This week’s features a brochure and information on ski packages for Mont Tremblant Lodge vintage 1979-80. The only season in which my mom and myself had a season pass. In honour of her memory and one year since she passed on, I presented to you the Tremblant of the late 70s at the time when Fédération des Caisses d’entraide économique became new owners. There were big plans to modernized Joe Ryan’s Mont Tremblant Lodge and ski area as you can see from the brochure (the image is enlarge when clicked on). Intrawest had similar plans when they bought Tremblant in the early 90s. A few years later after spending some money on the first few changes, FCEE went under with the economic crisis which put the ski area in a tail spin until Intrawest came along a decade later.
I like these brochures as it presence a version of Mont Tremblant which a few today remember. A ski resort based on Rural Quebec with low density lodging. The illustration of the buildings captures the feels on the place. The second brochure presence the different lodging options from The Inn, chalet to dormatory.
If some of you don’t know how Tremblant is now or what happened one year ago on and off the hill, read on: Tremblant QC – long story – March 28, 10
Here is a few quotes from the brochure:
“A lollipop color French-Canadian village type resort in its mountain setting (…) one of the finest combination ski resorts and areas in the world, with ski facilities second to none and most reliable snow conditions.”
“Mont Tremblant Lodge and Ski Area was purchased in the Fall of 1979 by the Fédération des Caisses d’entraide économique du Québec.”
“The new owners and the Quebec government have set up a three-year development program for the installation of four triple chairlifts, a gondola, more grooming machines,snowmaking equipment, in addition to improving all base facilities.”
“A fascination long-term plan foresees the eventual development of the neighbouring Johanssen, Pangman and La Tuque peaks(…)”
The only thing that happened regarding the infrastructure when the arrival of two Triple chairlift installed at the end of the season as mentioned in the brochure. The plan on the Johanssen and neighbouring was also part of the Intrawest long term plan, but only the area now named the Edge (not sure of the name of that summit, but it isn’t as far as the Johanssen) and versant Soleil. The Johanssen was part of a land swap with the Parc du Mont Tremblant for another piece of park land.
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Interesting information on the 1979-80 ski package brochure below which reflect the time.
Season was from December 14th to April 6th.
one of the WORLD’S GREATEST SKI AREAS
GENTLEMEN are EXPECTED to wear JACKETS in the public rooms in the evening. Blue jeans, T-Shirts, lumberjack shirts and suspenders cannot be worn in living rooms, bars, dinning room and discotheque.
Tremblant generally had a fixed season with the exception a couple years in the trial Intrawest years (1990s). After a few seasons of late skiing, it was probably determined that it wasn’t worth the resources as they returned to a fixed closing in April some after making it to June.
Lift tickets: $8 weekdays and $13 weekends.
Daily buses and limousines on weekends from Montreal.
Artificial snow on the South side on a small amount of the south side.
The vitals: 2,131 vertical drop, 25 trails plus 2 practice slopes serviced by 5 double and 2 single chairlifts and 4 T-Bars.
Aah, the Tremblant I remember, since I have not skied there since it was Intrawested. Many fond memories too: skiing in the rain and going in for beer after each run (North Side to South Side and repeat); an epic 9 hour drive back to Montreal in the Great Blizzard of March 1971, after a day of powder skiing; a high-speed ride in a toboggan with a trainee patroller who spoke little English, when my only injury was a ripped out tele binding.
I’m almost afraid to go back.
You haven’t been at Tremblant since 1980? Les caisses d’entraide made a few changes starting the next season like the replacement of the south side single with a Triple and also added the Lowell Thomas triple still there today. Snowmaking was expected, Flying Mile was widen (again). A few others changes happened on the hill and off before the place got Intrawested.
Storm of the Century, I remember that. We lived on Fort St. in Montreal, my mom used to pull me in toboggan downtown. Needless to say, i’m a few years younger than you.
exactly what I was looking for….very nice piece of research here
skied there today ….it had been about 12 years…
but I was really trying to remember what the south side village looked like when my dad brought me there around 1970…
also remembered losing my ticket near the end of the day on the south side one brutally cold day around 1980 and needing to wait for my friend to take the lifts back to the other side, then drive back to get me….
The only thing about the goods about old days were the price of things,not the bad fitting boots,wool mitts, on big baggy paint, wooden skis .LKM
Not all things were that bad back then.
Need more period pictures of the inside of the Lodge. I last saw it in the late 1970s.