Cassiar - The Lost Resorts, Episode 28

Cassiar was a former asbestos mining town in the remote northern forests of British Columbia, Canada. At it's peak, Cassiar had a population of over 1,200 people. From 1965 until it's closure in 1992, Cassiar boasted it's own ski hill. This video will take you through the history of the town, mining company and the ski hill.
The Lost Resorts is a weekly video series that focuses on the history of lost ski resorts in North America. New episodes release every Thursday at 5:15am MST (unless otherwise notified). Join me as we take a look at the lost resorts of North America.
Cassiar (British Columbia) Information:
Years of Operation: 1965 - 1992
Run Count: 1-2
Lifts: 1 Platter (Doppelmayr), Rope Tows
Timestamps
Intro: 0:00
History: 1:00
Topography: 5:49
Conclusion: 7:11
Music by Artlist.io

[@brianmaschewski8782]

Spent a few years there late 80s. Only mining town i miss to this day was a great town loved it.

[@jobug_12]

I worked at Dease Lake on the Stewart Cassiare railroad running buggies. One weekend a buddy and myself drove up to Cassiare grabbed a coffee and snacks. At the time most of the working people were from other countries. On our way back to Dease Lake there was a big jade nugget removed out of the mountain nearby-at that time this was the largest jade nugget ever found in the world. Really enjoyed Dease Lake residents very nice and friendly, we had employed a few to assist on equipment. Unfortunately the railroad was discontinued.

[@nobodythatyouknow241]

Do you know Jack Gillies? He was jade and gold mining near Dease Lake.

[@kellycarterholzhaus]

I lived in Cassiar from Jan. 25th 1980 until Aug. 31st 1987. It was the greatest little community for a kid to grow up in. My heart still lives there❣️

[@kellyquinn1468]

Lived in Cassiar from 1980 until it closed down in 1992. My brother and I are actually in the picture shown of the theater. Was a great little town and there is a FB page dedicated to the people that lived there and their families.

[@Skier72]

I appreciate your comment! It must have been quite something to watch the town auctioned off in 1992. Indeed, a great community. As part of the research for this project, I read through every single one of the monthly Cassiar Courier articles. It definitely appeared to be tight knit, and it really had everything one could need.

[@kellyquinn1468]

@@Skier72 it was dreadful! I worked for the auction company that sold everything off as well. That little town gave may family so much more than just a place to live and work. The cultural diversity and energy it had was like none other.

[@shelleysutherland928]

Cassiar was my home 1959 - 1992 It's still home in my heart

[@gigglybug75]

i lived in cassiar from 4th grade to 9th grade. was a fun lil place 💕

[@cackerson10]

Thanks again, very interesting history

[@bethebest52]

Wonderful to see this. Thank you! I was in Cassiar in 78/79. As I recall, work on the towers was started during the strike and a team of employees (mgt and union) had a staggering winter project to keep busy! Names like Wayne Mayell, Brian Chandler, Joe Curry, Brian Roy etc worked very hard at getting those towers up. Pouring cement in the winter, on a mountain, in a remote area!!! Well, very impressive. I must find my photos.

[@lostmoose9994]

Been there in 94. Everything left behind, looked like a full operating town, but nobody there.

[@teacherguy5084]

It would be interesting to see what you could find out about and make a video about the ski area on Mount Rainier in Washington State, near/at Paradise. I believe they had a platter and a rope tow or two. I remember skiing there with primitive alpine touring gear in the winter of 1972 as a freshman at the University of Washington.

[@jamesoldman3021]

Remember the community well. Only skied the hill once is 67. Time for a return visit.

[@qwertyuiop-kd4qq]

Interesting stuff! Keep it coming with the bc mining history vids

[@sirmax016]

Really neat stuff, never even knew this place existed! Interesting to imagine what could have been - Cassiar seems to offer so much potential for a fantastic tight-knit community. It's a shame how suddenly it fell. Really enjoyed this kind of video. Getting some more background info into the tale of the community was really great. Keep it up!

[@Skier72]

Appreciate it!

[@JRWaite-ur5ge]

I lived in Cassiar (1978-1986) I was one of the lift ops at the hill. Good times.

[@Skier72]

No way! Anything more you can tell me about the ski hill that I missed?

[@JRWaite-ur5ge]

@@Skier72 You are right about the run along the tree line. It was a firebreak initially; it was skied down aways and then through the trees coming out at the bottom of the hill. There was also a run to the left of the lift at the top. I don't recall if we had a name for it. This video has been shared a few times now on other socials. I'm sure another old “cassiarite” may chime in. The lights were only for the main hill. The company tram line crew did all the pommel lift maintenance. I heard once that the lift may have ended in Prince George; I can't confirm that.

[@kellyquinn1468]

Wasn’t the run off to the left called the suicide run?

[@JRWaite-ur5ge]

@@kellyquinn1468 it was Kelly. Good memory!

[@Derrag1]

There were actually three runs. The main hill had two stops where you could get off. One was halfway up and the other was obviously at the top. Then if you are looking at the ski hill there was a run to the right hand side which you assumed right. We called it the “Back trail”, and it came out directly across the hill from where you would get off at “halfway” on the main slope. Then if you went right to the top, there was a steep and narrow run we called “suicide”. It ran all the way to the bottom. Spent many a day and night skiing that hill as a kid!!

[@dennisfarquharson8114]

The apartment buildings are still there and we’re being used in 2022 as I was up to the Cassiar that year and I hauled asbestos back in 1978

[@Skier72]

Wasn't sure of that, I knew they were still standing but didn't realize they were still used.

[@dennisfarquharson8114]

Yes mining company and also the company that is dealing with the big Italians pile for workers

[@nathanjanuszewski]

Now this ski resort has gotta be truly abandoned. I have never heard of it. People have their hopes for resorts for Fortress, but Cassiar, never have heard of it.

[@Skier72]

I mean... calling it a ski resort is a stretch, but the old ski hill of Cassiar is probably one of the most unknown of BC's lost ski hills. The platter lift looked nice though, I wish I could've figured out where it went.

[@HiFiBaller]

@@Skier72 I feel like sunpeaks bought it and installed it in 1993.

[@Skier72]

@@HiFiBaller Could be, the platter design is different, but Doppelmayr could've easily retrofitted them.

[@CMDMedia94]

Fantastic work!! I'm a huge fan of your content, and ski history in general. I manage the ski operation at Echo Valley in Manson WA. If you're ever interested in doing a piece on a small, still operating ski area in the PNW, I would be glad to help out. Looking forward to your next episode.

[@Skier72]

I'll never turn down a ski area operator offering information! Shoot me an email at [e-mail] and I'd be interested in doing something

[@daverussell9627]

Another great report! I'd like to see your take on the mining district east of New Denver.

[@Skier72]

I have a book that goes into detail of a lot of the Kaslo/New Denver area, including all the mining operations. Unfortunately, I don't know where the book is. But I agree, that would be a super unique video. If I can find the book again, I'll probably do a video on the history of that region.

[@mikesantos2638]

Was a resident from 74 till closing

[@philmarkovich2558]

On the question about the number of runs, there is likely some regular aerial photography that BC Forestry would have done over the years that covers the area. I suspect if you were to look at these (especially if there are any done in the spring), you'd see what the hill had for skiable terrain.

[@Skier72]

Interesting, I never considered using BC Forestry archives.

[@philmarkovich2558]

@Skier72 It’s just a suggestion. Overall, you put together a really interesting piece on the town, the mine, and the ski hill.

[@user-bd4dz7lu8l]

I believe the ski lift made it way to Atlin Bc but was never put up

[@Skier72]

That's great information! Anything more you know about this?

[@user-bd4dz7lu8l]

@@Skier72 I will ask some of the older locals about it some more and get back to ya

[@seanreid349]

My father worked there in 65, when je found out my mother was pregnant with me, he got a kob in Tungsten and moved

[@neilhudson6194]

Started a canoe trip near Tungsten in 68