Mont Tyrol

Situated in the Laurentides region of western Quebec, Mont Tyrol opened in 1955. Like many of the smaller ski resorts in the area, Mont Tyrol prospered and, in turn, brought some measure of prosperity to its local community. Also like many of the smaller "mom and pop" ski resorts, it could not keep up with larger resorts and their amenities and technological advantages. Mont Tyrol was somewhat unique in that it attempted to maintain year round activities by operating a water park. However, despite a couple of attempts at rejuvenation, Mont Tyrol finally closed shop in the late mid-2000s.

What remains is the outline of one the ski runs, its lighting, the skeletal remains of a ski lift, some "chalets" and the water park itself. The latter has found a new lease on life as one of the larget water slides is now being used a ski jump practice run. The skiers "land" in some remarkably ugly looking water that makes that of the Rio Olympics looks downright pristine. There was an instructor and a number of students using the facility during our visit. The sound of them hitting the water, skis down, would do credit to the sound made after one of my belly flops.