Building The Stonebridge Legacy

Spanning 534 acres, Stonebridge is a coveted estate-acreage community and one of Whistler’s most thoughtfully developed neighbourhoods. Designed with the intention of maximizing mountain views and sun exposure, ensuring utmost privacy between the expansive lots, and reducing environmental impact, the visionary elements behind the Stonebridge development are second-nature to John Ryan and his team. “Having sold 90% of the Stonebridge properties in the last ten years, nobody knows Stonebridge better,” explains Ryan. 

This familiarity with Stonebridge includes the recent record-breaking combined sale of a Stonebridge home and adjoining lot, which Ryan sold for over $40,000,000. The sale is a clear indication to prospective buyers that North America’s top mountain resort offers international-calibre real estate opportunities. “There are so many high-end homes in Whistler, some in excess of $30 to $50 million, that have never hit the market,” describes Ryan. “With anything that is precedent-setting, there is an injection of confidence that we have the right product in this market, and that we have the buyers willing to step up.”

Perched slopeside on Mount Sproatt with expansive views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the natural environment is what truly sets Stonebridge apart. “The most spectacular homes and the highest priced sales are always grounded by incredible parcels of land. Stonebridge gives you that,” adds Ryan. “Stonebridge offers the largest acreage in the Whistler valley, incredible privacy, and connectivity right out your back door to mother nature. You can get pretty creative when you have that kind of size to build within. It is special for sure, and it all starts with the dirt.”

For many Stonebridge properties, the building envelope alone is larger than the majority of individual lots throughout Whistler. Stonebridge parcels range from 1.25 to 42 acres of total land, many of which have over an acre allocated to the building envelope. Increasingly in demand, many of these spacious acreages allow for helicopter access and the option to build a private helipad. With heli-skiing at your back door, and a major international airport only 30 minutes away by air, the convenience and privacy of heli-access homes is a key differentiating factor for Whistler’s Stonebridge community. 

“The developers took their time to make sure they created a really incredible community,” describes Ryan. It is this strong community-building that sets Whistler apart from any other mountain resort in the world, and buyers recognize that. “They are buying a lifestyle. They are buying what we live every day. Young people want to be in Whistler. Kids and grandkids want to be in Whistler. Multigenerational families want to be in Whistler,” Ryan reflects. “Buyers are drawn to Stonebridge to create a legacy for their families.”

Few vacant parcels remain available as Stonebridge continues to grow in popularity. The development is shaping into the vibrant community that the developers originally envisioned. “When you are on private acreage, it’s hard to meet your neighbours,” shares Ryan. “Recently, we hosted a few Stonebridge clients for après at Araxi and introduced new owners to one another. They were planning dog walks the next morning. It was wonderful.”

Having been immersed in the Whistler community for over 30 years, John Ryan also recognizes the impact that a neighbourhood like Stonebridge can have on local economic development. “The amount of trades it takes to build these homes helps to keep our talent living in this town,” he explains. “I don’t think there is anywhere in Canada that would compare to the quality of the work that we get out of our builders. They are special. They take everything to the next level. We have people from all over the world buying here, and they recognize the creativity.” Alongside the premium quality of what Whistler has to offer, international buyers are becoming increasingly aware of the exceptional value of the Canadian Dollar.