Why I love SilverStar
I'm Sean Phillips, Chalet Sean, and SilverStar is my mountain. It's a real village, not just a ski hill: the main street sits mid-mountain at 1,609 metres, so from most of the village you ski out your door in the morning and ski back home at the end of the day.
- The skiing: 3,304 acres, 133 runs and 10 lifts, with 760 metres of vertical and about 700 cm of snow a year.
- Nordic: 55 km of cross-country trails at SilverStar, and 105 km together with Sovereign Lake next door, which the resort calls the largest daily-groomed network in Canada.
- Summer: more than 69 km of downhill bike trails, over 70 km of cross-country singletrack, 16 km of hiking trails and gondola rides to the summit.
- Everyday life: the Lord Aberdeen Market has groceries and liquor in the village, and about 336 people lived here year-round in the 2021 census, up from 98 in 2016.
- What's new: Pacific Group Resorts bought SilverStar in November 2025, the 2025/26 season added the Dandy Glades on the backside, and starting with the 2026/27 season SilverStar is on the Ikon Pass.
What to know before you buy
- Short-term rentals: SilverStar's resort accommodation area is exempt from BC's principal residence requirement, so nightly rentals are usually allowed. You'll still register with the provincial registry, owners who rent pay the Destination Silver Star resort association fee (see the FAQ below), and every strata has its own rules.
- No speculation and vacancy tax: SilverStar is in Electoral Area C of the Regional District of North Okanagan, which isn't a taxable area. Property taxes are billed by the province's Surveyor of Taxes.
- Foreign buyer ban: SilverStar is inside the Vernon census area, so the federal ban on non-Canadian buyers applies, currently until January 1, 2027.
- Water and sewer: water comes from the Regional District's Silver Star Water Utility, and sewer from a private utility, Silverhawk Utilities Inc. I'll confirm the fees for any home.
- Schools: there's no school on the mountain. Families are in School District 22 (Vernon).
For 2026/27, the resort's tentative opening dates are November 20, 2026 for Nordic and November 27, 2026 for alpine skiing, depending on snow; check skisilverstar.com for updates. Want the full picture of each neighbourhood? My detailed SilverStar guides are on chaletsean.ca.
SilverStar questions, answered
Last verified October 10, 2026 by Okanagan Lifestyle Real Estate Agent Sean Phillips
Can you live at SilverStar year round?
Yes. SilverStar is a four-season resort with full-time residents and year-round utilities: water from the Regional District of North Okanagan's Silver Star Water Utility, and sewer from the private Silverhawk Utilities Inc. (the RDNO has approval to buy the sewer system, but no deal or timeline had been set as of June 2026). Full-time life on the mountain is a little different: winter lasts longer and summer is shorter, but summer temperatures run about 10°C cooler than in Vernon, with great hiking, biking and walking right out the door. There's a small grocery store in the village, and grocery delivery from town is easy. If you have school-age kids or need to be in town every day, the foothills may suit you better, putting you close to both Vernon and the mountain.
Is there a school bus from SilverStar to Vernon schools?
No. School District 22 buses don't run up the mountain. Families living at SilverStar usually drive their kids down to the nearest bus stop in the foothills below the resort.
Who provides water and sewer at SilverStar, and how are property taxes set?
SilverStar is in the Regional District of North Okanagan, Electoral Area C, so property taxes are set at rural rates rather than by the City of Vernon. Water is billed by the RDNO's Silver Star Water Utility, and sewer by Silverhawk Utilities Inc.
Are SilverStar and Big White affiliated?
No, not since 2019. The Schumann family, who own Big White, owned SilverStar from 2001 until they sold it to POWDR in 2019, and the two resorts now operate completely separately. In November 2025, POWDR sold SilverStar to Pacific Group Resorts, a Utah company that also owns Mount Washington and Jay Peak. Starting with the 2026/27 season, SilverStar is on the Ikon Pass.
How far is SilverStar from Vernon and Kelowna airport?
SilverStar Village is about 22 km from downtown Vernon, roughly a 30-minute drive up Silver Star Road, and about an hour or a little more from Kelowna International Airport (YLW).
What does a SilverStar condo or chalet cost compared with Big White?
Prices at the two resorts are fairly similar; the bigger difference is the vibe. Both have homes across most price ranges, though entry-level options are limited at each. In general, Big White has more high-end homes, and more homes overall.
Can I rent my SilverStar condo or chalet as a short-term (nightly) rental?
Usually, yes. Land within SilverStar's mountain resort boundaries is exempt from BC's short-term rental principal-residence requirement, according to the Province's mountain resort guidance (updated March 26, 2025). Before you buy, check three things: that the property is inside the Province's mapped resort area, that RDNO zoning allows it, and that the strata bylaws allow nightly rentals.
What is the SilverStar resort association fee and who has to pay it?
If you rent out your SilverStar property, you pay an annual fee to Destination Silver Star, the resort association. All owners in the designated Silver Star Resort Promotion Area are automatically members, and fees apply if a unit is offered for rent to anyone at any time of year. If your property is never offered as a rental, no fee is payable, but you must file a Declaration of Use by February 28. Residential owners are billed once a year on April 1 for the year ahead, commercial owners twice a year (April 1 and October 1), and payment is due within 30 days. The fees fund marketing, sales and events that bring visitors to SilverStar.
Residential rates (effective April 1, 2025):
- Never offered as a rental: no fee
- 1 sleeping room: $410 a year
- 2 sleeping rooms: $666.25 a year
- 3 or more sleeping rooms: $820 a year
- Residential lodging and home-based business: $1,025 a year
Commercial rates run from $2,050 a year (under 800 sq. ft.) to $7,175 a year (over 2,500 sq. ft.). For the full list, see Destination Silver Star.
Who owns SilverStar Mountain Resort?
Pacific Group Resorts, a Utah-based company that also owns Mount Washington on Vancouver Island and Jay Peak in Vermont, bought SilverStar from POWDR; the sale was announced in November 2025. POWDR owned the resort from 2019, and the Schumann family (Big White) from 2001 to 2019.
When does SilverStar open for the ski season?
SilverStar usually opens for skiing in mid to late November, depending on snow. Check skisilverstar.com for this season's dates; they'll be posted here once they're announced.
Does the speculation and vacancy tax apply at SilverStar?
No. SilverStar is in Electoral Area C of the Regional District of North Okanagan, which isn't one of BC's speculation and vacancy tax areas. The City of Vernon is.
Can non-Canadians buy at SilverStar?
Not right now, in most cases. SilverStar is inside the Vernon census area, so the federal ban on non-Canadians buying residential property applies here. The ban currently runs until January 1, 2027.
Selling at SilverStar?
If you're thinking about selling, I can tell you what your home is worth in today's market and what buyers here are looking for. Here are the questions sellers ask me most.
What is my home at SilverStar worth?
I'll prepare a comparative market analysis using recent sales of similar homes nearby, adjusted for size, condition, updates and views. It's free and there's no obligation. Request a free home valuation or call or text Sarah, my AI assistant, at 604-227-4810.
How long does it take to sell at SilverStar?
That depends on price, condition and the season. When we meet, I'll show you how long similar homes have been taking to sell right now, and how pricing affects it.
When is the best time to list a SilverStar home?
Buyers shop the mountain most while they're up here skiing, so having your home listed and photographed with snow on the ground often helps. I'll walk you through timing for your property type.
Should I sell before I buy my next home?
It depends on the market and your finances. Selling first gives you certainty; buying first lets you take your time. I'll help you plan the timing, including subject-to-sale offers and bridge financing options.
What does it cost to sell a home in BC?
Commission in BC is always negotiable. My standard fee is 6% on the first $100,000 of the sale price and 3% on the balance, plus GST, shared equally with the brokerage that brings the buyer. On an $800,000 sale, for example, that's $6,000 + $21,000 = $27,000 plus GST. That covers a lot of work behind the scenes, from me and from the technology I put in place, all aimed at getting you the best price and the easiest possible sale. Your other costs are legal or notary fees and any mortgage discharge costs or penalties. In BC the buyer, not the seller, pays property transfer tax. I'll give you a net-proceeds estimate before you list.
Thinking of buying or selling at SilverStar?
I'm Sean Phillips, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Executives Realty in Vernon, and SilverStar is my specialty. Call or text Sarah, my AI assistant, at 604-227-4810 any time to set up a showing, a same-day price check or a free home valuation. When you're ready to write an offer or list your home, call me directly at 778-363-0542.
SilverStar neighbourhoods
- The Village
- The Knoll
- The Ridge: ski-in, ski-out on the North Ridge, short-term rentals allowed
- Alpine Meadows: custom home lots in the Attridge area, suites allowed
- The Cabin Colony
