Shoulder season update: Revelstoke Mountain Resort buys downtown hostel for staff housing

Revelstoke Mountain Resort has purchased a downtown Revelstoke building formerly used as a hostel and plans to house resort workers there this season.

The Revelstoke Backpacker Lodge is located at the corner of Second Street and Boyle Avenue. It is commonly referred to as the Samesun Hostel, reflecting its longstanding name before the recent rebranding to Revelstoke Backpacker Lodge.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) spokesperson Carly Moran said the resort plans to use the building exclusively for staff housing. The building has 58* beds and will be housing “upwards” of 40 people.

RMR submits development permit application for staff housing

An image of the proposed 89-unit staff housing building at RMR. Photo: Revelstoke Mountain Resort image

Moran said that RMR has submitted a development permit application for the construction of much-anticipated staff housing to the City of Revelstoke.

The plan calls for an 89-unit building at the base of the resort, including 66 two-bedroom suites and 23 one-bedroom suites.

Diners sit on the patio at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort during the summer of 2021. In the background, a crane being used to build the new hotel at the resort base. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine

Currently, the development application is with the City of Revelstoke for processing.

Moran said the resort plans to start construction in the spring of 2022 and hopes to have the staff housing building finished before the completion of the new hotel under construction. The resort estimates completion will take about 18-24 months.

RMR COVID-19 staff vaccinations mandatory

Revelstoke Mountain Resort patrol staff at work during the 2020-21 season. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine

The resort will require all staff to show proof of two COVID-19 vaccinations by a November 27 deadline. This week, several resorts in B.C. unveiled similar mandatory vaccination policies for staff.

Proof of double COVID-19 vaccination is required to enter the Rockford restaurant and the Mac Tavern, according to current provincial COVID-19 protocols.

The resort is finalizing other COVID-19 protocols for the season and will update them in the coming weeks.

Terrain park to re-open after COVID-19 closure

The second part of the competition took place in RMR’s terrain park. Photo: Hywel Williams

The terrain park, which is located prominently under the Stoke Chair, will be back for the 2021-22 season. It was closed last year due to complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More to come

RMR, like most ski resorts, usually unveils new features and additions in a media release in November. Moran said the resort is working to finalize their plans, including clarifying COVID-19 procedure details, and is expected to finalize details in the coming weeks.

*Clarification & update: An RMR spokesperson originally said the hostel had 40 beds, but contacted us after publication to say the hostel has 59 beds. In a statement released after publication, RMR said the hostel would house “upwards” of 40 people. We have updated the story to reflect the new information.