Our Story
Where Nature Meets Elegance in the Heart of the Rockies
1987 - The Beginning
Started as a small family-run lodge with just six rooms. My grandparents, Margaret and Thomas Vale, had this wild dream of creating a place where folks could escape the city noise and reconnect with the mountains. They weren't hospitality experts - Tom was a logger, Margaret taught school - but they knew these mountains better than anyone.
2003 - Growing Roots
Word spread slowly but surely. We expanded to 24 suites, added the restaurant that's now famous for its elk medallions, and honestly just kept listening to what our guests wanted. The spa came about 'cause everyone kept asking where they could get a decent massage after hiking all day.
2015 - Full Circle
Major renovation brought us into the modern era without losing that rustic soul. We partnered with local artists for the interior design, started our farm-to-table program with nearby ranches, and finally got the conference center built. Corporate retreats weren't something we'd planned for, but turns out executives love unplugging here too.
Today - Still Evolving
We're now at 47 rooms and suites, but we've capped it there. Bigger isn't always better, y'know? We'd rather know our guests by name than run some mega-resort. The wildlife tours have become legendary, our chef Emma just won a regional award, and we're working on making the whole operation carbon-neutral by 2027.
Meet the Team
The folks who make Krythorn Vale feel like home. We've got guides who've summited every peak within fifty miles, chefs who forage their own mushrooms, and front desk staff who genuinely remember your coffee order from last year.
Sarah Kovac
General Manager
Marcus Chen
Executive Chef
Jamie Thornhill
Adventure Coordinator
Dr. Anita Prasad
Spa & Wellness Director
Robert MacLeod
Guest Services Manager
Lisa Yamamoto
Events Director
What Drives Us
Look, we're not gonna pretend we invented mountain hospitality. What we do differently is pretty simple - we actually care about this place. Every staff member here chose to live in Whistler 'cause they love the outdoors. Our housekeepers hike on their days off. Our bartender teaches avalanche safety courses in winter.
We source from local farms and ranches 'cause it tastes better and 'cause we know these people. The linens are Canadian-made, the art on the walls comes from BC artists, and yeah, it costs more, but it matters. We're working with conservation groups to protect the wildlife corridors around the property. Had a family of black bears pass through last month - kept a respectful distance, got some amazing photos.
Come visit and you'll see what I mean. This isn't some corporate hotel where everything's standardized. It's a real place, run by real people who genuinely love what they do. And honestly? That makes all the difference.