BONNYVILLE – Kinosoo Ridge Resort, known regionally as a winter destination for downhill skiing, could one day be used as a four-seasons getaway in the Lakeland, according to information presented to MD of Bonnyville council.
McElhanney Ltd. presented an update on the Kinosoo Ridge Resort Trail and Glamping Project (KRRTGP) to council at a July 9 meeting.
The presentation was accepted as information, and council directed administration to bring back options for proceeding with the project at a future Commitee of the Whole meeting.
Eric Valois, a civil engineer for McElhanney Ltd., presented the project plans for mountain biking, Nordic, and hiking trails and all-season glamping, while sub-consultants Rod Taylor (CEO) and Jim DeHart of Legacy Tourism presented on the Destination Managment Plan.
McElhanney Ltd. is a consulting firm working on the KRRTGP and is an “employee-owned company that provides surveying, engineering, GIS and remote sensing, community and transportation planning, landscape architecture, environmental services, and more,” according to the company.
Based off the original management and destination master plan that highlighted high level potential areas for different trail components, McElhanney investigated the topography and trail opportunities with administration to create a map of the potential trails and glamping site.
Trail and glamping project presentation
From a concept developed by McElhanney’s trails team, to a detailed design in collaboration with MD administration, the trails project was brought to the field and laid out.
“This has been done to a detailed level. Now the final documents are being compiled so this could be a shovel ready project,” said Valois.
Valois highlighted the map’s outer hiking trail loop, with mountain biking trails through the middle, and look-out opportunities. The trail systems have been identified as the primary focus of the project.
Directed by administration, the glamping project is still in the concept phase. The idea includes yurts or geodesic domes at the site, with a centralized shower house.
Valois explains that if the glamping project moves forward, it would be installed mostly by directional drill, which would preserve the forest.
The next step suggested in the process would be getting approval from Alberta Parks to work within the current lease boundaries and obtain additional expansions to incorporate the designed trails and glamping site.
First Nations consultation was also advised.
Future planning could include the use of Nordic skiing trails on the Saskatchewan side.
Destination management plan
Taylor recapped the empirical data and research that the original 2022 KRRTGP presentation was based on, which identified key areas of the project.
The research has stated the status quo for Kinosoo Ridge is financially unsustainable, and like almost all other small ski hills in North America, it must become a four-season model utilizing its “fixed assets” and harness surrounding demographics throughout the year.
Taylor commended council for the creation of the Kinosoo Ridge Aerial Adventure Park.
“The adventure ropes course that was purchased - it was the right choice. It's actually the best of its class. It's nonlinear, it's got the greatest throughput, it's got the least maintenance cost - it's a great piece of kit. The problem is because it is essentially there by itself in the summertime. it's what we refer to as a stranded asset,” explained Taylor.
For those within a three-hour radius, Kinosoo Ridge represents an opportunity for a fun family adventure, as there is little surrounding competition, heard council.
Camping, trails, and lake access expansions were identified as economical ways to entice visitors to Kinosoo Ridge for day - or multi-day trips.
