Charlie Locke Talks About Buying Back Lake Louise.

In the forum, skibro007 wrote…
“I know we all bitch about our favorite ski hill operators, but who here would have the balls to put their money up and invest in a hill like Louise. You would either have to be crazy, have an unlimited trust fund account, sell a sh*T load of overpriced poutine or just have a pure love for what you are investing in (and a big wad of cash you don't mind losing).”

So… Which is it in Locke’s case?

Charlie Locke: “I grew up in the Calgary area and started climbing when I was 16. Like you young guys do these days, you climbed on weekends and went to school and worked in the summer. And did some reasonably big climbs (as in over 40 first ascents -ed) and ski tours in the 60’s (as in the first Jasper to Louise, Great Divide Travers -ed). I got my guides license in ’67. I guided until ’72. That’s not much of living so… I went to town and got a job. I started of with dual careers in ranching and investments. Then in the early 70’s the fellow came in who was running the Lake Louise ski area, which was in those days two ski areas. It was Temple ski area and the normal ski area and they weren’t connected. So being in the investment business and being a Canadian mountain person, I helped the ski area raise money to build the original Ptarmigan lifts and then Eagle which connected the two ski areas. I became a share holder then and in the winter of ‘80-81 I bought out the rest of the share holders.”

So the hardcore climber/skier came to own one of the most prestigious ski areas in Canada. It’s an inspiring “skibum done good” story but that’s just the start. In a Napoleon like campaign, Locke went on to conquer Fernie, Wintergreen, Fortress, Nakiska, Kimberley and Mount Sainte-Anne, brining them all under the Resort of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) banner.

But if it was a battle who was the enemy? The Scurfield’s of Sunshine Village? A lot has been made of a rivalry between them in the past, but Locke down plays it, “The media, that’s what they are looking for. Ralph has been in the business a long time now and they have a good product. Of course it’s competitive, but just the way football teams are competitive.” He does admit though, that the purchase of Fernie was partly to, “offset the heavier snowfalls that Sunshine gets,” and to draw Calgary skiers there instead.

Of course, as most of us know Locke did not rule the empire forever. As he tells it, “My bank went broke in the US just like they are doing now… so I sold half interest to Murray Edwards in 2001. In 2003 he bought out my other 50%.”

But… “I had a five year option to buy back Lake Louise which I just exercised it. Or half of Lake Louise. I’m the managing partner and control the board of directors.”

So Napoleon has returned from exile to control France and expand again right? No. “I’m just happy to do the ma and pa operation at Lake Louise with my wife and family.” Don’t expect him to start buying up other ski hills anytime soon.

That doesn’t mean he’s slowing down though. His ranching and oil interests are on-going and his expansionist ways have a whole new outlet. “We are building a new city between Airdrie and Cochrane.” A whole frickin’ city? “We have preliminary approvals to develop a new community of about 10-12,000 people. That’s another 25 year project. So that will keep me going till I’m 85. Then I’ll just go 5 years at a time.” Even he laughs at this.

So what will all this mean for skiers at the hill?

“My first two priorities are to intensify customer service and begin again to deliver the product that our customers want: Which is better grooming, less hassle, more skier/boarder friendly and to re-establish our park as one of the pre-eminent parks in Canada which will include a number of moderate sized jumps.” He also added later that, “where I am, I don’t have to squeeze the last dollar out of it. I just have to be sure that at the end of the day we have something that we built and can be proud of.”

Talking to him, it is clear Louise is something he sees as part of his legacy. Does that mean he’s going to appease all disgruntled pass holders? No. “You can’t let your customers run your business.” Spoken like a true ski hill owner, but then he adds, “You can give your customers an excellent product at a fair price.”

Maybe coldsmoke was on to something in the forum when he noted:
“I had a few issues with Locke back in the day... but the best thing he ever provided was AFFORDABLE SKIING.”

At any rate, a new page in the history of Lake Louise has begun and we can all praise or bitch about it in the forum. And don’t worry about hurting Locke’s feelings. He swears he never looks at criticisms in the papers and…
“I’ve never read biglines in my life!”

Read the forum thread that inspired this story here

Kevin Hjertaas