Jasper wildfire narrowly spared Marmot Basin ski resort

There will be skiing at Marmot Basin ski resort in Jasper National Park this winter.

An aerial image shared by Banff Sunshine Village today shows that the Jasper Complex wildfire that devastated the townsite of Jasper and the National Park just narrowly missed the popular ski resort.

“Here’s a photo that shows just how close the Jasper Complex fire came to our friends at Marmot Basin,” the Facebook post from Banff Sunshine Village said. “The resort managed to avoid any infrastructure damage. Marmot Basin will reopen this winter.”

While the proximity of the fire to Marmot Basin was revealed today, the ski resort already confirmed in late July that the mountain had been spared.

“We now know that infrastructure at Marmot Basin has not been affected by the Jasper Complex wildfire. All facilities, buildings and ski lifts are completely intact,” a Facebook post from Marmot Basin said on July 28.

Another post on Aug. 8 said “we can’t wait to see everyone back on these slopes,” and extended gratitude to those who protected the ski hill and infrastructure from the wildfire.

The news from Marmot Basin is certainly welcomed for Jasper National Park’s tourism industry given the destruction in the townsite.

The wildfire destroyed 358 of the townsite’s 1,113 structures as it tore through town late on Wednesday, July 24, and residents will finally be able to return home and see the damage on Friday, Aug. 16.

According to the Jasper National Park website, the fire remains active and out of control at more than 33,000 hectares in size.