(photo courtesy Dom Koric)
Back in the mid-nineties, townhouses and condominiums were in development on Fairways drive and Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge was the main hotel you could see looking into the village from the Sundance lift. Sun Peaks was named the Best Trail and Slope Design in North America by Snow Country Magazine (1995) and was also recognized by the same publication as having the 2nd Best Design for a Day Lodge under $2 million (1996).
It was nestled in that Day Lodge where, 25 years ago, the RE/MAX office opened in Sun Peaks.
Originally opened by Bill Hanrahan and Bert Gatien, RE/MAX Alpine Resort Realty was the first real estate operation in Sun Peaks and was on the ground when development really began in earnest in the 2000s. From the addition of the Delta Sun Peaks Resort Hotel and Conference Centre (now Sun Peaks Grand), to the completion of a golf course, and a third skiable mountain — Mt. Morrisey — Sun Peaks was proving to be a draw for investors looking to purchase vacation homes and winter getaways.
Fast-forward a quarter century, and somethings haven’t changed: Sun Peaks is a hot real estate buy.
“While COVID-19 has impacted international travel, we’re seeing a fresh new group of visitors to the resort this year as Western Canadians tour the province to explore in a safe way,” says Lark Frolek-Dale. Frolek-Dale has been working at RE/MAX since 1997 and took over as owner in 2005. She says they are seeing multiple offers and several properties are selling over asking price.
It’s not a surprise. Tucked away in the heart of the Thompson Okanagan, living in Sun Peaks — even only part-time — provides a welcome escape from the urban environment where everyone is in close quarters and contact points are high. Mountain living is about fresh air and elbow room. Summer is about golf, hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing and more. As the snow starts to fly, we shift gears to skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, dogsledding and snowshoeing. No matter what your outdoor flavour – we’ve got it in spades.
Today, you’ll find RE/MAX in the Kookaburra Lodge. A short walk from the village core, stop by and say hi when you come to town and learn more about how we’re working to keep you safe through your real estate shopping experience.