The Mont Tremblant Region

The Mont Tremblant region has a rich history going back to the late eighteen hundreds when Father Antoine Labelle opened many counties and parishes from Ste. Agathe to Mont-Laurier. St. Jovite and St. Faustin where opened in 1879 and shortly after more than five thousand French speaking people settled in the surrounding river valleys which now represents the current day Mont Tremblant region.

Without the existence of proper roads into the Tremblant region Le P’tit trains du Nord, played a significant role, Le P’tit trains du Nord a rail line from Montreal was the only way to bring goods and supplies into the Tremblant area. This life line would ensure the survival of these newly settled communities and eventually set the stage for what is now the world class ski resort of Mont Tremblant.

Locals were passionately convinced that the train would forge the way for the development of tourism at Tremblant and in December 1892, the settlers of St. Jovite heard the first whistling of the P'tit train du Nord. At the turn of the 20th century, the Mont Tremblant region became a summer playground and increased in popularity. Guesthouses, inns and hotels sprouted up all around the Tremblant region and flourished due to its beauty and splendor.

The surrounding forest of Tremblant, the pure mountain air and the striking beauty of the scenery drew wealthy Montrealers to Tremblant as well as Americans and Europeans. In 1936, Joe Ryan, a young eccentric American millionaire was so taken by the scenery at the summit of Mont Tremblant that he decided to build "the biggest ski center in the East".

Three years later, Joe Ryan's dream became a reality and the Mont Tremblant Lodge was inaugurated and the ski resort proved to be an immediate success. With the onset of the 1950's a booming postwar economy, the automobile and a higher standard of living that allowed for more leisure activity, Tremblant became the playground for middle-class Montrealers and suburbanites.

Tremblant Resort

1991 brought winds of change at Tremblant! Intrawest, the biggest Canadian promoter of alpine resorts announced a significant investment that dramatically thrust the Mont Tremblant resort into the 21st century. The intuition and vision of Father Labelle and Joe Ryan paid off. Today, Mont Tremblant is without a doubt a first-class international vacation destination year-round!