Upgrading Skyride a top priority, says Grouse Mountain's new Vancouver-based owners

The ownership of Grouse Mountain Resorts, a popular ski hill and tourist destination, has changed hands again, just two years after it was purchased by a private equity investment group out of China.

Accordingto a statement issued Thursday, the new owner isNorthland Properties Corporation, which is privately-ownedby the Gaglardifamily and has headquarters in Vancouver, but owns several other resorts and businesses across B.C., including Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing.

"[It's]a company and family with strong local roots. So we're looking forward to working with them. And across their businesses they definitely have the focus on delivering exceptional experiences," said Grouse Mountain communications manager Julia Grant.

In July2017, the mountain was sold by Vancouver's McLaughlin family, which had controlled the resort for more than 40 years, toShanghai-based China Minsheng Investment Groupfor an undisclosed amount.

That group, which became theCMAsset Management Co.Ltd., inked a deal with Northland PropertiesThursdayfor an undisclosed amount.

Top priority

In the short term, the new owner says itplans to upgrade aging infrastructure.

"It's actually one of our priorities. Especially the blue tram,specifically going up to the baseof the mountain.

"Investments into existing infrastructure areone of our short term priorities. In terms of long term, that's something we're going tobe looking at with the Grouse Mountain team," said Manoj Jasra, chief marketing and digital officer for Northland Properties Group.

Earlier this year, the resort began exploring the replacement of the blue Skyride aerial tram, which first opened in1966.

The purchase deal is expected to becompleteby the end of January.