FIRST TRACKS LODGE-Whistler Mtn.

First Tracks Lodge, 2202 Gondola Way, Whistler, B.C.

First Tracks Lodge (FTL), 2201 Gondola Way, Whistler, BC is slope-side on Whistler Mountain at Creekside. These condos are ideal for the buyer who wants a luxury condominium steps away from the ski lift.  In this case, the lift is the eight-passenger Creekside Gondola, which will be ready for the start of the 2022/23 season. Coming out of FTL and walking to a gondola is a great way to get started on your day when the weather conditions are harsh.

Owners in First Tracks Lodge are entitled to join Resort to Resort which allows an owner to exchange a week at another participating resort in Canada, Europe, the USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, and cruises.

Active Listings

With 84 strata lots (condos) at First Tracks Lodge, there are few listings each year. However, there are several floorplans with varying layouts depending on the location within the building.

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View the Active Ski-in/Ski-out Listings posted by all Whistler brokerages. You will also see everything else posted for Whistler ski-in/ski-out real estate on that page. If there is no link, best to check out the property on WhistlerListings.com

Market Update

When starting your initial search for Whistler real estate, it is important to understand the current market conditions. I understand that you may not be ready to contact me. In the meantime, I encourage you to study the sales and listing statistics on the Market Update page on this site. The statistics are compiled by the Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR) In addition, the monthly Whistler Real Estate Market Update video is a great way to stay informed.

Location

Just look at the photo gallery below to see the distance from the back of First Tracks Lodge to the gondola. That distance is the main selling feature of FTL. What you don’t see is that First Tracks Lodge is also central to the stores and services of Creekside. From Fresh Tracks Lodge it is an easy walk to the ski and snowboarding (snow) school, guest services, and a ski/board rental and sales equipment store.

Dusty’s is the après bar of choice in this area, which is across the plaza from First Tracks Lodge. There will be some noise at night when the bar empties. In addition, the snow guns, located near the base are operational from the moment it is cold enough to make snow.

For those familiar with Whistler, being further away from Whistler Village is seen as a good decision. However, for those who want to be in the center of the action, nothing will persuade those buyers to consider Creekside.

Location on Whistler Mountain: video

The best way to view the location of First Tracks Lodge is from the Creekside Gondola. This gives you a good sense of the size of the building and its proximity to the Gondola.

Drive to Whistler Village: video

This video will take you on the 5-minute drive from First Tracks Lodge to Whistler Village.

Google Map

The Google Map is beneficial to show you the location of First Tracks Lodge in Creekside and how close it is to all the stores and restaurants in the area. Notice the bus stop where you can commute to and from Whistler Village.

Civic Address Map

The civic map below was provided by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).

The purpose of this map is to show you at a glance what is around First Tracks Lodge. The pink border highlights the area of Creekside. First Tracks Lodge is highlighted in red.

Bus Service

When you have had enough quiet time in Whistler Creekside and need the energy of Whistler Village for a while, it is easy to take the bus. The stop is basically outside the front door. Click this link for the bus service site and look for routes 1 and 2, the Whistler Valley connector will take you from Whistler Creekside to Whistler Village.

Location in Creekside: video

This video shows the drive north on Highway 99 and turning right onto Lake Placid Road. Continuing on to First Tracks Lodge.

Creekside Map

Although this is an old map, it is all we have to show the set-up at Creekside. The main players are still in position so the map is still valid.

Photo Gallery

The sun hits the back of FTL from mid-morning to 2 pm. Then it travels around to the front, west-facing side of the building where the pool is located. Skiing the Lower Dave Murray showcases the commanding setting of the building.

Ski-in Ski-out Trail

The gondola access is the main reason why First Tracks Lodge on Whistler Mountain is popular for buyers and renters. The eight-passenger gondola takes you up to the six-passenger Red Chair on Whistler Mountain. From the top of the gondola, you can schuss down into Whistler Village or go further up Whistler Mountain via the Red Chair or the Village Gondola.

The door at the back of First Tracks Lodge is the exit from the owner’s ski locker room. The whole building was designed around easy access to the lift, and it shows.

Trail Map

Ski-in Ski-out Access Video

The access to the short path that leads to the Creekside Gondola is through the owners’ ski locker room. Reverse this route to get back to the Lodge.

Google Map Ski Trail

The ski access to and from the Creekside Gondola could not be any easier. The ski and board lockers for owners and a separate locker room for rental guests are at the back steps from the Gondola.

Sales in First Tracks Lodge

Scroll horizontally to view and sort the data: To sort by year sold, click on that heading for a chronological setting. To view the sold price, swipe to the left.

First Tracks Lodge Sales 2000 to Present

The sales of condo apartments in First Tracks Lodge, 2202 Gondola Way, Whistler. Data was imported from the Whistler Listing System. Days on Market (DOM) has been recorded since 2010.

Comparable Sales

To view the comparable Sales of Ski-in/Ski-out Condos (Sales: Condos) page on this site. Comparable properties are deemed to be those condos that buyers would consider when deciding to purchase. Otherwise known as a competitive set.

Revenue

The revenue generated in First Tracks Lodge is pooled and after a variety of expenses, distributed to the owners based on their unit’s Interest Upon Destruction (IUD) rating. Click the following link for FAQ’s on Lodging Ovations.

Lodging Ovations provides an excellent service to owners who want to rent out their property and totally take care of all aspects of managing the unit. You must use Lodging Ovations as your rental management company if you rent out your First Tracks Lodge suite, you cannot do it yourself. Lodging Ovations spends a lot of marketing money to ensure a seamless rental service, so the message to the public must be clear.

Rates

View First Tracks Lodge’s Nightly Rental Rates and see what a luxury condominium hotel generates in Whistler Creek. 

Rental Pool

If you decide to have your property in the rental pool, the revenues from every condo are combined, and then divided up based on a pre-determined formula for sharing the profits. When you are not occupying your condo, it must be in the rental pool. However, you can pull your condo out of the rental pool completely.

• There is an obligatory rental management company for this property. It is called Lodging Ovations.
• If you want to market your own condo and self-manage your rentals, First Tracks Lodge is not for you.
• All revenue is pooled.
• When you are not using your condo, and you are in the rental pool, your condo must be available for rental.
• The owner or invitee (not a paying guest) may use the condo at any time provided the owner reserves the condo at least 90 days in advance of the summer or winter season or subject to availability. If you want to stay in your condo and you have not given enough notice, you may not be able to do so without a fee being charged to you. 
• Should you decide that you do not want to be in the rental pool, you can renovate your condo to your own taste. However, once your condo returns to the rental pool it must conform to the existing rental standards.

Strata

Built in 2002 First Tracks Lodge is a 6-story concrete building that was constructed above a 2-level underground, concrete parking structure. The condo floor plans (below) are as follows:

• 1 bedroom
• 1 bedroom & den
• 2 bedrooms
• 2 bedrooms & den
• 3 bedrooms
• 4 bedrooms

Site Plans

These site plans were taken from the developer’s presentation. It is always prudent to check the unit number against the strata plan.

Directory of Building

Building site with floor plan type You will need this pdf to see the location of each floor plan in the building as seen below.

Floor Plans

FTL has 1-4 bedroom suites, 84 units, and is zoned for nightly rental. There are 2 units designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

One bedroom floor plans

One bedroom and den floor plans

Two bedroom floor plans

Two bedroom and den floor plans

Three bedroom floor plans

Four bedroom floor plans with corresponding site plan

Strata Plan

Click the following link for the Registered Strata Plan BC104. This document is where the listing agent will verify the size of the unit for sale.

Amenities

• outdoor swimming pool
• outdoor hot tubs
• fitness room
• ski/board owner locker
• ski/board guest locker
• front desk
• rental management company
• lobby
• social areas
• EV charging stations
• bike storage

Front Desk/Rental Management Company

The front desk for First Tracks Lodge is located over at Legends, which is a neighboring Lodging Ovations managed property. The front desk will help you with everything you need as an owner, and the staff provides good service to the guests. First Tracks Lodge has an on-site Manager, Owner Guest Experience to assist you and your guests with any requests.

Lodging Ovations is a professionally run company and they provide an excellent service. For those investors who want a hands-off investment consider buying a condo in First Tracks Lodge.

Fees

These fees are also outlined in the strata documents. The following fees are included, but are not limited to your monthly strata fee:

• Gas for the fireplace, plus cable and internet. (Note: Electricity is metered for each unit so it is an additional cost to the owner)
• Propane and electricity charges for the common property recreational areas and the lobby
• Pool and spa repairs, seasonal decorations, security, elevator, fire safety, window cleaning landscaping, and snow removal.
• Insurance: The strata insures the building, common property, and limited common property, to which your strata fee contributes. Each purchaser will be responsible for buying insurance to cover the fixtures, furniture, equipment, and other personal property installed or placed in their condo, and for obtaining third-party liability insurance for their condo.
• Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E): Keep in mind that you are paying a portion of your strata fees to this FF&E fund. This fund is in place to ensure that the condo looks good to renters. If you use your condo and damage any of the FF&E, you may be asked to finance the replacement of said items before the condo goes back into the rental pool.
• When you look at the monthly strata fee, it is almost double what you would see in a lot of other ski-in ski-out properties. There is a valid reason for this: First Tracks Lodge has been proactive, since it was constructed, in building up a large contingency fund and a capital fund for future projects. To date, the strata have never had to impose any special levies for additional work or emergency repairs. I think this speaks volumes about how well-run the strata has been.

Pets

Owner’s dogs are allowed: no more than two dogs or three cats, or one dog and one cat. If you are in the rental pool there is a cleaning fee after your dog leaves and the next guest arrives. If you are not in the rental pool, you can do what you wish.

Parking

The parking is identified in the Registered Strata Plan. Owners of one bedroom, and one bedroom & den are entitled to one parking spot. Owners of two, three, and four-bedroom condos are entitled to two parking spaces. Please note, owners who have their condo in the rental program, cannot use their parking spot unless they are staying in their unit. Each parking spot associated with a condo in the rental pool must be available for the guest. 

From the developer’s plans below you will note that the parking looks assigned. It is always wise to check the parking stall against the strata plan and Form B.

Storage: skis, boards, and bikes

Extra-large owner storage lockers are 3ft wide x 5ft deep x 8 ft high. These lockers are separate from the guest ski lockers. There is even a separate exit for owners from the ski locker room to the base of Whistler Mountain. The Lodge boasts an impressive lobby that offers a concierge service, a year-round outdoor pool, and two year-round hot tubs. In addition, there is a fully equipped exercise gym, an owner ski or board locker, bike storage, and underground parking. There is a large BBQ area on the pool and hot tub deck area.

In-suite locker: Each condo has an in-suite storage locker which the owner will be entitled to use year-round. Access to the in-suite locker will be permitted only when the owner is actually occupying the condo.

Owner locker: There is a secure room on the main floor with direct access to the mountain. This room contains one storage locker for each residential lot (condo). These lockers are for the use of the owners only. Each of these lockers is approximately 3 x 5 x 8 feet and were intended to accommodate bikes, skis and boards, and golf club storage. The Bylaws of the Strata Corporation provide that each condo owner will be entitled to use this locker whether or not they are staying in their condo.

Guest Ski and Board Storage: There is a separate, secure room on the main floor that contains 84 lockers. This is for the use of guests while they are renting the condo.

Bike Storage: For guests, there is storage on the main floor for approximately 30 bikes. On P2 there is storage for another 30 bikes. This is important as Whistler Mountain at Creekside has the capacity to upload bikes on the gondola. In addition, the trails have been expanded on Whistler Mountain to encourage uploading from Creekside.

Zoning

First Tracks Lodge is zoned for Tourist Accommodation meaning that if you wish you can rent out your property on a nightly basis. Restrictions apply and are outlined on this page.

Questions

FAQ

Next Steps

Buying real estate in Whistler, whether ski-in/ski-out or not, is a smooth process when working with an experienced Whistler real estate agent who follows the rules. Everything in real estate, except the negotiation, is a process including writing the contract. However, if you don’t follow the process then you may hear from the other parties after the completion date, and nobody wants to experience that. Choose experienced realtor, and skilled negotiator, Marion Anderson to work with you directly from start to finish. No assistants are involved.

Representation

Explaining Representation to a Buyer or Seller at the first introduction is a mandatory requirement. Since there is no dual agency in BC the Disclosure of Representation in Trading Services Form (DORTS) is essential for the Buyer or Seller to understand what their designated agent’s obligation is to them. DORTS binds the agent to the client but does not bind the client to the agent. In addition, Home Buyer Recission Period (HBRP) would be discussed at that time.

If you think I would be a good fit to work with you and your family, and you are not already working with a Whistler realtor, please contact me. My name is Marion Anderson, and I help people buy real estate in Whistler.

Marion