 1980.

With all this construction, changing businesses and development, it’s no surprise that summer visitors to the museum will often tell us that Whistler is almost unrecognizable as the same place they visited in the 1970s or 1980s.

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Fire at The KegFire at The Keg

March 24, 2020 Whistler MuseumWhistler Museum 2 Comments

While cataloguing the Griffith Collection (a collection of roughly 50,000 images donated by photographer Greg Griffith), our Assistant Archivist Stephanie recently came across slides of a fire at The Keg building that we had previously only seen in black and white.

The first Keg in the Whistler valley was opened at Adventures West on Alta Lake in 1974, but when construction of the Whistler Village began in 1979 plans were made to open a new Keg restaurant in the Whistler Village Inn.

When the first Keg building was moved up Lorimer Rd. to become the new Municipal Hall in 1981, the new Keg building was still under construction.  The hotel and restaurant were expected to open by the end of January 1982, in time for the World Cup, and by the beginning of January restaurant staff had already been hired.

The Whistler Volunteer Fire Department works to contain the fire in The Keg and Whistler Village Inn building. Greg Griffith Collection.

Around 3:30 pm on Wednesday, January 13, 1982, a fire broke out in the building, caused by a leaking propane tank.  The fire started in the restaurant section, spread upwards into the roof and, aided by strong winds, spread across the entire building.

The Whistler Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) worked well into the night.  According to the Whistler Question, they poured water on the building for over seven hours.  Luckily there were no injuries from the fire, but one firefighter was taken to hospital with chest pains and several others were treated for smoke inhalation.

The next week the WVFD sent a whole bundle of roses into the Whistler Question’s “Bricks & Roses” section to thank those who had helped.  The Whistler and Pemberton ambulance crews were present all night, Dr. Christine Rodgers spent the night on call, Terry Rodgers manned the radio, Carol Simmie, Kathy Hicks and Katie Rodgers helped coordinate the effort, and the RCMP provided crowd control.  Members of the Surrey Fire Department and Squamish Fire Department who were in Whistler also came out.

Crowds watch the fire from the Village Stroll. Whistler Question Collection, 1982.

As it was January, dry clothing and hot food were greatly appreciated in the -20°C weather.  The Grocery Store opened late to provide food supplies, the Alta Lake Community Club, Stoney’s, the Brass Rail, Tapley’s and The Gourmet all brought coffee and food, and the Blackcomb Lodge offered the use of their dryers.

The fire was contained to the top floor of the hotel section, and most of the building was considered structurally sound on the lower levels, with some damage from water and smoke.  The damage was estimated at $2.5 million.

By mid-February demolition work had already begun.  Smith Brothers & Wilson Construction Ltd. got to work repairing and reconstructing the restaurant and hotel.  Because the Whistler Village Inn was designed in two separate buildings, they were able to open 44 rooms in 1982, but the hotel was missing planned amenities such as a pool, restaurant, and permanent lobby.

Brian Moran, Ken Till, Bob Elliott and John Grills outside the soon-to-be-opened Whistler Keg.  Whistler Question Collection, 1983.

January 1983 was a busy month, as finishing touches were put on the restaurant and over 100 staff were hired from over 500 applicants.

The Keg was finally able to open on Friday, February 4, with some familiar faces.  Herb Capozzi, a founder of the Keg restaurant chain, was one of the first to be served, and some staff members from The Keg at Adventures West came back, such as Scott Paxton.  Over the first three evenings, the restaurant served over 900 meals.

A face from yesteryear – Scott Paxton, who worked at The Keg at the Mountain many years ago when it was located in Whistler Cay has now resurfaced at the new Keg as the official “bunmaster”. Paxton and fellow employees geared up for the opening night at The Keg Friday, February 4 for another era of Keg lovers.  Whistler Question Collection, 1983.

Though the Whistler Village has expanded and prices may have changed (in 1983 an 8 oz sirloin would cost you $8.95 and highballs at Brandy’s were $1.85), The Keg and Brandy’s continue to occupy the space opened in 1983.

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