1949

As Struan Robertson and Bill Kingsmill inched their way forward in lines of skiers that seemed to go on and on forever, they fantasized about skiing with friends at their own uncrowded ski area. The moment of conception of The Osler Bluff Ski Club had just taken place. That summer they went out and explored the Niagara Escarpment area in the Blue Mountains to “buy a mountain”. They got an option to purchase 50 acres. All they needed to do was find 30 friends and family to part with $100 and a private ski club could be formed. Thirty-seven Charter Members were convinced to join a ski club with no lifts and no hill! The first General Meeting was on September 27, 1949 and the 50 acres purchased in November.

1950

The abandoned Franklin Farmhouse became the first Clubhouse for the Club. A trail was hurriedly cut within the Club’s 50 acres, finishing at the farmhouse. Prospective members were encouraged to climb the hill, ski down and drink hot chocolate in the drafty farmhouse while volunteers showed them brochures of future plans and collected as many signed membership forms and $100 cheques as they could.

1950

The first hill, called the Wagon Trail (now the S Hill) and the tow line were cut by members in the summer and fall of that year in preparation for the 1950-1951 ski season.

1950

The idea of two rope tows to the top was abandoned and Osler’s first lift was to be a Ski Car. The Richard Harding Scrivener Four Car Reciprocating Ski Tow was designed and built by members. Although originally built on truck tires, problems in controlling its desire to wander, forced a switch to sleigh runners and the wagon tow was reborn as a sleigh tow. Thirty-two skiers made their way up the hill at a time. It was Ontario’s newest and finest uphill transportation and the greatest single factor assuring the success of the Club.

1951

The Franklin farmhouse had served its purpose as a place to coerce visitors into joining the fledgling Club. However, a better facility was needed for the cold winter season. With the purchase of more land, the Wagner farmhouse became available and was a much better option for a Clubhouse. This farmhouse was a small sturdy building that lent itself to additions. The building was added onto a number of times. A lounge area in 1953, a dining area in 1956 and a major addition and renovation in 1964.

1958

While the sleigh tow provided a unique and sociable mode of uphill transportation, it was erratic and unpredictable. A new T bar was the solution. Osler’s own crew undertook the installation in the tow that took skiers to the top of the escarpment, replacing both the sleigh tow and the Crashley’s rope tow.  Osler was now the proud owner of Ontario’s first T bar. A second T bar, called the Big Wheels Tow, was added at the Orchard four years later.

1958

Racing has always been an important part of the Club. Many hills were cut over the first 10 years. The cutting of the Valley combined with the Bluff Schuss above it, created a course for the Osler Downhill. The Robbins Trophy and Creeds Cup were run annually. Although it was a shorter course than big mountain courses, it had all the jumps and turns to make it a challenging race course. It provided multiple racers with downhill experience which took them to the National team level.

1959

Osler hosted the Canadian Junior Championships. A four-way competition including a slalom and downhill race, cross country and jumping competition.

1960's

Since the beginning, Osler encouraged members to build cabins on the property. All of the early cabins were built on the hill side. As these locations filled up, the barren flatlands were opened up to members and the property became speckled with small cabins.

1962

Growing families and guests made for overcrowding in the Clubhouse. Two old log houses were purchased and reassembled into one large building at the top of the mountain creating the Upper Chalet.

1965

At the beginner Hill (the Beehive), children were still struggling with the rope tow which often became too heavy for them. It was a replaced with the J bar.

1969

The desire for continued improvements in uphill transportation led to the addition of a triple chair, the first triple chair at a private club in Ontario. The site of the triple chair was aligned above the Snow Bowl (now Katies Way). The main T bar was moved over to the Poplar area, opening up the west side of the property for additional hills. This project was in part funded by adding new members through the Ping Pong draw.

1971

Second generation members and new members of the Club are now eager to build their own cabins. All available sites on the main property were allocated resulting in Osler’s purchase of a neighbouring farm. The Angus property was developed in two phases.

1978

March 7 was a sad day for all members when the Clubhouse burned down. It had served the members well for many years. The new Clubhouse was moved down the hill to a superior location and completed for its grand opening just 9 months later in January of 1979.

1985

The Club purchases the Weston Farm on the east side of the Townline. The Club now owned 688 acres of land.

1994

The Fisher Trials are a series of recreational trails designed for use by cross country skiers, hikers, cyclists, and joggers. It was completed by Club staff and over 70 volunteers. It is located east of the Osler Bluff Road in the flatlands of Oslerview, Angus and Osler Pines.

Present Day

Today our fleet of four groomers work throughout the night creating pristine corduroy on all of our trails prior to each ski day, resulting in optimum snow conditions. With over 20 runs from beginner to expert, Osler Bluff boasts the most skiable terrain per member of any Ontario club. A vertical drop of 755ft (230 metres) provides members with some of the region's longest runs. We have two high-speed detachable quad chairlifts and one fixed-grip quad chair to service our ski trails. Our platter surface lift and a 160-foot magic carpet service our beginner “Beehive” area. The 8-acre terrain park offers a half-pipe and two dozen features including rails, boxes, jumps and hits. For those who wish for a change of pace, we offer over 27km of marked cross country skiing and snowshoeing trails that wind through the Club’s property, an outdoor skating rink and a skate trail.