Bull Mountain Adventure Park (BMAP) Re-open Crystal mountain

Today is February 4th, 2025, my name is Don Journeay, I am the owner of Bull Mountain Adventure Park (BMAP) and I am here to answer some frequently asked questions and hopefully raise money to re-open the once abandoned ski hill Crystal Mountain in West Kelowna B.C.

#1. When did the ski hill first open?

The ski hill first opened in the late 60's as Last Mountain, it operated under that name until the mid 90's when it was sold and renamed Crystal mountain.

#2. When and Why did the ski hill close?

The ski hill closed in 2014 after an unfortunate malfunction of the chairlift that injured several people.

#3. Why did it not re-open?

The ski hill never made a profit, it was approved to be developed into a 4 season resort at the time, so the owners decided to forgo the expense of the improvements needed to recertify the ski hill and opted instead to pursue the development.

#4. How did it become abandoned?

Due to lack of funding, investment delays, miscommunications and mis-steps, it sat unprotected from looters and vandals who quickly moved in and decimated the property, buildings, lifts and equipment, this then enabled nature to do its share of damage.

#5. What is your connection to the mountain Don?

I started up here as a volunteer ski patrol back in the 90's when it was still Last mountain, then I was employed when it became Crystal mountain as a lift attendant, then worked in maintenance, moving on to paid patrol and ski instructor. I was a single dad working as a carpentry apprentice and going to college, construction being slow in the winter it was the perfect job to bring my son to ski as I worked.

#6 How did you end up here now?

I moved away for work and got busy with life but always came back with my kids for a ski and visit over the years until it closed in 2014. I hadn't heard much about the mountain and randomly came up for a drive in the winter of 2017 and was shocked and heart broken to see the extent of the damage, I called my good friend Justus and we sifted through all the garbage and papers strewn about until I finally found some names, I went home that night and spam sent messages asking what was happening and if I could help, I got a call the next day at work from the owners group, we made a caretakers agreement, and me and Justus were up that night boarding up doors and windows.

#7 What did you have to do to get the mountain to where it is now?

Friends, family, volunteers and I removed tons and tons of garbage and metal from the buildings and property, rebuilt and removed damaged structures' I raised some money for windows and doors, but mostly paid out of my own pocket or we found free used materials. Getting power and water restored was quite the accomplishment. The Government had ordered the lifts, buildings demolished and land cleared, but we were able to show that it still had some potential.

#8 Why did you change the name to Bull mountain?

Crystal mountain is still the name of the owners group, I simply lease the area off of them and carry my own credentials and insurance.

#9 What does the name Bull mountain represent?

Look up Tidbits of change on social media, I do an interview for Greg Scott on that.

#10. What's happening on the mountain these days?

We have a great terrain park set up and maintained by my good friend Jessie and volunteers, it gets pretty busy. Also we have ski touring, snowshoeing and hiking all of which we ask for a small donation to help with the costs. There is a lot of people that blatantly ignore that, and honestly I try to ignore them as well. My same friend Justus introduced airsoft to me a couple years ago up here just when I was looking for something to fill the off season and make some money. It has been great, lots of fun and really good friendly people, open Saturdays and Sundays all year round, we rent all the equipment and uniforms.

#11 What's in the near future for the ski hill?

People come up to me everyday and ask when the ski hill will open again. I say when all these people leave. It's hard not to be sarcastic sometimes when we have so much going on up here with the school groups and everything and being as productive to the community as we can possibly be with what we have. That being said unless big investment or donations come rolling in, it will just hover the same as it is.

#13. What does the mountain need to run the lifts again?

I have probably taken over a hundred investors and potential buyers up and around this mountain over the years and crunched all the numbers. The lifts were badly vandalized and are pretty much scrap at this point, the Lodge has a deteriorating foundation and would be better at this point to demolish and rebuild. The amount of people that you could expect to use the mountain would never be able to support the daily operations or pay back any investment with the lifts running, or it would have been done already. (In my informed opinion)

#14. So What can be done?

Well the government or municipalities are not going to step in because they don't like losing money any more than anyone else even though a ski hill so close to West Kelowna was awesome when it was running and great for families and the community. So it has to be through donation to kick it off, the lifts have to get running and the lodge has to be rebuilt and the infrastructure upgraded, or at the very least started. The mountain has to bring in an income all year, not just the winter to be able to sustain itself. Mountain biking doesn't bring in enough money to support itself let alone make a profit. Housing and development? Yes, but that can only begin once the ski hill is operational again.

#15 So what do you propose Don?

This is my plan:

Year 1

#1. Raise enough money to begin the project

#2. Once enough money is raised to proceed with confidence that the project will be completed, the day lodge will be dismantled and stored for reassembly as airsoft QCB or used in other set builds.

#3 Construction of lodge will begin as soon as possible with hired local contractors that have successful bids.

#4 Elevated lift companies and engineers will be hired to assess existing lifts, dismantle and install new, highly efficient lift systems.

#5 All the amenities for the day lodge i.e. rental equipment, cafeteria etc. will be sourced and supplied locally.

#6 The snow cats and grooming equipment will be purchased or leased, the shop and tools will either be in a temporary structure or if budget allows a new one will be completed by opening season. Snow removal equipment is already on site.

#7 Hiring will begin immediately for all positions and a fair will be held 3 months prior to opening.

#8 Existing runs will be cleared of overgrown brush, trails will be newly marked, maps will be remade and literature and pamphlets will be created and distributed.

#9. Donors appreciation concert to be held in September.

Year two will see the completion of construction of phase one of a world class sound stage for film and theatre as well as the continued construction of the BMAP airsoft fields and courses, resembling many video game sets such as Halo, Fallout, COD. The way I plan to keep the skiing sustainable in the winter is to have feature films and TV series shot here on the mountain with its unique landscapes, warm climate and close proximity to all amenities, while having the ability to build life size outdoor and indoor sets for both film and airsoft. With this being completed it will allow us to build other attractions: A mountain coaster, tube park, skating rink, mountain bike park, skate park, zipline, snow cat tours, ATV tours etc. making this a four season playground, a real adventure destination.

Year three will see the completion of a water reservoir, upgraded services as well as the installment of solar and wind generated power stations, this will lead us back to the Crystal mountain master development plan to build highly efficient, environmentally sustainable housing, hotels and recreational facilities in the years to come.

Last question: What do the donors get in return and how do they trust BMAP and CM to make this happen?

Obviously the biggest benefits are to the local economy, the community, families and outdoor enthusiasts.

We have held several smaller concerts here and now I would like to host a major show with world renown artists. I want everyone who donates to tell what singer or group they would like to see in concert with their donation and I will get to work getting the artists with the most votes for a show in Sept 2025. If I can raise enough money this will be a free concert for the donors, and video streamed to those who cannot attend in person. I have worked in film, stage and theatre for the past 20yrs and still do during the week when I'm not here looking after the ski hill, I have been here for the last 8 years rebuilding the ski hill, building my BMAP brand and looking after the people who frequently visit. There is nothing I want more then to see this project to fruition. Please look up Bull mountain adventure park, BMAP, Crystal mountain on castanet, FB, Instagram, Google. I am also doing a Youtube channel "BMAP thoughts and tales"

Thank you so much for your support

Don