Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa, located north of Whistler Village, features luxury accommodations throughout its mansion setting. (Photo courtesy of Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa)
Whistler is a perennial contender for North America’s best ski getaway and one of the reasons why is the quality of accommodations you can enjoy before and after hitting the slopes. The host mountain resort for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the picturesque town – a two-hour drive north of Vancouver along the Sea-to-Sky Highway – offers a new gold medal-worthy luxury experience with Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa.
Open to guests as of November, the 12,000-square-foot mansion is nestled away 15 minutes northeast of Whistler just past Green Lake. With 10 luxurious bedrooms, it’s ideal for an exclusive getaway with a large group of family and friends (maximum occupancy is 20). An on-site housekeeper, concierge, and executive chef ensure that every wish is fulfilled.
At Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa, thoughts of James Bond-esque glamour come irresistibly to mind with an elegant heated swimming pool out front and floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere. Yet there’s no need to replicate the daredevil skiing sequences in “The Spy Who Loved Me” or “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” to have a good time from the moment you arrive.
The high-ceilinged foyer, adorned with Moroccan-made lampshades and selenite crystal chandeliers, adjoins a temperature-controlled, 1,000-bottle wine room. The wide variety of vintages ranges from provincial favourite Painted Rock Estate Winery in Penticton to Napa Valley’s Shafer Vineyards. Sabring a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut, though, has to be the go-to option for a welcome beverage.
A feeling of welcome pervades this family-operated business. It’s headlined by the husband-and-wife team of Dan and Keltie Holdsworth, long-time specialists in Whistler luxury rentals and construction.
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“We wanted to put all our dream elements into a fantasy property,” says Keltie Holdsworth, who grew up in Ottawa before moving to Whistler in 2007. “It’s run like a hotel, but feels like a home. Making sure it’s accessible is also a priority, so we added touches like an elevator.”
Nature-laden hikes to sites like Nairn Falls and Shadow Lake are within easy reach. But there’s so much to soak up on site that choosing to hole up and just relax here is tempting.
Newly launched Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa comes with a minimum three-night stay and the entire property must be booked by the guest party. (Photo courtesy of Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa)
In addition to breathtaking mountain views, the well-appointed bedrooms include king-sized beds with Silk & Snow mattresses, ensuite bathrooms with rain showers, built-in wardrobes, and big TVs.
After hopping on the rowing machine or spin bike at the well-equipped fitness room, booking a therapeutic massage or manicure at the on-site spa is a refreshing option. Alternatively, dive into the full Nordic spa experience with the outdoor hot tub and cold plunge pool, paired with a sauna and steam room just steps away.
When you’re ready to refuel, the food and drink at Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa are as inspiring as they are plentiful. Enjoy a pre-dinner gin and tonic with Empress 1908 Indigo Gin by Victoria Distillers, which gets its distinctive purple hue from butterfly pea blossom.
A sample wine-paired dinner might include Japanese milk bread with herb butter, beet tartare, squash and coconut milk soup, pan-roasted Alberta strip loin steak, and chocolate and caramelized banana creme brûlée for dessert.
“The quality of the products you bring in always results in a better meal,” says executive chef Bill Grimshaw, who is passionate about using locally sourced ingredients from the Pemberton Valley. He also offers on-site cooking classes.
The dining room setting adds to the ambience with a long Squamish maple dining table bisected by a black resin river and a wood fireplace flickering in the background.
After-dinner entertainment options abound. These range from a ping-pong table, pool table, and poker table to an 18-capacity swanky movie theatre with a state-of-the-art surround-sound system and reclining blue velvet seats. Forthcoming lodge amenities include a pickleball court, hockey rink, and EV (electric vehicle) charging stations.
When you’re ready to venture off-site, a chauffeur is available to squire your group around in a 14-seater Ford Transit passenger van or six-seater Tesla Model X.
For ski buffs, the natural choice is to carve fresh powder on the 200-plus marked runs and 8,171 acres of terrain at Whistler Blackcomb. Off-the-beaten-path highlights for lifestyle and culinary junkies include Art Junction Gallery, Turner’s Chocolate, and Montis Distilling in Whistler Creekside.
MORE ABOUT WEDGE MOUNTAIN LODGE & SPA
Location: 9120 Riverside Drive, Whistler, British Columbia (see map below)
Rates: Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa rates range from $13,500 ($9,900 USD) per night in early winter to $26,450 CAD ($19,350 USD) per night during the holiday season. There is a three-night minimum stay and the entire mansion must be rented out by the guest party. Visit the property’s website to view availability.
