If all goes to plan Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill will become a tourist destination for winter and summer activities.
Tawatinaw’s Dom Kriangkum, whose company DK Consulting reached an in-principle lease/purchase agreement with Westlock County for the hill Nov. 27, said it’s his goal to integrate it with his existing Pine Valley Gym Centre to create a year-round resort.
Westlock County council is expected to ratify the deal at its Dec. 8 meeting.
Kriangkum said his interest in the ski hill began we he realized the two facilities would compliment each other.
“We want to be able to incorporate the ski hill and what it has to offer, an outdoor facility that we can utilize. Our long-term vision is to operate everything under one roof,” Kriangkum said.
“We like to think it’s a natural transition. At the same time, we want to provide good service at both facilities.”
Ultimately, the goal is to create a resort where families can spend a weekend together.
“That’s our mission,” Kriangkum said. “We want to create a destination for the local people and other people within Alberta.”
In order to integrate the two facilities and see that mission through, Kriangkum has put a new management team in place.
“Everything is going to be operating under an operating company called Pine Valley Resort,” he said.
Kriangkum said he’s already got a list of ideas of which activities he would like to add.
“[In the winter] we’re going to run the ski hill, operate a restaurant, the ski rentals and whatever is needed,” he said.
“In the summer months we’re looking at biking on the hill and other activities like paintball and so on.”
While most of the activities will be added over time, Kriangkum said he’s hoping to build a tubing run and would like to have it ready for this winter.
“It’s one of the fast-growing activities that have been incorporated into many ski hills,” he said. “I’m going to work very hard to get it going this year.”
Aside from their main goal of catering to families and to the gymnastics community, Kriangkum said the resort is a perfect location for companies to host corporate retreats. There are also plans to run a summer camp in July and August.
The Pine Valley Gym Centre is a large gymnastics facility, which includes a hall to host entertainment and dinner functions and a dormitory that can accommodate up to 144 people.
Kriangkum said the dormitory will double as a place to stay for out-of-town skiers or campers looking to spend the night, or a weekend.
There are also plans to add an RV park and campground for those who want to use the facilities and be more in-tune with nature.
“We’re going to start off with family-oriented activities and then go from there,” Kriangkum said.
“The key thing to us, and to bring people in, is having good facilities and quality service.”
