What do you call a picturesque valley in sunny Southern Ontario that gave rise to a successful, family-focused, traveling ski club, a posh four‑season destination resort, a world-class boutique winery and a Leading Woman Entrepreneur of the World Award winner? Amazing? Inspiring? Incredible? Well, those who ski and snowboard here call it Hockley Valley Resort.
Hockley Valley Resort, Ontario
A Small, Local Hill That Keeps Breeding Success
Ski Hill:
Hockley Valley Resort
Location:
Mono, Ontario
Vertical:
114 m (374 ft.)
Snowfall:
2.5 m (98 in.)
Map:
Find us here
A Ski Club In Search Of A Hill
Hockley Valley Resort can trace its origins back to 1935, when some skiing enthusiasts founded the Cedar Springs Ski Club in Burlington, Ontario. Over the next 35 years, the club would own or operate an 85‑foot ski jump, several challenging slopes near Burlington and a more popular, family‑friendly hill in the Hockley Valley. The ski club also ran charter buses between Hamilton and its various facilities. Eventually, Cedar Springs became Ontario’s second-largest ski club with more than 2,000 members. And, so begins their story.
Photo courtesy Bill Watson
Skiing in the Hockley Valley took off big-time, in the years following the arrival of the Cedar Springs Ski Club in 1948.
Photo courtesy Bill Watson
A New Ski Hill Is Born
Following the war, in 1948, the Cedar Springs Ski Club acquired some land in the picturesque Hockley Valley in Mono. Club members then cut an access road, built a warming hut, cleared a few ski trails and installed a rope tow. The new hill soon began outdrawing the club’s older, more established siblings. This influx of eager skiers would inspire builders like Doug Frid, Frank Stripinis, Harold Carefoot and Lloyd Edwards to start their own ski areas. Over the next two decades, the Hockley Valley was a skiing mecca with seven competing ski hills. One, heroically named Schuss Valley, had even hired Austrian Olympic Gold Medallist Hans Hinterseer their chief ski instructor and manager. But by the early 1970s, it became clear that most Cedar Springs Club members would rather ski than drive.
A Change In Direction
Facing dwindling numbers (and revenues), the club sold all of its facilities and focused instead on organizing family ski trips. That move is still paying dividends. Today, the 90‑year‑old Cedar Springs Ski Club is the go-to, family‑oriented, travelling ski club for many skiers and snowboarders throughout the Golden Horseshoe. In addition to organizing day trips across Southern Ontario and Western New York State, Cedar Springs offers its members extended ski holidays to Western Canada, the U.S. and Europe. The ski club’s departure also foreshadowed what lay in store for most ski areas in the Hockley Valley.
Once Ontario’s second-largest ski club, Cedar Springs now organizes family-friendly trips across Southern Ontario, Western New York State, Western Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
By the time Mario and Nancy Adamo arrived here in 1985, skiing in the Hockley Valley had lost much of its lustre.
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The late 1960s through the early 1980s were a difficult time for ski hills in the area. The Montclair, Twin Heaths and Valley Schuss clubs all closed down, while others struggled with declining memberships and increasingly unpredictable snow. By 1985, only two of Hockley Valley’s once booming ski areas were still in business. That year, a uniquely gifted and industrious couple from Toronto entered the picture when they bought a run-down Hockley Valley ski hill and its adjacent and bankrupt hotel.
Meet the Adamos
Mario Adamo was a young Italian immigrant who first arrived in Canada with little more than a dream of becoming an artist. Instead, he built two booming hair salons in Toronto and married his sweetheart. As it turned out, his wife, Nancy, was just as talented, determined and successful as Mario. Together, they built a very popular and profitable catering business in the Queen City. Although neither one knew much about the ski business, they recognized the rundown Hockley Valley property for what it was: a golden opportunity.
From left to right: Julie Adamo Cass, Nancy, Mario and John Paul Adamo.
Photo credit: Pete Paterson
A Posh Resort Rises Up From The Ruins
That the Adamos saw any potential in a bankrupt, dilapidated hotel and a ramshackle ski hill is a testament to their imagination, determination, savoir‑faire and resolve. In 1985, Mario and Nancy began transforming their rickety 28‑room inn into a posh 104‑room hotel with a sumptuous spa and a spacious conference centre. They also cleaned up the hill, replaced its aging lifts with a Blue Mountain Quad, and modernised the snowmaking equipment. Harper Valley skiers and snowboarders were delighted.
Going From A Winter To A Four-Season Resort
The Adamos also recognized that skiing—no matter how fun, convenient or up to date—could no longer sustain their dream resort. With that in mind they hired Thomas McBroom, a famous Canadian golf course architect, to design their must-play, 18‑hole, championship links. Golf at Hockley Valley Resort soon became the talk of the town, i.e. Toronto. In her own inimitable way, so did Nancy Adamo. Much admired and highly respected, the former schoolteacher was repeatedly honoured for her exceptional entrepreneurial acumen and business skills. Among her many accolades, in 2005, the Ontario Accommodation Association presented Nancy with its coveted Butler Award. But for Mario and Nancy Adamo there was still much work to done.
Mario and Nancy Adamo were quick to realize that to succeed, their ski resort needed to offer more than just skiing.
Two generations of Adamos (shown here) helped make the Adamo Estate Winery a major success.
Photo credit: Pete Paterson
Turning Sun, Soil & Seedlings Into Wine
In 2000, the Adamos had bought some land bordering their golf course because it reminded Mario of the hilly vineyards in his native Calabria. True to form, he then immersed himself in mastering the art, science and practice of growing grapes, tending soil and making wine. Mario thus transformed their sunny Southern Ontario slopes into a prize 25‑acre vineyard. In 2015, the seemingly tireless couple opened the gates to their Adamo Estate Winery. In addition to boutique wines, they served fine food in their two farm‑to‑table restaurants headed by their son, chef John Paul Adamo. Both the resort and the estate began popping up on almost every serious foodie’s bucket list.
Passing The Torch To Yet Another Gifted Family
In 2019, the Adamos felt they had taken their dream as far as they could. It was time for them to sell. Enter the Sunray Group. Founded by Ratta ‘Ray’ Gupta in 2006, the Toronto-based, family‑owned corporation specializes in hospitality, tourism and real estate development. Currently, the Guptas own over seventy properties in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, Newfoundland and Texas. While the Sunray Group continues to improve the guest experience at Hockley Valley, there’s one thing that’s never changed. Skiing here is as fun as ever.
The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same
Unlike many Southern Ontario ski areas, Hockley Valley Resort never became a private, members‑only hill. It is also the only ski area in the Hockley Valley that’s still running today. While the resort is renowned for its luxury and good taste, the ski hill remains affordable and family-friendly. Though some of the folks who ski here are seasoned skiers or snowboarders, others are new to the sport or new to the country. They either come alone, with their family, friends or school. But they all come here to learn, have fun, meet new people and enjoy the outdoors in winter. Which, when you think about it, is what the Hockley Valley skiing community has always been about.
The Ultimate Winter Escape at Hockley Valley Resort
Writer: Dave Fonda
Web designer & integrator: Dominique Paquette
Photographs and videos courtesy of Hockley Valley Resort and used with their permission.
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