The Lake Louise Ski Resort occupies Mount Whitehorn and the surrounding terrain within Banff National Park; 151 runs, 4,200 acres, 991 m vertical. Its history spans backcountry skiing, two rival operations, amalgamation, the defeated Village Lake Louise development, and more than four decades under Charlie Locke and family.

Origins: Skoki and Temple. Backcountry skiing began at Skoki Lodge (1930–36) and Temple Lodge (1938) in the Ptarmigan Valley. Sir Norman Watson acquired the Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies in 1947 and operated Temple, Skoki, and the Post Hotel (formerly the Lake Louise Ski Lodge) as an integrated network. The first rope tow (1952) and Larch Poma (1954) served the Larch/Temple side.

Frontside development. A separate company built the Von Roll gondola (1957) from the Trans-Canada Highway to Whitehorn Lodge (1959), opening the front face of Mount Whitehorn. The Olympic Chair (1964) and Eagle Poma (1960) serviced the World Cup downhill courses designed by Willy Schaeffler for failed Olympic bids; courses that became classics on the FIS circuit.

Amalgamation (1971). The Larch/Temple and frontside operations merged into a single Lake Louise ski area, ending the era of competing lift companies. Rodney Touche oversaw expansion in the 1970s, including the opening of the Back Bowls and the Paradise Chair (1982).

Village Lake Louise (1972). Imperial Oil and Lake Louise Lifts Ltd. proposed a $30 million alpine village (6,000–8,000 beds). The federal government rejected it after public hearings; a turning point for Canadian wilderness preservation and the modern environmental movement.

Charlie Locke era. Charlie Locke first skied Lake Louise at age 9 (1955). He bought into the ski area in 1974, became sole owner in 1981, and built Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR); acquiring Fortress, Nakiska, Fernie, Kimberley, and many others. Financial strain led Murray Edwards to take operational control by 2003. Locke exercised an option to buy back Lake Louise in 2008 and resumed day-to-day control; he and his family run the resort today. Charlie’s Choice is named after him.

Recent expansion. Parks Canada approved Site Guidelines (2015) and a Long-Range Plan (2019), enabling Richardson’s Ridge (2025), Pipestone Express (2024), West Bowl development, and wildlife underpasses. The resort used to host the season-opening World Cup speed events (“Winterstart”); Lindsey Vonn won 18 times at the venue. See Lake Louise Run Names for naming traditions and Leg Burner for patrol culture.