Creating a sanctuary
Basecamp Resorts is an industry-leading provider of memorable accommodations in Western Canada’s most spectacular mountain destinations. Since forming in 2016, they have grown and evolved to operate 13 hotel and resort properties across Alberta and British Columbia, with multiple exciting properties in the pipeline. Also in the pipeline is a premium brand of Nordic spas, called ‘Wildwood,’ which they hope will “redefine wellness in resort destinations.” The first such spa is currently under construction, and will launch later this year within Basecamp Resorts’ ‘MTN House’ hotel and resort in Canmore. “We’re trying to offer experiences and services that are different and above and beyond from our competitors,” says Sky McLean, the company’s founder and CEO. Sky is an Ontario native but has been in love with Western Canada since moving there after university. She purchased her first property in Canmore about 10 years ago, and started his career in hospitality by renting it out on AirBnB on weekends. After achieving quick success – “I was making a lot more money than I thought I was going to make,” she says – she formed Basecamp Resorts and started construction on her first boutique hotel resort. From there, the company picked up momentum, and they started building and acquiring more properties at a fast pace. “I wish I could say the whole thing was so planned and lined-up, but it wasn’t,” Sky says. “It was kind of random. It was ‘Oh, this piece of land is for sale, lets buy it,’ and now ‘This piece of land is for sale, lets buy that too.’ We went one project at a time and it all ended up working out.” BASECAMP
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Emboldened by their success developing hotel and resort properties, Basecamp Resorts has also recently begun to expand their focus. For example, they have started doing some condominium and townhouses projects, such as their ‘Summit Apartments’ in Revelstoke – which is a 75-unit townhouse development, with the units earmarked for long-term rentals. Moving forward, they are also “getting into the Nordic spa business,” Sky reiterates. Their first Wildwood spa in MTN House has a projected opening date of October 2025. MTN House By Basecamp, located in Canmore, is a property that has evolved a lot in recent years. When Basecamp Resorts purchased it, Sky remembers it being “in pretty bad shape.” “It was a Holiday Inn that was on its last legs,” she recalls. “I wouldn’t have wanted to stay there. So it was a perfect time to get in there and renovate it.” Basecamp Resorts purchased the property for $24 million, and then investing $15 million in renovations. They have since invested another $25 million in order to realize Canmore’s first-ever premium Nordic spa. That spa will offer premium hydrotherapy, dry and wet sauna, and massage services, and will be open to both hotel guests and day visitors. Once complete, Sky anticipates the spa will be the property’s the “main attraction.” As previously mentioned, that spa will be the first of many of its kind. The company’s goal is to create a premium spa brand called Wildwood, and they hope to launch locations in scenic mountain locations all over Western Canada. With each Wildwood location, Sky says their vision BASECAMP
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is to create “a sanctuary of well-being, where everything we do is inspired by nature.” “We’ll integrate native materials, elements, traditions, and wellness rituals from around the globe, crafting authentic experiences and creating harmony between people and the natural world,” she explains. “Our meticulously designed spa experiences will be rooted in the therapeutic essence of the mountains, providing a refuge for guests to unwind, revitalize, and rediscover a sense of balance and community. The spa will be a mountain sanctuary fostering a holistic approach to wellness, and a deeper connection to Mother Nature.” “We’ll invite guests to embark on a transformative journey where they can reflect, reconnect, and renew.” Again, Canmore will not be the only home of the Wildwood experience. In 2026, the company intends to start construction on a brand new spa in Calgary – a project that will ultimately be worth over $80 million, including land, soft costs, and hard costs. Meanwhile, in Fernie, British Columbia, they are developing a hotel and spa worth about $50 million, which they hope to start building in March. “Our projects in the past were smaller,” Sky says. “Now we’re levelling up and getting into bigger projects. It’s an exciting time.” Because their projects were smaller in the past, Basecamp Resorts previously performed most BASECAMP
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of their construction management in-house. In the process, they have developed some strong and lasting relationships with subcontractors and project partners. According to Sky, some of those relationships date back to the company’s very first project. As their projects have expanded in size and scope, however, Basecamp Resorts has started partnering with other construction companies to help manage construction. For example, they are now continue working closely with Kalamoir – a Calgary-based contractor with special expertise in the hospitality sector, well known in the region for delivering projects on budget and on time. “We’re looking for contractors who have similar values to us,” Sky explains. “Values including integrity, respect, and being open and honest.” She believes Kalamoir ticks all those boxes. Moving forward, in collaboration with high calibre builders, Basecamp Resorts expects to continue their growth apace. At the moment, they are evaluating opportunities to expand outside Western Canada, into markets such as Ontario and the United States. “We’re going to keep growing the brand by building more hotels and spas,” Sky says. “We’re going to stay very busy. Our potential for growth is still infinite, so long as we can find the right team members and partners.” BASECAMP
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Basecamp Resorts, their story, their current properties, and their future properties – and to get in touch with their team and book a stay – visit https://www.basecampresorts.com/ For more on MTN House and the upcoming Wildwood Nordic spa, specifically – along with everything else that location has to offer – visit https://www.basecampresorts.com/mtnhousecanmore
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