Editing Whistler Blackcomb (section)

===Olympic dreams===
In 1960, the Canadian Olympic Association visited the west coast looking for potential sites for a future [[1968 Winter Olympics]]. They initially looked at a site on [[Diamond Head (Canada)|Diamond Head]]<ref>{{cite bcgnis|17301|Diamond Head (mountain)}}</ref> just north of [[Squamish, BC|Squamish]], which was already developed to the extent of a single chairlift. However, they concluded that the area simply couldn't be developed properly, "it just wasn't the right terrain for a world-class resort."<ref name=walk/> Franz Wilhelmsen, a local businessman who had married into the [[Seagram|Seagram family]], had already come to the same conclusions when he had been scouting areas for a new ski resort. He met with the COA and convinced them to look further north in the London Mountain area, "And they were impressed."<ref name=walk/>

Encouraged by their positive reviews, Wilhelmsen organized the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association (GODA) to make a formal bid. At this time there was no road, no electricity, and no piped water or sewer in Alta Lake. Their bid for the Olympics was unsurprisingly rejected, and the Canadian bid was given to [[Calgary]], who came in a close second place to [[Grenoble]]. Undaunted, Wilhelmsen decided to press ahead with development of a resort.<ref name=walk/>

In 1962, the Garibaldi Lifts Limited was formed with Franz Wilhelmsen as president. It had two main objectives, to finance and supervise required land/business studies, and to erect and operate ski lifts on London Mountain. The company had little experience in ski operations, so they hired [[Willy Schaeffler]], a well known developer, to help them. Schaeffler proved as enthusiastic about London Mountain as COA and GODA had been. Schaeffler returned and wrote a good feasibility study about the Alta area, which had no mining claims.<ref name=walk/>

From 1962 to 1965, Garibaldi Lifts raised funds and began development of the ski area on the south side of the mountain. The government agreed that they would set aside a {{convert|56|acre|m2|adj=on}} plot at the base of the mountain for Garibaldi Lifts to buy, and agreed to bring the highway to the base of the mountain if they could raise enough money. By 1965, they had reached their goal of raising $800,000 and started planning for development. However, they were not happy with the name, and on August 27, 1965, London Mountain officially became Whistler Mountain.<ref name=walk/>

By 1965, the Provincial Government had completed a narrow gravel road from Vancouver. Electricity arrived the same year with the installation of a substation along the lines from [[Bridge Bridge, British Columbia|Bridge River]]. Everything was in place, and the Alta area became a hive of development.<ref name=walk/> GODA made a bid for the [[1972 Winter Olympics]], but Banff won again and eventually lost to Japan.<ref name=walk/>